Gracias, Sharpless !!!
Espléndidas ambas

. Les pongo la letra para que aprecien mejor las gracias interpretativas:
Glitter and be gay,
That's the part I play.
Here am I in Paris, France,
Forced to bend my soul
To a sordid role,
Victimized by bitter, bitter circumstance.
Alas for me, had I remained
Beside my lady mother,
My virtue had remained unstained
Until my maiden hand was gained
By some Grand Duke or other.
Ah, 'twas not to be;
Harsh necessity
Brought me to this gilded cage.
Born to higher things,
Here I droop my wings,
Singing of a sorrow nothing can assuage.
(Suddenly brighter.)
And yet, of course, I rather like to revel, ha, ha!
I have no, strong objection to champagne, ha, ha!
My wardrobe is expensive as the devil, ha, ha!
Perhaps it is ignoble to complain . . .
Enough, enough
Of being basely tearful!
I'll show my noble stuff
By being bright and cheerful!
Ha, ha ha ha . . .
(Reciting, to music.)
Pearls and ruby rings . . .
Ah, how can worldly things
Take the place of honor lost?
Can they compensate
For my fallen state,
Purchased as they were at such an awful cost?
Bracelets . . . lavalieres . . .
Can they dry my tears?
Can they blind my eyes to shame?
Can the brightest brooch
Shield me from reproach?
Can the purest diamond purify my name?
(Suddenly bright again; singing as she puts on enormous bracelets.)
And yet, of course, these trinkets are endearing, ha ha!
I'm oh, so glad my sapphire is a star, ha ha!
I rather like a twenty-carat earring, ha ha!
If I'm not pure, at least my jewels are!
(Puts on three more bracelets.)
Enough, enough!
I'll take their diamond necklace
And show my noble stuff
By being gay and reckless!
Ha ha ha ha ha . . .
Observe how bravely I conceal
The dreadful, dreadful shame I feel.
Ha ha ha ha ha, ha . . .
(Puts on a giant diamond necklace.)
Ha!
La obra es Candide. Cunegonde -la dama que canta- después de varias desgracias, se encuentra en París ejerciendo el antiguo y para algunas rentable oficio de la prostitución. En el aria se alterna el abatimiento de ver a qué se ha reducido su vida con la satisfacción -o el intento de encontrar satisfacción- en el elevado nivel de vida que disfruta ("si yo no soy pura, por lo menos mis joyas lo son !!"). Ahora vayan y transmitan eso con la coloratura
Baci,
Maddalena