An exotic duet, perfumed one might say. Nothing at all to do with a wedding, but comes under the heading of "Good tunes that people might recognise".
Full Title Flower Duet from ‘Lakme’ – Leo Delibes (1836 - 1891)
Notes In the opera, the character Lakmé, is named after the Hindu Goddess of Wealth, Lakshmi. In this duet, Lakmé is accompanied by her servant, as she goes to bathe in the river. There is nothing in the words to suggest a marriage, and the only relationship in the opera at this point is one of suspicion and fear (despite the perfumed music).
At the end of the duet, the two characters leave the stage while singing, and the music becomes ever distant - it works well in a church setting.
Duration 5 minutes
Performers required
- Soprano and Mezzo accompanied by Organ or Piano
- Organ alone
- Piano alone
Source of printed music
Sous le dôme épais où le blanc jasmin
A la rose s'assemble
Sur la rive en fleurs riant au matin
Doucement glissons De son flot charmant
Suivons le courant fuyant
Dans l'onde frémissante
D'une main nonchalante
Viens, gagnons le bord,
Où la source dort et
L'oiseau, l'oiseau chante.
Sous le dôme épais ou le blanc jasmin,
Ah! descendons
Ensemble!
Under a dome of white jasmine
With the roses entwined together
On a river bank covered with flowers laughing in the morning
Gently floating on it's delightful rise and fall
On the river's current
On the shining waves
One hand reaches for the bank
Where the water sleeps and
The bird, the bird sings.
Under a dome of white jasmine
Ah! calling us
Together!
