Since I'm still pretty crabbed about yesterday's dilemma, I decided to annoy the visitors of my blog with four different renditions of the not-quite-popular-but-known tune of The Flower Duet from Léo Delibes' opera Lakmé (playback may be delayed depending on connection speed).
Yes, dears... it's a piece of classical vocal music from the 19th century and it has several versions interpretted by many modern artists. You've probably heard it from some TV commercials as well.
First in my playlist is Charlotte Church's version, followed by a more robust performance by Katherine Jenkins. The third track is a more melodic recording from one Sarah Millington, arranged for a rather slow tempo. Finally, to jazz up the list, we have a more contemporary arrangement from Dream Aria - this is my favorite.
Just in case you wanted to sing along, or just find out what in the world they're singing, read on...
With the rose gathers,
To the flowered river bank, with morning laughter,
Come, let us go down together.
Gently let us slip from the pleasant rising flow,
Let us follow the fleeting current
In the shimmering stream,
Without any care,
Come, let us reach the bank,
Where the spring waters slumber
And the bird, the bird, she sings.
Under the thick dome where the white jasmine
Ah! We descend
Together!
But I don't know what sudden dread,
takes me over, when my father goes alone,
to their cursed town,
I tremble, I tremble of fear!
So the god Ganesa protects him,
Up to where the source runs joyful,
The swans with wings of snow,
let us go gather the blue lotus,
near the swans with wings of snow,
let us gather the blue lotus.
Under the thick dome where the white jasmine
Ah! We descend
Together! Under the thick dome where white jasmine
With the roses entwined together
On the river bank covered with flowers laughing in the morning
Let us descend together
Gently floating on its charming risings,
On the river’s current
On the shining waves,
One hand reaches,
Reaches for the bank,
Where the spring sleeps,
And the bird, the bird sings.
Under the thick dome where the white jasmine
Ah! We descend
Together!
À la rose s’assemble
Sur la rive en fleurs, riant au matin
Viens, descendons ensemble.
Doucement glissons de son flot charmant
Suivons le courant fuyant
Dans l’onde frémissante
D’une main nonchalante
Viens, gagnons le bord,
Où la source dort
Et l’oiseau, l’oiseau chante.
Sous le dôme épais
Où le blanc jasmin,
Ah! descendons
Ensemble!
Mais, je ne sais quelle crainte subite,
S’empare de moi,
Quand mon père va seul
A leur ville maudite
Je tremble, je tremble d’effroi!
Pour que le dieu Ganesa le protége
Jusque’a l’étang ou s’ebattent joyeux
Les cygnes aux ailes de neige
Allons cueillir les lotus bleus
Ou, pres des cygnes aux ailes de neige
Allons cueillir les lotus bleus.
Sous le dôme épais
Où le blanc jasmin
À la rose s’assemble
Sur la rive en fleurs
Riant au matin
Viens, descendons ensemble.
Doucement glissons de son flot charmant,
Suivons le courant fuyant
Dans l’onde frémissante
D’une main nonchalante
Viens, gagnons le bord
Où la source dort et
L’oiseau, l’oiseau chante.
Sous le dôme épais
Où le blanc jasmin,
Ah! descendons
Ensemble!
Text to the Flower Duet from Wikipedia.
