A duet by the Russian operatic soprano Aida Garifullina and the legendary Spanish tenor Plácido Domingo: Violetta-Germont duet from La Traviata (The Fallen Woman), an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi set to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. Recorded on May 22, 2014, at the TatNeft Arena. Kazan, Russia. State Symphony Orchestra of the Republic of Tatarstan conducted by Eugene Kohn.

Violetta-Germont duet from La Traviata (The Fallen Woman), an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi. Plácido Domingo (tenor), Aida Garifullina (soprano).

Violetta-Germont duet from La Traviata

“La Traviata” is an opera by Giuseppe Verdi, based on Alexandre Dumas Fils’s novel “La Dame aux Camélias.” The opera revolves around the love story between a courtesan named Violetta Valéry and a young nobleman named Alfredo Germont.

In Act II, there’s a central and emotional moment where Giorgio Germont, Alfredo’s father, visits Violetta. He requests that she end her relationship with Alfredo to protect his family’s reputation. Germont’s younger daughter is about to get married, and Violetta’s association with Alfredo might jeopardize this marriage due to societal prejudices. Furthermore, he’s concerned that Violetta’s past might bring disgrace to the Germont family name.

During this confrontation, Violetta expresses her deep love for Alfredo and how she has sacrificed everything for their relationship. Germont, while initially stern, reveals a compassionate side as he acknowledges the sacrifices Violetta would make by leaving Alfredo. By the end of their exchange, a heartbroken Violetta agrees to sacrifice her happiness for the sake of Germont’s family.

This duet between Violetta and Germont is one of the most poignant moments in the opera, highlighting Verdi’s ability to convey deep emotion through his music and underscoring the conflict between individual passion and societal expectations.

Violetta-Germont duet Lyrics [text]

Italian

GERMONT
D’Alfredo il padre
la sorte, l’avvenir domanda or qui
de’ suoi due figli.

VIOLETTA
Di due figli!

GERMONT
Sì!
Pura siccome un angelo
Iddio mi diè una figlia;
se Alfredo nega riedere
in seno alla famiglia,
l’amato e amante giovine
cui sposa andar dovea,
or si ricusa al vincolo
che lieti ne rendeva.
Deh, non mutate in triboli
le rose dell’amor.
A’ prieghi miei resistere no, no
non voglia il vostro cor.

VIOLETTA
Ah, comprendo – dovrò per alcun tempo
da Alfredo allontanarmi – doloroso
fora per me – pur –

GERMONT
Non è ciò che chiedo.

VIOLETTA
Cielo, che più cercate?
Offersi assai!

GERMONT
Pur non basta.

VIOLETTA
Volete che per sempre a lui rinunzi?

GERMONT
È d’uopo!

VIOLETTA
Ah no! – giammai! No, no!
Non sapete quale affetto
vivo, immenso m’arda in petto?
Che né amici, né parenti
io non conto tra’ viventi?
E che Alfredo m’ha giurato
che in lui tutto troverò?
Non sapete che colpita
d’atro morbo è la mia vita?
Che già presso il fine vedo?
Ch’io mi separi da Alfredo!

Ah, il supplizio è sì spietato,
che a morir preferirò.

GERMONT
È grave il sacrifizio,
ma pur tranquilla uditemi,
bella voi siete e giovine –
col tempo –

VIOLETTA
Ah, più non dite –
v’intendo – m’è impossibile.
Lui solo amar vogl’io.

GERMONT
Sia pure – ma volubile sovente è l’uom –

VIOLETTA
Gran Dio!

GERMONT
Un dì, quando le veneri
il tempo avrà fugate,
fia presto il tedio a sorgere –
che sarà allor? Pensate –
per voi non avran balsamo
i più soavi affetti,
poiché dal ciel non furono
tai nodi benedetti.

VIOLETTA
È vero! È vero!

GERMONT
Ah, dunque sperdasi tal sogno seduttore.

VIOLETTA
È vero! È vero!

GERMONT
Siate di mia famiglia
l’angel consolatore
Violetta, deh, pensateci,
ne siete in tempo ancor.
È Dio che ispira, o giovine,
tai detti a un genitor.

VIOLETTA
Così alla misera ch’è un dì caduta,
di più risorgere speranza è muta!
Se pur benefico le indulga Iddio,
l’uomo implacabil per lei sarà.

GERMONT
Siate di mia famiglia l’angiol consolator.

VIOLETTA (poi, piangendo, a Germont)
Ah! dite alla giovine sì bella e pura
ch’avvi una vittima della sventura,
cui resta un unico raggio di bene –
che a lei il sacrifica e che morrà!

GERMONT
Piangi, piangi, o misera, supremo, il veggo,
è il sacrifizio che ora ti chieggo.
Sento nell’anima già le tue pene;
coraggio e il nobile tuo cor vincerà!

VIOLETTA
Dite alla giovine sì bella e pura
ch’avvi una vittima della sventura,
cui resta un unico raggio di bene
che a lei il sacrifica e che morrà!

English

GERMONT
Alfredo’s father
asks you to decide the fate
of his two children.

VIOLETTA
His two children!

GERMONT
Yes.
God blessed me with a daughter,
like an angel in her purity;
If Alfredo refuses to return
to the bosom of his family,
the young man in love and be loved in turn,
who was soon to marry my daughter,
would reject this bond
on which our happiness depends.
Ah, do not be the cause of love’s roses
changing into thorns.
Do not let your heart refuse
what I so fervently ask of you. No! No!

VIOLETTA
Ah, I understand – I must leave Alfredo
for a time. It will be painful
for me – yet –

GERMONT
That is not what I ask.

VIOLETTA
Heaven, what more can you ask?
I offered so much!

GERMONT
But not enough.

VIOLETTA
Do you want me to give him up forever?

GERMONT
You must!

VIOLETTA
No – never! No, no!
Can you not see what tremendous,
burning love I feel for him,
I, who have no friends or family
among the living?
Don’t you know that Alfredo swore
that I should find everything in him?
Don’t you know that my life
is endangered by a terrible disease,
that I have but a short time to live?
To leave Alfredo forever?

Ah, the anguish would be so cruel
that I should prefer to die.

GERMONT
The sacrifice is great,
but hear me out patiently.
You are still young and beautiful –
in time –

VIOLETTA
Ah, say nothing more.
I understand – I cannot –
I shall never love anyone but him.

GERMONT
That may well be – but men are often fickle.

VIOLETTA
Oh God!

GERMONT
Once time has staled
the delights of love,
tedium will follow quickly.
Then what? Think –
Even the deepest feelings
can bring you no balm,
since this bond was never
blessed by heaven.

VIOLETTA
It’s true! It’s true!

GERMONT
Ah, then lay aside this beguiling dream.

VIOLETTA
It’s true! It’s true!

GERMONT
Be rather the consoling angel
of my family.
Violetta. Think –
You still have time.
Young lady, it is God who inspires
these words on a father’s lips.

VIOLETTA
All hope of rising again is forever gone.
For the wretched woman who erred one day!
Even if God grants her mercy charitably
Man will always be implacable.

GERMONT
Be rather the consoling angel of my family.

VIOLETTA (then, to Germont as she weeps)
Oh, tell your daughter, so lovely and pure,
that a poor and wretched woman,
who has but one precious thing in life –
will sacrifice it for her – and then will die!

GERMONT
Weep, weep, poor girl. I see now
that the sacrifice I asked could not be greater.
Within my heart I feel what you must suffer;
Be brave, your noble heart will conquer all.

VIOLETTA
Tell your daughter, so lovely and pure,
that a poor and wretched woman,
who has but one precious thing in life –
will sacrifice it for her – and then will die!

Sources

M. Özgür Nevres

Published by M. Özgür Nevres

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