"" is a popular mezzo-soprano aria from Camille Saint-Saëns's opera Samson and Delilah, known in English as "Softly awakes my heart", or more literally "My heart opens itself to your voice". It is sung by Delilah in act 2 as she attempts to seduce Samson into revealing the secret of his strength.Freeman, John W. Samson et Dalila, Metropolitan Opera. Accessed 6 August 2017
Music In the opera, Delilah is responding to Samson's words "" (Delilah! Delilah! I love you!) which he repeats between the first and second verses of her aria; these interjections are omitted in recital performances or sometimes sung to the changed words ""; Samson's part in the final 22 bars of the stage aria where he joins Delilah in a duet is also omitted in a recital, although some performers, notably Marilyn Horne and Jessye Norman, have sung Samson's final words – changed as above, rising to a high B. A performance takes between and minutes.
The aria is notated in D major with time signatures of for the verse and common time (4/4) for the refrain (""); the tempo indication is andantino ( = 66) for the verses and un poco più lento (a little slower) for the refrain. The vocal range extends from B3 to G5, with a tessitura from E4 to E5."Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix", Aria Database
The instrumentation calls for 2 flutes, 1 oboe, 1 English horn, 2 clarinets in A, 1 bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, 3 horns, 1 trumpet, 3 trombones, timpani, harp and strings. All instrument lines, except the harp, make intensive use of divisi (cellos play in four divisi). The orchestral accompaniment consists mainly of reiterated notes for the first verse and of falling chromatic lines for the second verse; the refrain is accompanied by ascending broken chords.
The melismatic setting of the lyrics present a particular challenge for the performance of this aria as it requires legato singing over a wide range.
Lyrics Original FrenchEnglish translationOberlin College, Program Notes: Artist Recital Series – Denyce Graves, 7 May 2003. Accessed 16 February 2009Poetic English"My Heart at Thy Dear Voice – Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix", Piano–vocal score, English version by George CooperMon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix, comme s'ouvrent les fleurs aux baisers de l'aurore! Mais, ô mon bienaimé, pour mieux sécher mes pleurs, que ta voix parle encore! Dis-moi qu'à Dalila tu reviens pour jamais. Redis à ma tendresse les serments d'autrefois, ces serments que j'aimais!
Dalila! Dalila! Je t'aime!
Ainsi qu'on voit des blés les épis onduler sous la brise légère, ainsi frémit mon cœur, prêt à se consoler, à ta voix qui m'est chère! La flèche est moins rapide à porter le trépas, que ne l'est ton amante à voler dans tes bras!
Dalila! Dalila! Je t'aime!My heart opens to your voice Like the flowers open To the kisses of the dawn! But, oh my beloved, To better dry my tears, Let your voice speak again! Tell me that you are returning To Delilah forever! Repeat to my tenderness The promises of old times, Those promises that I loved!
Delilah! Delilah! I love you!
Like one sees the blades Of wheat that wave In the light wind, So trembles my heart, Ready to be consoled, By your voice that is so dear to me! The arrow is less rapid In bringing death, Than your love is By flying into your arms!
Delilah! Delilah! I love you!My heart at thy dear voice Wakes with joy, like the flow'r At the sun's bright returning! But O, my dearest one, That grief may lose its pow'r, Say 'tis mine, thy heart's yearning! Oh, bide here at my side! Promise ne'er thou'lt depart! Once more those vows so loving Let me hear from thy heart! Breathe that mine still thou art!
Delilah! Delilah! I love thee!
As winds o'er golden grain Softly sigh roving by, Till 'tis swaying like the ocean, So sways my burning heart With rapture when thou'rt nigh! And thy voice speaks thy devotion! The dart is not so swift, Bearing fear in its flight, As I speed to be held In thine arms of delight!
Delilah! Delilah! I love thee!
In modern music The aria's melody appears in the song "Night", written by John Lehmann and Ron Miller and performed in 1960 by Jackie Wilson.
Julie Andrews and Italian-American tenor Sergio Franchi sang this aria in duet on the 17 February 1973 ABC TV broadcast of The Julie Andrews Hour.The Julie Andrews Hour, episode guide
A version of the song appeared on the debut album of Klaus Nomi in 1981.
Run–D.M.C.'s Joseph Simmons' rendition of this song appears on the 1997 album The Rapsody Overture: Hip Hop Meets Classic, a collection of hip hop songs intertwined with classical vocals and music.
A montage of the last two lines of this aria has been recorded by English alternative rock band Muse, and is included in the track titled "I Belong to You (+)" of their 2009 album The Resistance.
References
External links
Audio file: "Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix" sung by Louise Homer. Recorded October 11, 1909. , sung in French by Elīna Garanča; Metropolitan Opera 2018–19, Great Performances , sung in Italian by Renata Tebaldi