William Wu (吳文修)："Libiamo ne' lieti calici (乾杯之歌)" from "La Traviata (茶花女')". Berlin, 1974.

Maestro William Wu (吳文修教授, 1935-2009) was a primo dramatic tenor of the National Opera House in Berlin during 1973-79. His biography has been included in Who’s Who in Opera, The New York Times, since 1976, where he was further selected as one of the 50 leading classical singers in the world. His outstanding performance as Radames in Verdi’s Aida in Tokyo won him the 1984 Vienna World Opera Award. His faultless vocalization is mainly based upon anatomic physiology and modern sound science fascinating with uniquely perfect high notes and solid middle register. It is the profound feelings in the every note he sings that is particularly touching. Among his numerous students in Taiwan and Japan, baritone Te-Tsung Hsu (許徳崇) is one of the best and tenor Yun-Seng Giang (姜雲生) used to receive the most care.

For more nice-listening singing of Maestro William Wu, please visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/312817434432486

* Synopsis of “Libiamo ne' lieti calici (Let's drink from the joyful cups)” from “La Traviata” by Verdi:

In tha Act 1 of Verdi’s opera “La Traviata”, Violetta Valéry, a famed courtesan, throws a lavish party at her Paris salon to celebrate her recovery from an illness. Gastone, a viscount, has brought with him a friend, Alfredo Germont, a young bourgeois from a provincial family who has long adored Violetta from afar. While walking to the salon, Gastone tells Violetta that Alfredo loves her, and that while she was ill, he came to her house every day. Alfredo joins them, admitting the truth of Gastone's remarks.

Baron Douphol, Violetta's current lover, waits nearby to escort her to the salon. Once there, the Baron is asked to give a toast, but refuses, and the crowd turns to Alfredo, who agrees to sing a brindisi – a drinking song.

* 威爾第歌劇《茶花女》中的「乾杯之歌（讓我們用歡樂的杯子暢飲）」的劇情簡介:

在威爾第歌劇《茶花女》的第一幕中，著名妓女薇奧麗特在她位於巴黎的沙龍舉辦了一場豪華派對，慶祝自己病癒。加斯頓是一位子爵，他帶來一位朋友阿弗雷德 ― 一位來自外省家庭的年輕資產階級，長期以來一直遠遠地崇拜著薇奧麗特。 在前往沙龍的路上，加斯頓告訴薇奧麗特，阿弗雷德愛她，在她生病期間，每天都來她家。阿弗雷德加入他們，承認加斯頓所言為真。

薇奧麗特現在的情人杜佛爾男爵就在附近等著護送她去沙龍。 到那裡後，男爵被要求敬酒，但他拒絕了；人群轉向阿弗雷德，他同意唱一首飲酒歌。

* Italian lyrics of “Libiamo ne' lieti calici (Let's drink from the joyful cups)” from “La Traviata” by Verdi:

[Alfredo]
Libiamo, libiamo ne’ lieti calici
che la bellezza infiora.
E la fuggevol ora s’inebrii a voluttà
Libiam ne’ dolci fremiti che suscita l’amore,
poiché quell’ochio al core onnipotente va.
Libiamo, amore, amor fra i calici più caldi baci avrà.

[Coro]
Ah! Libiam, amor, fra’ calici più caldi baci avrà

[Violetta]
Tra voi tra voi saprò divider il tempo mio giocondo;
Tutto è follia, follia nel mondo ciò che non è piacer.
Godiam, fugace e rapido è il gaudio dell’amore,
è un fior che nasce e muore, ne più si può goder.
Godiamo, c’invita, c’invita un fervido accento lusinghier.

[Coro]
Godiamo, la tazza, la tazza e il cantico,
la notte abbella e il riso;
in questo paradiso ne scopra il nuovo dì

[Violetta]
La vita è nel tripudio.

[Alfredo]
Quando non s’ami ancora…

[Violetta]
Nol dite a chi l’ignora,

[Alfredo]
È il mio destin così…

[Tutti]
Godiamo, la tazza, la tazza e il cantico,
la notte abbella e il riso;
in questo paradiso ne scopra il nuovo dì.

* English translation of the lyrics of “Libiamo ne' lieti calici (Let's drink from the joyful cups)” from “La Traviata” by Verdi:

[Alfredo]
Let's drink from the joyful cups.
Let's drink from the joyous chalices that beauty blossoms.
And may the fleeting moment be elated with voluptuousness.
Let's drink from the sweet thrills that love arouses,
because that eye aims straight to the almighty heart.

[Chorus]
Let's drink, my love: the love among chalices will have warmer kisses.

[Violetta]
Ah! Let's drink, my love: the love among chalices will have warmer kisses.
With you, I'll be able to share my cheerful times.
Everything is foolish in the world which is not pleasure.
Let's enjoy ourselves, for fleeting and quick.
The delight of love is:
it's a flower that blooms and dies and can no longer be enjoyed.
Let's enjoy ourselves, fervent flattering voice invites us!

[Chorus]
Ah! Let's enjoy the cup, the cup and the chants, the embellished night and the laughter;
let the new day find us in this paradise.

[Violetta]
Life means celebration.

[Alfredo]
If one hasn't known love,

[Violetta]
Don't tell someone who doesn't know,

[Alfredo]
But this is my fate...

[All]
Ah, yes! Let's enjoy the cup, the cup and the chants,
the embellished night and the laughter;
let the new day find us in this paradise.

* 威爾第歌劇《茶花女》中的「乾杯之歌（讓我們用歡樂的杯子暢飲）」的歌詞中譯:

[阿弗雷德]
讓我們用歡樂的杯子暢飲!
讓我們用歡樂的聖杯暢飲!
那杯中自有美麗的花朵綻放。
願在稍縱即逝的瞬間因盡興而得意。
讓我們暢飲那愛所喚起的甜蜜刺激!
因為那隻眼睛直視到全能之心。

[合唱]
我們喝吧，我親愛的朋友：聖杯之間的愛會有更溫暖的吻。

[薇奧麗特]
啊! 我們喝吧，我親愛的朋友：聖杯之間的愛會有更溫暖的吻。
和你們在一起，就能分享快樂的時光。
世界上的一切都是愚蠢的，那不是快樂。
讓我們享受轉瞬即逝的快感吧!
愛情的樂趣在於：
它是一朵盛開卻又很快凋謝的花，無法長久享受。
讓我們盡情享受，是熱情洋溢而諂媚的聲音邀請我們！

[合唱]
啊! 讓我們一起品酒、頌歌，
絢麗的夜晚和歡笑；
讓新的一天在這個天堂找到我們。

[薇奧麗特]
生命意味著慶祝。

[阿弗雷德]
如果一個人還不懂得愛，

[薇奧麗特]
不要告訴不知道的人

[阿弗雷德]
但這就是我的命…

[全體]
是啊！讓我們一起品酒、頌歌，享受絢麗的夜晚和歡笑；
讓新的一天在這個天堂找到我們。