Belle Nuit (Barcarolle)
from The Tales of Hoffmann by
Suitable for: Before the Ceremony | Signing the Registers | Civil Ceremony
Transport yourselves to a night of love in Venice. Unbeatable.
Full Title Barcarolle (Belle Nuit) from The Tales of Hoffmann – Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880)
Notes from the opera Les contes d'Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffmann). The opening of Act III, which takes place at Carnival, in Venice; Giuletta et Nicklausse declare their love. You can hear the waves lapping in the canals.
NB there is a very long introduction of about one and a half minutes, which is usually cut or omitted altogether.
Duration 3 minutes (without the introduction)
Performers required
- soprano and mezzo accompanied by Organ or Piano
- Organ alone
Source of printed music Organ arrangement by Ernest Newton, published by Cramer, n.d. published by Oxford University Press
Belle nuit, o nuit d’amour,
Souris a nos ivresses,
Nuit plus donce que le jour,
O belle nuit d’amour!
Le temps fuit et sans retour
Emporte nos tendresses!
Loin de cet heureux sejour,
Le temps fuit sans retour
Zephyrs embrasés
Versez nous vos caresses;
Zephyrs embrasés
Donnez nous vos baisers.
Lovely night, oh night of love,
Smile upon our joys!
Night much sweeter than the day,
Oh beautiful night of love!
Time flies by, and carries away
Our tender caresses for ever!
Time flies far from this happy oasis
And does not return.
Burning zephyrs,
Embrace us with your caresses!
Burning zephyrs,
Give us your kisses!
Text by Jules Barbier (1825 – 1901)
