The Merry Widow 很好聽的 Vilja 歌

 我很喜歡 The Merry Widow, 這是一個很好的喜劇, 我們看的 Renee Fleming (她唱 the Merry Widow) 的那一埸的歌手演技都很好。Donizetti 的歌劇是以有很好的旋律 （good melody）出名的, The Merry Widow 沒有例外。

Renee Fleming

故事是發生在一群 Baltic 一個小國在巴黎的人民，以該國駐法大使為中心. 其中有一個有錢的 widow, 這個大使要這個 widow 嫁給他們自己國家的人，肥水不流外人田。喜劇就這樣開始。他們在一起有 party 的時候, 往往唱自己家鄉的民歌。就像我們聚在一起的時候常常唱 阿里山的姑娘 or 茉莉花，這一首歌跟劇情沒有直接關係，opera composer 常常利用機會（special occasion) 插進去很好聽的歌。這首歌叫 Vilja Lied (song), Vilja 是他們森林裏的一個 fairy.

Renee Fleming's Vilja Lied: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GApoK48Q6c0

Renee Fleming as the merry widow

But now let's do as we do at home

Let's sing our ring dance rhyme

About a fairy known whom

at home we call Vilja!

Once lived a Vilja, a maid of the woods,

And hunter spotted her in rocky outcroppings!

The young boy, who was

Affected curiously by her presense,

He looked and looked

at the wood-maiden.

And a shudder the boy had never known

Took hold of him,

Longingly he began quietly to sigh!

Vilja, oh Vilja, you maid of the woods,

Take me and let me

be your dearest true love!

Vilja, O Vilja what are you doing to me?

Begs a lovesick man!