Toreador Song

	Toreador Song (4:31) Courtesy of Musopen
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The Toreador Song is the popular name for the aria "Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre" from the opera Carmen, composed by Georges Bizet to a libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy. It is sung by the bullfighter Escamillo as he enters in act 2 (toréador is a French term for "bullfighter") and describes various situations in the bullring, the cheering of the crowds and the fame that comes with victory. The refrain, "Toréador, en garde", forms the middle part of the prelude to act 1 of Carmen.

Music

The Bass-baritone couplet has a vocal range from A₃ to F₄ and a tessitura from B-flat₃ to E-flat₄. Its time signature is common time (4
4), its key is A-flat major with the refrain in F major. The tempo indication is allegro molto moderato, =108. Frasquita, Mercédès, Carmen, Moralès, Zuniga and the chorus join for the repeat of the refrain.^[1]

Text

A matador on a Carmen poster, 1939

	"Toreador Song" Pasquale Amato's 1911 rendition recorded in Camden, New Jersey. (3:28) "Toreador Song" Recorded in Berlin in 1929, featuring Finnish opera singer Teddy Björkman, the Staatskapelle Berlin, and conductor Simon Parmet. (3:19)
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Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre, Señors, señors car avec les soldats oui, les toréros, peuvent s'entendre; Pour plaisirs, pour plaisirs, ils ont les combats ! Le cirque est plein, c'est jour de fête ! Le cirque est plein du haut en bas; Les spectateurs, perdant la tête, Les spectateurs s'interpellent À grand fracas ! Apostrophes, cris et tapage Poussés jusques à la fureur ! Car c'est la fête du courage ! C'est la fête des gens de cœur ! Allons ! en garde ! Allons ! allons ! Ah ! (Refrain ×2) |: Toréador, en garde ! Toréador ! Toréador ! Et songe bien, oui, songe en combattant Qu'un œil noir te regarde, Et que l'amour t'attend, Toréador, l'amour, l'amour t'attend ! :| Tout d'un coup, on fait silence, On fait silence… ah ! que se passe-t-il ? Plus de cris, c'est l'instant ! Plus de cris, c'est l'instant ! Le taureau s'élance en bondissant hors du toril ! Il s'élance ! Il entre, il frappe !… un cheval roule, entraînant un picador, "Ah ! Bravo ! Toro !" hurle la foule, le taureau va... il vient... il vient et frappe encore ! En secouant ses banderilles, plein de fureur, il court ! Le cirque est plein de sang ! On se sauve… on franchit les grilles ! C'est ton tour maintenant ! Allons ! en garde ! allons ! allons ! Ah ! (Refrain ×2) |:Toréador, en garde ! Toréador ! Toréador ! Et songe bien, oui, songe en combattant Qu'un œil noir te regarde, Et que l'amour t'attend, Toréador, l'amour, l'amour t'attend ! :| L'amour ! L'amour ! L'amour ! Toréador, Toréador, Toreador !

Your toast, I can return it to you, Señores, Señores, because with soldiers yes, toreros can get along; For the pleasures, for the pleasure they fight! The circus is full, it is a celebrating day! The circus is full from top to ground; The crowd goes mad, the crowd is arguing with great deal! Apostrophes, shouts and noises Push to the breaking point! Because it is the celebration of courage! It is the celebration of the braves of heart! Let's go! On guard! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! Ah! (Chorus ×2) |:Toreador, on guard! Toreador! Toreador! And think well, yes think as you are fighting that a dark eye is watching you, and that love is waiting for you, Toreador, love, love is waiting for you! :| All at once, we are silent, we are silent,... Oh, what is happening? No more shouts, this is it! No more shouts, this is it! The bull is rushing while jumping out of its fence! He is rushing in! He's entering, hitting! A horse is falling, Dragging down a picador. "Ah! Bravo! Toro!" the crowd is calling, The bull goes on... he comes... he comes, hitting once more! While shaking his banderillas , full of rage, he runs!... the circus is full of blood ! We flee... we pass the gates! It's your turn now! Let's go! On guard! Let's go! Let's go! Ah! (Chorus ×2) |: Toreador, on guard! Toreador! Toreador! And think well , yes think as you are fighting that a dark eye is watching you, and that love is waiting for you, Toreador, love, love is waiting for you! :| Love! Love! Love! Toreador, Toreador, Toreador!

References

1. Carmen, "No. 14 – Couplets", Choudens Père et Fils (1877)

External links

• "Toreador Song" on YouTube, Opera Company of Philadelphia at Reading Terminal Market in 2011
• French text and translation