Songs
Aimons-nous
(1892)
Aimons-nous
Aimons-nous et dormons Sans songer au reste du monde! Ni le flot de la mer, ni l’ouragan des montsTant que nous nous aimons Ne courbera ta tête blonde, Car l’amour est plus fortQue les dieux et la mort!Le soleil s’éteindrait Pour laisser ta blancheur plus pure, Le vent qui jusqu’à terre incline la forêt,En passant n’oserait Jouer avec ta chevelure, Tant que tu cacheras Ta tête entre mes bras!Et lorsque nos deux cœurs S’en iront aux sphères heureuses Où les célestes lys écloront sous nos pleurs,Alors, comme deux fleurs, Joignons nos lèvres amoureuses, Et tâchons d’épuiser La mort dans un baiser!
Let us love
Let us love and sleepWithout a care for the rest of the world! Neither ocean waves not mountain storms,While we still love each other, Can bow your golden head, For love is more powerful Than gods and death!The sun would extinguish its rays To make your purity more pure, The wind which inclines to earth the forestWould not in passing dare To frolic with your hair, While you nestle Your head in my arms.And when our two hearts Shall ascend to paradise,Where celestial lilies shall open beneath our tears,Then, like flowers, Let us join our loving lips And strive to exhaust Death in a kiss!
Translations by Richard Stokes, from A French Song Companion (Oxford, 2000)
If you would like to use our texts and translations, please click here for more information.
Composer
Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns was a French composer, organist, conductor, and pianist of the Romantic era. A musical prodigy, he gave his first concert at only 10 years old, before studying at the Paris Conservatoire.
Information from Wikipedia. Click here for more information.
See Full Entry
Poet
Sorry, no further description available.
Previously performed at:
- 27 Oct 2018: Mastercourse Concert
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Aimons-nous
Aimons-nous et dormons
Sans songer au reste du monde!
Ni le flot de la mer, ni l’ouragan des monts
Tant que nous nous aimons
Ne courbera ta tête blonde,
Car l’amour est plus fort
Que les dieux et la mort!
Le soleil s’éteindrait
Pour laisser ta blancheur plus pure,
Le vent qui jusqu’à terre incline la forêt,
En passant n’oserait
Jouer avec ta chevelure,
Tant que tu cacheras
Ta tête entre mes bras!
Et lorsque nos deux cœurs
S’en iront aux sphères heureuses
Où les célestes lys écloront sous nos pleurs,
Alors, comme deux fleurs,
Joignons nos lèvres amoureuses,
Et tâchons d’épuiser
La mort dans un baiser!
Let us love
Let us love and sleep
Without a care for the rest of the world!
Neither ocean waves not mountain storms,
While we still love each other,
Can bow your golden head,
For love is more powerful
Than gods and death!
The sun would extinguish its rays
To make your purity more pure,
The wind which inclines to earth the forest
Would not in passing dare
To frolic with your hair,
While you nestle
Your head in my arms.
And when our two hearts
Shall ascend to paradise,
Where celestial lilies shall open beneath our tears,
Then, like flowers,
Let us join our loving lips
And strive to exhaust
Death in a kiss!
If you would like to use our texts and translations, please click here for more information.
Composer
Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns was a French composer, organist, conductor, and pianist of the Romantic era. A musical prodigy, he gave his first concert at only 10 years old, before studying at the Paris Conservatoire.
Information from Wikipedia. Click here for more information.
See Full Entry
Poet
Sorry, no further description available.
Previously performed at:
- 27 Oct 2018: Mastercourse Concert
About Oxford Lieder
Oxford Lieder is one of the world's leading promoters of song and the winner of a prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society Award. The focal point of each year is the two-week Oxford Lieder Festival in October.
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