Opera title: | Manon Lescaut |
Composer: | Giacomo Antonio Puccini |
Language: | Italian |
Synopsis: | Manon Lescaut Synopsis |
Libretto: | Manon Lescaut Libretto |
Translation(s): | English Deutsch |
Type: | aria |
Role(s): | Manon Lescaut |
Voice(s): | Soprano |
Act: | 4.04-1 |
Previous scene: | E nulla nulla! |
Next scene: | Fra le tue braccia, amore! |
Manon Lescaut is an opera in four acts by Giacomo Puccini. The story is based on the 1731 novel L'histoire du chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut by the Abbé Prévost.
A vast plain near the outskirts of the New Orleans territory
The act begins with the lovers are making their way across the desert hoping to find protection in a British settlement. Wandering in the desert without any water, the ailing Manon is exhausted. She falls and can't go any further (Des Grieux, Manon: Tutta su me ti posa) ; (Des Grieux: Vedi, son io che piango) ; (Manon, Des Grieux: Sei tu che piangi).
Des Grieux is alarmed by Manon's appearance and goes to look for water. While he is gone, Manon recalls her past, muses about her fatal beauty and her fate (Manon: Sola, perduta, abbandonata).
Des Grieux returns, having been unable to find water. Manon bids him a heart-rending farewell and dies in his arms. Overcome by grief, Des Grieux falls unconscious across her body (Manon, Des Grieux: Fra le tue braccia, amore).
Des Grieux adagia Manon sopra un rialzo di terreno, poi resta ancora irresoluto in preda a fiero contrasto. Indi s'allontana a poco a poco; giunto nel fondo rimane di nuovo dubbioso e fissa Manon con occhi disperati; quindi, con improvvisa risoluzione parte correndo. L'orizzonte si oscura. L'ambascia vince Manon; è stravolta, impaurita, accasciata.
MANON
Sola, perduta, abbandonata …
in landa desolata!
Orror! Intorno a me s'oscura il ciel …
Ahimè, son sola!
E nel profondo deserto io cado,
strazio crudel, ah! sola abbandonata,
io, la deserta donna!
alzandosi
Ah! non voglio morir!
No! non voglio morir!
Tutto dunque è finito.
Terra di pace mi sembrava questa …
Ahi! mia beltà funesta,
ire novelle accende …
Strappar da lui mi si volea; or tutto
il mio passato orribile risorge,
e vivo innanzi al guardo mio si posa.
Ah! di sangue s'è macchiato.
Ah! tutto è finito.
Asil di pace ora la tomba invoco …
No! non voglio morir … amore, aita!
Des Grieux places Manon on top of the ground, then he is still irresolute in a fierce contrast. Then he moves away little by little; in the background he remains doubtful again and stares at Manon with desperate eyes; then, with sudden resolution, he starts running. The horizon darkens. The ambassador wins Manon; it is twisted, frightened, slumped.
MANON
Lonely, lost, abandoned ...
in desolate land!
Horror! The sky is dark around me ...
Alas, I am alone!
And in the deep desert I fall,
cruel torture, ah! alone abandoned,
me, the deserted woman!
getting up
Ah! I do not want to die!
No! I do not want to die!
So everything is finished.
Land of peace seemed to me this ...
Ouch! my fateful beauty,
ire novelle turns on ...
He turned from me; or everything
my horrible past rises again,
and I live in front of my gaze and settles.
Ah! of blood he has stained himself.
Ah! everything is finished.
Asil of peace now the grave invokes ...
No! I do not want to die ... love, aita!
Sheetmusic for aria | ![]() |
Sheetmusic for opera | ![]() |
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