Outside this house the world has changed
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Opera Audition DVD, December 10, 2008.
Composer: Samuel Barber
Opera: Vanessa
Aria: ‘Outside this house, the world has changed’.
Synopsis: Anatol has just come back from “skating” with Erika’s mother, Vanessa. (Little does Vanessa know that Anatol had a one night stand with her daughter Erika when he first arrived at their house (snap!)). Erika is when she hears from Vanessa about the growing affection between Anatol and Vanessa. She then demands the truth from Anatol. In this aria, he evasively offers her his hand and affection but is unable to promise her eternal love. “He is the man of today; he only sees what is offered him; he will choose what is easier”.
Libretto:
Outside this house, the world has changed.
Life is swifter than before
There is no time for idle gestures.
I cannot offer you eternal love,
for we have learned today
such words are lies.
But the brief pleasures of passion. Yes! And sweet long friendship.
Who can resist your gentle beauty, Erika.
Oh how happy we could be together!
Do you know Paris? And Rome? Budapest? And Vienna…
The velvet rooms for jeweled suppers,
The coast of Spain for solitude,
The gilded grand hotels for dancing,
The glass and marble stations
For goodbyes.
This we could share, together
If you accept my love
And who knows
My love might last forever, Erika.
Life is so brief…
Recommended versions: Nicolai Gedda (RCA Metropolitan Opera), William Burden (BBC Symphony Orchestra.
Duration : 0:2:39
One Response to “Outside this house the world has changed”
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December 20th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
this was really …
this was really very nice. your voice is beautiful. very floating.