A Good Show is about to Play

Hugues and I had the second rehearsal of Carmen for two hours this morning. In less than one week, Hugues manifested his determination to perform "Toreador, en garde" to the best of his ability. He remembered the entire lyrics by heart, he sang with power and passion. His debut French opera will wow the full house of guests at Lydia's birthday party Saturday evening, November 5th.

In order to sing along with Hugues to achieve the theatrical effect, I studied "Toreador, en garde" with interest. And it reminded me of "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway in 1926 about the Festival of Fermín in Pamplona to watch the running of the bulls and the bullfights.

Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre, senor, senors, car avec les soldats
Oui, les Toreros, peuvent s'entendre;
Pour plaisirs, pour plaisirs, Ils ont les combats!
Le cirque est plein, c'est jour de fete! Le cirque est plein du haut en bas;
Les spectateurs, perdant la tete, Les spectateurs s'interpellent a grand fracas!

Apostrophes, cris et tapage Pousses jusques a la fureur!
Car c'est la fete du courage! C'est la fete des gens de coeur
Allons! en garde! Allons! Allons! ah!

Toreador, en garde! Toreador, Toreador!
Et songe bien, oui, songe en combattant
Qu'unoeil noir te regarde, Et que l'amour t'attend,

Toreador, L'amour ! L'amour! t'attend!
Et songe bien, oui, songe en combattant
Qu'un oeil noir te regarde,
Et que l'amour t'attend,
Toreador, L'amour t'attend!
L'amourL'amour!
Toreador, Toreador! L'amour! L'amour t'attend!

Toreador Song
Your toast, I can give it to you, Sirs, sirs, for along with the soldiers
Yes, the Toreros, can understand; For pleasures, for pleasures, They have combats!
The arena is full, it is the feast day! The arena is full, from top to bottom;

The spectators are losing their minds, The spectators began a big fracas!
Apostrophes, cries, and uproar grow to a furor!
Because it is a celebration of courage! It is the celebration of people with heart!
Let's go, en guard! Let's go! Let's go! Ah!

Toreador, en guard! Toreador, Toreador! And dream away, yes, dream in combat,
That a black eye is watching you, And that love awaits you,
Toreador, love, love awaits you!

And dream away, yes dream in combat, That a black eye is watching you
And may love await you, Toreador, love, love await you!

Love! Love! Love! Love, Love, Love, Toreador, Toreador, love awaits you!