17. Barcarolle from Tales of Hoffman
Text: Jules Barbier
Belle nuit, ô nuit d'amour, souris à nos ivresses! Nuit plus douce que le jour, Ô belle nuit d'amour!
Lovely night, o night of love smile upon our ecstasy! Night, softer than the day, O beautiful night of love!
Le temps fuit et sans retour emporte nos tendresses, Loin de cet heureux séjour le temps fuit sans retour.
Time flees and without return carrie off our tender affections Far from this happy sojourn time flees without return
Zéphyrs embrasés, versez-nous vos caresses, Zéphyrs embrasés, donnez-nous vos baisers!
Emblazed zephyrs, pour your caresses upon us, Emblazed zephyrs give us your kisses!
While Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880) gained lasting fame for the operettas he wrote for the Parisian stage, his operatic master piece, Les Contes d‟Hoffman, was far more substantial in nature. The libretto is based on a play by Jules Barbier and Michel Carre, in which the German author E.T.A. Hoffman appears as a character in his own stories. The Barcarolle opens the act set in Venice. Nicklausse, a young man, and Giulietta, a courtesan, sing this duet in a gondola while drifting down Venice‟s gorgeous and romantic Great Canal.
18. Men of Avon
Text: Paul Child Strike the drumhead, fly the banner! Youth leaps forward, like a wave sweeping all that‟s bad before it, Build the future for the brave. Thwart the foolish, guard the prudent, strike out boldly for the right; keep this land the home of freedom where all men may take delight. Make our school and make our nation into places where secure lawfulness will find a haven and where peace will long endure. Now we gather, Men of Avon, men of honor, men of will, set our hearts upon the mountains, and our destiny fulfill.
The school song, Men of Avon, is an anthem shared by generations of proud Avonians. Set to a text by Paul Child, husband of Julia Child, the music of Beethoven‟s Ode to Joy is a perfect pairing. Sung during chapel services, graduations, and other official events this anthem has come to embody the values and virtues all Men of Avon hold dear.
--Program Notes by Bryan Zaros