Colin's aria from the opera La Bohème (1896) by Giacomo Puccini, libretto Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica. Arrangement for three mixed voices SAB choir and piano by Emmanuel Robin
The action takes place in Paris in the Latin Quarter. Rodolfo, an artist, and Mimi, a worker, fall in love and swear fidelity.
But the misery in which they live leads to Mimi's death, which Rodolfo and his friends witness in total helplessness.
At this point in the story, Mimi, very ill, is about to die.
Her friends Musetta and Colin decide to take their most precious belongings to the pawnshop to pay the doctor's bills.
Musetta brings her jewelry, and Colin his overcoat. With great emotion, the philosopher says goodbye to his old coat.
Vecchia zimarra, senti,
Io resto al pian, tu ascendere
Il sacre monte or devi.
Le mie grazie ricevi.
Mai non curvasti il logoro dorso
Ai ricchi ed ai potenti.
Passar nelle tue tasche
Come in antri tranquilli
Filosofi e poeti.
Ora che i giorni lieti fuggir,
Ti dico : Addio,
Fedele amico mio.
Addio, addio ! |
Old coat, listen,
I stay on the plain, you ascend
The sacred mountain now thou must.
My graces thou receivest.
Never did you bend the worn out back
To the rich and powerful.
Passing in thy pockets
As in quiet halls
Philosophers and poets.
Now that happy days flee,
I say to thee : Farewell,
Faithful friend of mine.
Farewell, farewell ! |
A choir
setting on an original solo aria: it’s the crazy challenge of our "Arias
be good" series (Les grands airs vous feront du bien).
