The Barcarolle "Belle nuit, ô nuit d’amour" ("Lovely night, oh, night of love") from The Tales of Hoffman

 

 

Les contes d'Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffmann) is an opéra fantastique by Jacques Offenbach.  The French Libretto was written by Jules Barbier, based on three short stories by E. T. A. Hoffman. Hoffmann himself is used as the main protagonist in the opera. The opera's most famous aria is a barcarolle, a term that denotes any given boating folk song of the Venetian gondoliers, a piece of music composed in the style of such songs.

 



 



 

 Belle nuit, ô nuit d’amour

 

Belle nuit, ô nuit d’amour
 Souris à nos ivresses
Nuit plus douce que le jour
Ô,belle nuit d’amour!
Le temps fuit et sans retour
Emporte nos tendresses
Loin de cet heureux séjour
Le temps fuit sans retour
Zéphyrs embrasés
Versez-nous vos caresses
Zéphyrs embrasés
Donnez-nous vos baisers!
Vos baisers! Vos baisers! Ah!
Belle nuit, ô, nuit d’amour
Souris à nos ivresses
Nuit plus douce que le jour,
Ô, belle nuit d’amour!
Ah! souris à nos ivresses!
Nuit d’amour, ô, nuit d’amour!
Ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah!

 

 

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!
Your kisses! Your kisses! Ah!
Lovely night, oh, night of love
Smile upon our joys!
Night much sweeter than the day
Oh, beautiful night of love!
Ah! Smile upon our joys!
Night of love, oh, night of love!
Ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah!