La Boheme by Puccini. The scene is Paris in the bitter cold of winter. Rodolfo, a young poet, is in a hurry to finish a poem
so that he can join his friends for a drink. There’s a knock on the door. It’s the girl from the room upstairs, Mimi. She says she
has lost her key. Pretty soon they are telling each other about themselves and it’s clear that they have a lot it common: they are
young and poor, but they are extremely sensitive and have great dreams. They both love the beautiful things that life can offer. And they both feel the terrible lack of that one thing they don’t have: love.
It won’t take Rodolfo long to tell her that he is smitten.
Rodolfo
O soave fanciulla, o dolce viso
Oh lovely girl, oh sweet face
Di mite circonfuso alba lunar
in the soft moonlight
In te ravviso il sogno ch’io vorrei sempre sognar!
In you I see the dream that I would like to dream forever.
Fremon già nell’anima le dolcezze estreme
Already in my soul I feel the sweetest things stirring.
Fremon nell’anima dolcezze estreme,
nel bacio freme amor!
in a kiss love trembles.
Mimi
Ah, Tu sol comandi, amore!
You alone command me, my love!
Tu sol comandi, amore!
O, come dolci scendono
Oh, how sweetly they melt my heart
le sue lusinghe al core!
those sweet illusions!
Tu sol comandi, amor! (He kisses her.)
No, per pietà! (She withdraws.)
No, for pity’s sake!
Rodolfo
Sei mia!
you are mine!
Mimi
V’aspettan gli amici
Your friends are waiting for you/
Rodolfo
Già mi mandi via?
You’re already getting rid of me?
Mimi
Vorrei dir, ma non oso
I would like to say it, but I dare not
Rodolfo
Di!
Say it!
Mimi
Se venissi con voi?
What if I were to come with you?
Rodolfo
Che? Mimì!
What? Mimi!
Sarebbe così dolce restar qui, c’è freddo fuori.
It would be so sweet to stay here, it’s cold out there.
Mimi
Vi starò vicina.
I will stay close to you.
Rodolfo
E al ritorno?
And when we get back?
Mimi
Curioso!
You’re too curious!
Rodolfo
Dammi il braccio, o mia piccina.
Give me your arm, you lovely little thing.
Mimi
Obbedisco, signor!
I obey, my lord!
Rodolfo
Che m’ami, di’
Tell me that you love me!
Mimi
Io t’amo
I do love you.
Both (off stage)
Amore! Amor! Amor!
If you didn’t see the movie “Moonstruck”, be sure to see it. Much of the music in it is from La Boheme. I confess to having watched it at least three times. The moon in that movie is at its fullest and it makes many of the characters do unusual things.
Here’s a clip from “Moonstruck” with Cher and Nicholas Cage. She is engaged to Cage’s brother, who is a very boring, cautious
fellow. Cher is lonely and lost her husband some time ago. She plans to go ahead with the wedding even though she is not
in love. The character played by Cage is a risk-taker in life. Totally unlike his brother. He is attracted to Cher (and she to him.)
In the following clip they are walking home from the opera (La Boheme). Cage tells Cher his views on life. One must follow
one’s passion and accept the extreme ups and downs.
Love Songs In Spanish for Enjoyment and Learning 