A song from Célestine by Jean Paul Égide Martini (1741-1816)
“爱情之乐” (法 ) 尚.狄佛罗里阑 诗
马丁尼＂西拉丝汀＂剧插曲
Tr. YK Chan 陈耀国译
Comments: This classical French love song (Joy of Love) was originally intended for the male voice singing about his lost love (of a woman named Sylvie). However, there are many interpretations by female singers as shown in the links below. I find that of Victoria de Los Angeles the most outstanding in portraying a languishing lover. I am also surprised and impressed by the Chinese-Canadian countertenor, D. Kai Ma, in comparison with Elizabeth Schwarzkopf and Janet Baker. The contralto voice of Marian Anderson gives a dark and heavy version.
Of the popular simplified English versions of this song, Joan Baez offers a sweet and meditative folksy soprano voice, which is self-accompanied on the guitar, singing the first and last stanza in French (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA63-slwZCs). Elvis Presley sang the melody in the pop song “Can’t help falling in love”.
Note that the reference to flowing water in the lyrics parallels that in Jia BaoYu’s singing of “Song of the Red Bean” in Dream of Red Mansions.
Of the tenor voice, I prefer Fritz Wunderlich’s expression of lost love.
Performed by Fritz Wunderlich (tenor): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kICm5Lb04c&feature=related
By Jose’ Van Dam (baritone): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9-N1JKWmtM&feature=related
By Tito Schipa (tenor): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88qCOensANw&feature=related
By Victoria de Los Angeles (soprano): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HU2yiR5DTyk&feature=related
or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CBbi3o8k7I
By D. Kai Ma (馬稚凱) (counter-tenor): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjA9wszGM0I or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBh0q3OhYEM&feature=related
By Elizabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjBNp07_qok&feature=related
By Janet Baker (mezzo): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWNiKOBu3jE&feature=related
By Marian Anderson (contralto): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L856hexNxUU&feature=related
Plaisir d’amour
爱情之乐
ne dure qu’un moment,
不过一阵子,
Chagrin d’amour dure toute la vie.
爱情之惆怅却一世长。
J’ai tout quitté pour l’ingrate Sylvie.
我与忘恩的西尔维分手。
Elle me quitte et prend un autre amant.
她与我分手却另寻新欢。
Plaisir d’amour ne dure qu’un moment,
爱情之乐不过一阵子,
Chagrin d’amour dure toute la vie.
爱情之惆怅却一世长。
Tant que cette eau coulera doucement
此水尚静静的长流
Vers ce ruisseau qui borde la prairie,
向那草原边的溪涧,
Je t’aimerai, me répétait Sylvie,
我愿向西尓维重复申诉我爱你,
L’eau coule encore, elle a changé pourtant.
此水仍在长流，她却已变心。
Plaisir d’amour
爱情之乐
ne dure qu’un moment,
不过一阵子,
Chagrin d’amour dure toute la vie.
爱情之惆怅却一世长。