The Merry Widow Libretto
Franz Lehár
English version by Jeremy Sams
from
The Metropolitan Opera Version
&
Adapted by
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Fabio Luisi, Music Director
ACT ONE
Overture
The Grand Salon of the Pontevedrian Embassy in Paris.
Music No. 3
ZETA Then it’s high time he started. Let me know the minute
he…. What’s that?… What’s going on?
CASCADA Madam Glawari has entered the building!
ZETA Madam Glawari!
NJEGUS The Merry Widow herself. God, if I had all that money, I’d be merry too. With respect.
St. BRIOCHE Twenty million!
CASCADA Twenty million!
HANNA GLAWARI makes a resplendent entrance.
HANNA THIS IS ALL TOO MUCH!
CASCADA The fairest in the firmament.
You’re the brightest star.
HANNA IT ISN’T TRUE. THAT WILL DO.
CASCADA THE FAIREST IN THE FIRMAMENT,
the single brightest star.
That’s what you are.
St. BRIOCHE You’re shining like a meteor, And you blind us.
HANNA You’re trying to embarrass me.
You’re trying to make me blush.
I DON’T WANT YOU TO HARRASS me, so hush.
St. BRIOCHE/
CASCADA/MEN The fairest in the firmament,
The single brightest star.
That’s what you are.
HANNA If I WAS a Parisian
I’d almost be amused,
But as a Pontevedrian,
I’m thoroughly confused.
Remember, I’m a stranger here,
A little OPEN- eyed.
If I was a sophisticate,
I’d take it in my stride.
Is it my GRACE?
Is it my FACE?
Or my looks I should thank?
Or maybe it’s the fact
I have millions in the bank.
St. BRIOCHE/
CASCADA/MEN No, no, no, no, no, no.
HANNA Excuse ME IF I’M frank,
But widows rich or poor,
DON’T DINE ALONE
Suitors galore.
But when a widow has a fortune,
SHE’S IMPORTUNED a hundred times more.
St. BRIOCHE /CASCADA
What a thing to say.
What a thing to think.
What’s money to us?
MEN She’s right.
She knows the score.
Widows with cash,
Suitors galore.
HANNA Men want a gold mine
MORE THAN A WIFE.
THIS IS A SAD FACT OF LIFE.
MEN Say what you have to,
AND SPEAK AS YOU FIND…
St. BRIOCHE /CASCADA
Say what you have to,
say what you will.
MEN We love a girl who speaks her mind.
HANNA SO MANY, MANY COMPLIMENTS
AND ALL FOR LITTLE ME.
I never ever thought i’d be
The toast of gay paree.
YOUR UNDILUTED FLATTERY
(Or is it merely greed?).
It’s like assault and battery,
And hardly what I need.
St. BRIOCHE /CASCADA
All this candor
makes her wiser and grander.
She is lovely.
Elle est charmante, indeed.
HANNA being very sycophantic
Isn’t terribly romantic.
No, no, no, no, no,
THANK YOU BUT I’VE HAD MY FILL…
MEN That’s right,
You speak your mind.
Say what you feeL,
SPEAK AS YOU FIND.
St. BRIOCHE/
CASCADA You are too unkind.
We have been maligned.
Yes, vastly maligned.
HANNA too much TREACLE
MAKES YOU FEEL ILL.
St. BRIOCHE How can you be so cynical?
CASCADA So practical and clinical?
St. BRIOCHE/
CASCADA How can you be so unkind?
MEN Splendid that she speaks her mind.
HANNA No more.
Music No. 4
DANILO As diplomatic attaché,
I have to labour every day.
There’s always something to be done.
I wish I had some time for fun.
I get up at the crack of noon,
Then in the office fairly soon,
And then I pop out straight away–
Well, you can hardly work all day.
When documents are to be read,
Then I do something else instead.
I know it’s good to be in touch,
But is it safe to know too much?
and when there’s papers to be signed,
Well, that’s my job so I don’t mind.
But then I often stop and think,
It may be best to save the ink.
Then meetings in the Café Flore,
Plus an aperitif, or four.
Then weary from my hard travails,
I toddle home to don my tails.
Then off to Chez Maxim,
Where things are très intime.
Surrounded by chantoozies,
And all my favorite floozies:
Lolo, Dodo, Joujou,
Cloclo, Margot, Froufrou.
Beloved Pontevedro,
I do it all for you.
A Danube of Champagne,
AND GIRLS WHO ENTERTAIN.
I DON’T LIKE SPREADING RUMORS
BUT HAVE YOU SEEN THEIR BLOOMERS?
Lolo, Dodo, Joujou,
Cloclo, Margot, Froufrou.
Beloved Pontevedro,
The things I do for you!
Music No. 6 FINALE ACT ONE
ZETA And why not you, for God’s sake?
DANILO Because…because…because my principal principle is this: ‘Love is fine, so is betrothal… but marriage is not…’
ZETA Danilo, don’t be selfish, your country needs you.
MUSIC starts. CASCADA and ST. BRIOCHE enter and announce ‘Ladies’ Choice, Ladies’ Choice.’
ZETA Oh, my God, you hear that? It’s Ladies’ Choice. And here she comes. Who will she choose?
HANNA enters with CASCADA, St. BRIOCHE and twelve GENTLEMEN.
DANILO Right ‑ I’ll start clearing the field.
ZETA The Fatherland will be eternally in your debt.
Exit.
MEN Ladies’ choice!
Can you hear the men rejoice?
Can you hear them name it
And acclaim it with united voice?
It would be ecstasy
If you would smile on me.
Madame, excuse me,
Will you choose me for
The Ladies Choice?
DANILO Oh, come along you rare,
You perfect beauties.
take your partners!
To your duties!
Come and whirl them and swirl them
For evermore.
You’ll be so fleet that your feet
Hardly touch the floor.
Come on and don’t be shy,
You lovely creatures.
Will you teach us?
Will you teach us
How divine the world can be?
A WOMAN Ah monsieur, je vous en prie .
DANILO Like the warmth of a morning in May,
Or the scent of a lover’s bouquet…
With the shimmer of massed violins, Ah,
That’s how the magic begins.
When a boy
is enjoying the charms
Of a girl
he can twirl
in his arms…
Then let youth have its fling,
Let us dance, let us sing.
Who can tell
what the night will bring.
WOMEN What delight the night will bring!
ALL Oh ,come along,
You rare and perfect beauties.
Take your partners,
To your duties.
Let us whirl you
And swirl you for evermore.
We’ll be so fleet that your feet
Scarcely touch the floor.
Come on and don’t be shy,
You lovely creatures.
Will you guide us?
Will you teach us
That the pleasure
Has no measure,
As long as you can hear the music play?
HANNA You’re going to pass up on the chance?
DANILO No, no, it’s fine.
You say this dance is mine?
HANNA Well, yes, mais oui.
DANILO Well, if the dance belongs to me
Then I can use it how I like,
Can use it how I like.
HANNA That’s right.
VAL./Cam./ St. br./
Cas./Men /WOMEN What’s going on?
DANILO The dance is mine,
Accepted with thanks.
It must be worth ten thousand francs.
Now it’s up for sale!
Now it can be yours:
Ten thousand francs
To my fav’rite cause
VAL./Cam./ St. br./
Cas./Men Ten thousand francs?
CASCADA (to St. BRIOCHE) that’s pretty steep.
DANILO For such a prize i think it’s not.
VAL./Cam./ St. br./
Cas./Men Ten thousand francs?
St. BRIOCHE (to CASCADA) That’s dearly bought.
DANILO They’re off! Exactly as i thought.
(To HANNA) No one cares,
IT’S A SHAME, BUT no-one cares.
MEN Ten thousand francs.
CASCADA Ten thousand francs.
(Exits)
St. brioche./MEN That’s quite expensive.
(Exits)
DANILO When I mention charity
They jump from me like startled hares.
The thought of signing checks
Turns them to nervous wrecks.
And so they go their stingy way,
But that’s the world today!
DANILO Now we’re alone.
Now you are free.
Madame, here is my arm.
Maybe you’ll dance with me.
HANNA Or maybe I won’t.
DANILO What do you mean?
You voted for me.
HANNA That is true, even so, I have said no.
DANILO Moonlight and music,
Sweetly combined.
Maybe they might change your mind.
DANILO dances invitingly around HANNA.
HANNA I don’t wish to…
HANNA lets herself be caught up in DANILO’s arms.
HANNA Well, if you insist….
HANNA Oh you terrible man.
You dance like an angel!
DANILO One does what one can!
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
Music No. 7
The TERRACE and GARDEN of HANNA’S villa. . Evening. In the distance there is a small pavilion. The party is in full swing. ZETA and NJEGUS both appear in national costume of Pontevedro, CASCADA is in the uniform of an office of the French Hussars, St. BRIOCHE appears as a French Infantry Officer. BOGDANOVITSCH, KROMOW, PRASCOWIA, OLGA, SYLVIANE all wear the national costume of Pontevedro. The CHORUS and DANCERS are partly in national costume and partly in summer costume of the time. FOOTMEN are in attendance.
CHORUS Ah. Ah. Ah. Ah. Ah. Ah.
Mi velimo dase dase Veslimo!
Heiaho!
Mi velimo dase dase Veslimo!
Heiaho!
Take your partners and dance together.
Hei!
Love and laughter will last forever.
Hei!
Take your partners and dance together,
Hei!
Love and laughter will last forever.
Hei!
Mi velimo dase Veslimo!
CHORUS Hei!
To the sound of seductive music, HANNA appears in an elegant Frenchified version of her national costume.
HANNA AT HOME THIS IS WHERE THE HOST REGALES
THE PARTY GUESTS WITH FAIRY TALES.
AND I’VE A TALE FROM THE OLDEN DAYS
ABOUT A WITCH’S WICKED WAYS!
there once was a HUNTSMAN
A long time ago,
Who strayed from the path
And got lost in the snow.
But then in a clearing
a CREATURE HE SAW,
HE’D NEVER SET EYES
ON SUCH BEAUTY BEFORE.
Life would never be the same
His heart was turned to ice and flame.
As he sighed,
suddenly he knew her name.
Vilja, o Vilja, you magical child.
My aching heart
is bewitched and beguiled.
Vilja, o Vilja, I’ll make you my own.
YOU WILL BE MINE, MINE ALONE.
CHORUS Vilja, o Vilja, you magical child.
My aching heart
is bewitched and beguiled.
HANNA Vilja, o Vilja,
oh where have you flown?
How could you leave me alone?
She nodded her head
And the poor man obeyed.
And so he was led
To a moon-dappled glade.
His HEART turned to fire
With the heat of her kiss.
He knew that no mortal
Could love him like this.
He awoke at break of day
And everything was cold and grAy.
Even now,
you can hear the poor man say,
Vilja, o Vilja, you magical child.
My aching heart
is bewitched and beguiled.
Vilja, o Vilja, I’ll make you my own.
HOW COULD YOU LEAVE ME ALONE?
CHORUS Vilja, o Vilja, you magical child.
My aching heart
is bewitched and beguiled.
HANNA Vilja, o Vilja,
oh where have you flown?
How could you leave me alone?
Where have you flown?
Vilja!
CHORUS Where have you flown?
Mi velimo dase dase Veslimo!
Heiaho!
Mi velimo dase dase Veslimo!
Heiaho!
Take your partners and dance together.
Hei!
Love and laughter will last forever.
Hei!
Take your partners and dance together.
Hei!
Love and laughter will last forever.
Hei!
Mi velimo dase Veslimo!
Hei!
HANNA enters.
HANNA Well then?
DANILO Shan’t.
HANNA Silly man.
DANILO “Silly” – what do you mean silly?
Music No. 8
HANNA Hello, here’s a soldier bold,
Mounted on his charger;
Head to toe in red and gold,
Like a Maharajah!
Come on lady, don’t be shy,
What are you afraid of?
Dare to give the man the eye.
Show him what you’re made of!
DANILO Lady seems to give a wink.
What’s the soldier s’posed to think?
HANNA Silently she seems to Say,
This one could go either way!
If a girl’s admiring you,
Longing for a rendezvous,
Would you dare to woo her,
Will you look right through her?
What’s the soldier going to do?
Would you dare return her glance?
Even ask her out to dance?
No, you couldn’t bear to,
No, you wouldn’t dare to.
Silly man, you missed your chance!
Hello, soldier’s riding back!
Spurs a-jingle-jangle.
Time to mount a fresh attack
From a different angle!
Soldier smiles and tips his hat,
Moves a little closer.
If you think SHE’LL fall for that,
Then the answer’s “No, Sir!”
DANILO If the lady’s so blasé,
One could simply ride away.
I’ve more urgent things to do,
Than to waste my time on you!
HANNA If you’d dared to say hello,
Would it have been “yes” or “no”?
BOTH Would she have relented?
Would she have consented?
HANNA Silly man, you’ll never know!
DANILO Luckily, I’ll never know!
BOTH Giddy up and off you/I go,
Giddy up and off you/I go.
Would she have relented?
Would she have consented?
HANNA Silly man, you’ll never know!
HANNA exits.
DANILO Would she have relented?
Would she have consented?
now, perhaps, I’ll never know!
DANILO But she is a woman, is she not?
ZETA Indeed.
DANILO Then how can you, how can any of us, know the unknowable?
Music No. 9
DANILO What’s the secret?
OTHERS What’s the secret?
DANILO Of a woman?
OTHERS Who can tell?
DANILO They’re perpetual enigmas,
Unpredictable as well.
ZETA How to keep them?
OTHERS That’s the question.
ZETA Keep ‘em faithful!
OTHERS That’s the trick!
ZETA/DANILO And they’re such a mix of attributes…
ALL A man has to take his pick.
DANILO There’s some who need a lot of wooing.
ALL Lots of this and lots of that.
ZETA With endless billing, endless cooing.
ALL Lots of this and lots of that.
St. BRIOCHE There’s some prefer a man who’s rougher.
ALL Lots of this and lots of that.
CASCADA and begging us to make ’em suffer.
ALL Lots of this and lots of that.
DANILO The whingey ones are always crying.
ALL Lots of this and lots of that.
ZETA Then suddenly their fists are flying.
ALL Lots of this and lots of that.
CASCADA There’s some require expensive dresses.
ALL Lots of this and lots of that.
DANILO/ZETA/
St. brioche ./CASCADA
And some who need precise caresses.
ALL Lots of this and loads of that.
DANILO/ZETA Who can tell what the hell women are?
OTHERS (in rhythm, spoken) Women, women!
DANILO/ZETA Oh so sweet but completely bizarre.
OTHERS (in rhythm, spoken) Women, women!
DANILO/ZETA All that endless kerfuffle and fuss!
Why can’t they
ALL Be more like us?
DANILO/ZETA From a wonder, a bundle of joy…
OTHERS (in rhythm, spoken) Women, women!
DANILO/ZETA To a monster who wants to destroy.
OTHERS (in rhythm, spoken) Women, women!
DANILO/ZETA Whether wild as a minx,
Or child, or a sphinx,
Who can tell what the hell she thinks?
ALL Women, women, women,
Women, women, women,
Ah!
Who can tell what the hell women are?
Oh, so sweet, but completely bizarre.
All that endless kerfuffle and fuss.
Why can’t they be more like us?
From a wonder, a bundle of joy,
To a monster who wants to destroy.
Whether wild as a minx ,
Or a child, or a sphinx,
Who can tell what the hell she thinks?
DANILO/ZETA Who can tell what the hell women are?
OTHERS Women!
DANILO/ZETA Oh, so sweet, but completely bizarre.
OTHERS Women!
DANILO/ZETA All that endless kerfuffle and fuss.
OTHERS Women!
DANILO/ZETA Why can’t they
ALL Be more like us?
From a wonder, a bundle of joy,
To a monster who wants to destroy.
Whether wild as a minx,
Or a child, or a sphinx,
Who can tell what the hell she thinks?
Music No. 10
HANNA You have to make your marriage fun…
À la Parisienne!
With lots of space for ev’ryone…
À la Parisienne.
A couple make a lovely home…
À la Parisienne.
But they should both be free to roam…
À la Parisienne.
Rigid morals…
Tral-la-la-la-la-la
Lead to quarrels…
Tral-la-la-la-la-la
I know how marriage ought to be…
And if it’s not, it’s not for me.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la,
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la.
VALENCIENNE La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la,
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la.
COMPANY (except DANILO) All these morals…
Tral-la-la-la-la-la
Lead to quarrels…
Tral-la-la-la-la-la
(COMPANY ) She knows how marriage ought to go…
And if it doesn’t doesn’t want to know!
CAMILLE/
VALENCIENNE No, she doesn’t want to know…
No!
HANNA No, I do not want to know…
No!
VALENCIENNE A marriage should be carefully planned…
HANNA À la Parisienne.
VALENCIENNE …So no-one gets the upper hand.
HANNA Certainly not the men!
VALENCIENNE And no-one ever makes a scene.
HANNA À la Parisienne.
VALENCIENNE And no-one asks you where you’ve been.
HANNA À la Parisienne.
BOTH Rigid morals…
Tral-la-la-la-la-la
Lead to quarrels…
Tral-la-la-la-la-la
I know how marriage ought to be…
And if it’s not, it’s not for me.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la,
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la.
COMPANY (except DANILO) All these morals…
Tral-la-la-la-la-la
Lead to quarrels…
Tral-la-la-la-la-la
She knows how marriage ought to go…
And if it doesn’t doesn’t want to know!
CAMILLE/
VALENCIENNE No, she doesn’t want to know…
No!
HANNA No, I do not want to know…
No!
DANILO (shouting) I am raging,
I am burning!
I am raging,
I am burning!
(He staggers)
That’s enough,
Yes, that will do.
No, no, no, you should stay calm.
Yes, I know I should stay calm.
Very sorry, chère Madame.
It you think “this” is wedded bliss,
Perhaps you’ll listen to a story.
HANNA (frostily) Of course, that would be riveting.
Tell me your tale.
You see, I’m listening.
So let’s hear it.
DANILO Very well then…
There once was a radiant Princess
In love with the son of a King.
The usual fairy tale romance,
but this is a tale with a sting!
Their story proceeded slowly,
Perhaps he was cautious or shy.
He couldn’t express all his feelings,
And she couldn’t understand why.
The Princess was proud and impatient
And played him the nastiest trick.
She promised herself to another…
The POOR boy was cut to the quick.
He said “Now I know you my Lady–
You heart is like ice in your breast.
I thought you a pearl among women,
But you are as false as the rest.”
“You think that I’m hurting unduly?
Ha- ha!
Well, that’s where you’re wrong.
You think that I’d give you
That pleasure?”
(I’m quoting the Prince in the song.)
He said to the Princess, “Be happy,
(almost shouting, pointing at HANNA)
I see now the thing that you are. ”
He turned on his heel and he left her,
And I’ll do the same, au revoir.
He starts to exit.
HANNA But Count, where will you go?
DANILO (spoken) Where will I go?
(sung) Oh, a little place I know…
(ironically) I’m off to Chez Maxim,
where things are what they seem
And all of the chantoozies
Are simple honest floozies.
Lolo, Dodo, Joujou,
Cloclo, Margot, Froufrou.
These open hearted ladies
Will make a change from you!
He exits.
HANNA (triumphantly) He loves me, he loves me.
AHA!
Rigid morals…
Tral-la-la-la-la-la
Lead to quarrels…
Tral-la-la-la-la-la
I know how marriage ought to be…
And if it’s not, it’s not for me.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la,
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la.
COMPANY All these morals…
Tral-la-la-la-la-la
Lead to quarrels…
Tral-la-la-la-la-la.
She knows how marriage ought to go…
And if it doesn’t doesn’t want to know!
CAMILLE/
VALENCIENNE No, she doesn’t want to
DOESN’T WANT TO know…
HANNA No, I do not want to know…
No!
END OF ACT TWO.
ACT THREE
GRISETTES enter and perform…
Music No. 14
GRISETTES We’re the ladies of the chorus,
And the gentlemen adore us.
Lolo! Dodo! Joujou!
Froufrou! Cloclo! Margot!
Walking on the Champs Elysees,
Tippy tap and tappy tip.
Swing your body nice and easy,
Toss that head and pout that lip.
Tippy tap and tappy tip.
Toss that head and swing that hip.
Tippy tappy, tippy tappy,
tippy tappy, tappy tip.
Pixie boots in patent leather,
Clicking down the boulevard.
When they see us all together,
People wonder who we are.
We’re the ladies of the chorus,
And the gentlemen adore us.
Lolo! Dodo! Joujou!
Froufrou! Cloclo! Margot!
GRISETTES La la la la la la la la la la la la la la!
GRISSETTES Yippy-I and yippy-Ay!
and FEMALE The Grisettes are on their way.
CHORUS Yippy-I and yippy-Ee!
We’re the toast of Gay Paree.
Yippy-I and yippy-Ay!
The Grisettes are on their way.
We’re the toast of Gay Paree.
Yippy-I and yippy-Ee!
VALENCIENNE In the dark the men are staring,
trying hard to comprehend.
“Wonder where her underwear begins
and where her stockings end.”
Tippy tip and tippy tap,
Tippy tip and tippy tap.
Wriggling and giggling,
And then you’ve caught them in the trap.
Afterwards there’s wine and laughter,
Soldiers making eyes at me.
it’s no secret what they’re after;
take me dancing, then we’ll see!
GRISETTES We’re the ladies of the chorus,
And the gentlemen adore us.
Lolo! Dodo! Joujou!
Froufrou! Cloclo! Margot!
VALENCIENNE La la la la la la la la la la la la la la!
GRISETTES Yippy-I and yippy-Ay!
AND FEMALE The Grisettes are on their way.
CHORUS Yippy-I and yippy-Ee!
We’re the toast of Gay Paree.
Yippy-I and yippy-Ay!
The Grisettes are on their way.
We’re the toast of Gay Paree.
Yippy-I and yippy-Ee!
VALENCIENNE and the GRISETTES go off, and at once come on again. All the GIRLS break into the Can-Can.
ALL Yippy-I and yippy-Ay!
The Grisettes are on their way.
Yippy-I and yippy-Ee!
We’re/They’re the toast of Gay Paree.
Yippy-I and yippy-Ay!
The Grisettes are on their way.
We’re/They’re the toast of Gay Paree.
Yippy-I and yippy-Ee!
(reprise beginning with “LA LA LA LA LA…”)
HANNA Why should you care?
DANILO Because…(big sigh) (music starts) Because I … Because I lo–…Oh, can’t you guess?
HANNA I want to hear you say the words.
DANILO I wish I could. There must be some other way.
HANNA What do you mean?
DANILO Well…
They sing.
DANILO Music’s playing,
Hear it saying,
“LOVE ME, DO.”
As we dance,
A voice may answer,
“LOVE ME, too.”
Can’t you hear the music
sing our secret song?
yes, it’s true and yes,
You knew it all along.
HANNA we hear the music play,
I feel your body sway.
Your heart is beating fast,
If only love could speak at last.
But since nothing can be said,
THEN maybe we should dance instead.
You know that it is true,
That I love you.
They waltz a few steps.
BOTH Can’t you hear the music
sing our secret song?
yes it’s true and yes,
You knew it all along.
Music No. 16
HANNA Why do men never know what we are?
KRO./BOGDAN./
PRIT./MEN (rhythmically spoken) Women, women!
ZETA It’s because you’re completely bizarre.
KRO./BOGDAN./
PRIT./MEN (rhythmically spoken) Women, women!
DANILO We’re beguiled by the smile in your eyes.
Then hello,
COMPANY Surprise, surprise!
ALL MEN You’re a wonder,
A bundle of joy.
Then a monster
who wants to destroy.
Whether wild as a minx,
Or a child, or a sphinx,
Who can tell what the hell she thinks?
ALL WOMEN We’re wonder, a bundle of joy.
Not a monster who wants to destroy.
You may think I’m a minx,
But I’m wise as a sphinx.
And it’s clear what a woman thinks!
The curtain falls.