Celebrate spring - Hector Berlioz (1803-1869)

In celebration of the vernal equinox, here is a bit of "Villanelle," from Les Nuits d'Ete, by Hector Berlioz, as sung by Veronique Gens:



From the cd, Berlioz - Les Nuits d'été · La mort de Cléopatre (2002), on the EMI label. A very thorough site about Berlioz can be found here.

Translation of the French text by Isabella G. Parker

When shall come Spring's delightful weather,
When bleak Winter hath passed away,
Then, my love, we will go together,
Gath'ring lilies in the woodland gay.
Pearls of dew from our footsteps flinging,
Trembling bright in the morning ray,
Then will we hear the blackbirds singing,
Then will we hear the blackbirds singing,
All day!


Spring is come, O my love, so brightly;
'Tis the month for all lovers blest:
Birdling, poised on his wing so lightly,
Singeth songs by his downy nest.
Oh, come. On mossy bank reposing,
We will talk of our love today,
Thy gentle voice thy love disclosing:
Thy gentle voice thy love disclosing:
Alway!


Far away through the wood we'll wander,
Fright the hare, hiding as we pass,
Where the deer sees his antlers yonder,
Mirrored fair in the Spring's clear glass;
Then alone in our sylvan pleasures,
Fingures twining, the while we roam,
We'll from the wood its fruity treasures,
We'll from the wood its fruity treasures
Bring home.