"Adele's Laughing Song" (Mein Herr Marquis) | Die Fledermaus | Madeline Best

The Senior Recital of Madeline Best and Celia-Marie Bartholomew, from Suzanne Thorup's vocal studio, held on Saturday, June 29, 2024 at the Vieve Gore Concert Hall at Westminster University. I've had this aria for about 2 years now, and sung it for NATS this year and won 3rd place in HS IV Classical. For the recital I decided to incorporate a mask as a prop to play with the ideas of identity within the aria. I hope you enjoy it!
Aria: "Mein Herr Marquis" (Adele's Laughing Song)
Character: Adele
Opera: Die Fledermaus
Composer: Johann Strauss
Performed by Madeline Best, with live accompaniment by (the wonderful) Shelley Bennett.
Biographies/Headshots Link: drive.google.c...
German Text: (original)
Mein Herr Marquis, ein Mann wie Sie
sollt’ besser das verstehn,
darum rate ich, ja genauer sich
die Leute anzuseh’n!
Die Hand ist doch wohl gar so fein, ach!
Dies Füßchen so zierlich und klein, ach!
Die Sprache, die ich führe
die Taille, die Tournüre,
dergleichen finden Sie
bei einer Zofe nie,
Gestehen müssen Sie fürwahr,
Sehr komisch dieser Irrtum war,
Ja, sehr komisch, ha ha ha,
Ist die Sache, ha ha ha.
D’rum verzeihn Sie, ha ha ha,
Wenn ich lache, ha ha ha!
Sehr komisch, Herr Marquis Quin sind Sie!
Mit dem Profil im griechischen Stil
beschenkte mich Natur:
wenn nicht dies Gesicht schon genügend spricht,
So sehn Sie die Figur!
Schaun durch die Lorgnette Sie dann, ach,
sich diese Toilette nur an, ach.
Mir scheinet wohl, die Liebe
macht Ihre Augen trübe,
der schönen Zofe Bild
hat ganz Ihr Herz erfüllt!
Nun sehen Sie sie überall,
sehr komisch ist fürwahr der Fall!
English Translation:
My sir marquis, a man like you
Should better it understand,
Therefore advise I, certainly closer yourself
The people to-observe!
This hand is (but all so very) fine, ah!
This little-foot so dainty and small, ah!
The manner-of-speech, that I use,
The waist, my bustle,
The-same would-find you
On a chambermaid never!
Admit must you really,
Very funny this mistake was!
Yes, very funny, ha ha ha,
Is the matter, ha ha ha,
Therefore me-pardon you, ha ha ha,
(therefore you must pardon me)
If I laugh, ha ha ha!
Very funny, Sir Marquis, are you!
With this profile in-the Grecian style
Blessed me nature;
If not this face already enough says,
So look you at-my figure!
Look through the lorgnette you then, ah,
For-yourself this outfit just at, ah.
To-me it-seems then, [the] love
Has-made your eyes clouded,
The beautiful chambermaid’s image
Has totally your heart filled!
Now see you her everywhere,
Very funny in truth the situation!
Operatic Context: Adele is Rosalinde and Gabriel von Einstein’s chambermaid. Adele, tricked by Dr. Falke, who's seeking revenge on Einstein, is given an invitation from her “sister” to a party that Einstein and Rosalinde will be at. She is encouraged to steal one of Rosalinde’s dresses and make up a lie to get the day off. She does so, as she is an aspiring actress hoping to make connections at the party. Before the aria, Einstein recognizes her and Adele denies that she could possibly be a chambermaid. She shifts the blame to him in a charming, flirtatious way, in hopes of two things: convincing him she’s someone else so she’s not fired for going to the party and wearing Rosalinde’s dress without permission, and also showing off in order to get scouted as an actress.

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