OPERA SCENES LIBRETTO Draft 1

1) Smoking chorus, Carmen

SOP 1: Ciara, Bridget, Millie, Veronica, Bella

SOP 2: Bofan, Michaela, Darcie, Alex, Jo

SOP 1 Now at last we can finish up

SOP 2 Now at last we finish up

ALL What a shift!

I’ve never known

such a busy night in the wine bar.

Repeat

SOP 1 So many drinks, so many orders to take

SOP 2 Now it’s done

SOP 1 So many plates, so many glasses to clear

SOP 2 Now it’s done

SOP 1 I thought they’d never leave

SOP 2 Now it’s done

SOP 1 My feet are killing me

SOP 2 Now it’s done

ALL At last it’s done, at last it’s done

Just like my last love affair

SOP 2 It was crazy

ALL Now it’s done

What a night repeat

Ah!

I would kill for a drink, is there any more wine

I could sleep for a week.

What a night!

Now it’s done…

2) Recitative, Carmen

BELLA

So are we going out?

ALEX

Not me, I’ve had enough

It’s always the same

I choose the wrong guy

BELLA
But you never know

Don’t give up

3) Habanera, Carmen

ALEX

Last night I went out on a date

His profile sounded really great

The whole thing was a big mistake

I’d really rather have been at work

Love affairs can be so much fun

You think forever and then it’s done

When I want him he plays it safe

And then he calls me but I’ve moved on

ALL

L’amour et un oiseau rebelle

Que nul ne peut apprivoiser

Et c’est bien en vain wqu’on l’appelle

S’il lui convient de refuser.

(L’amour! – Alex)

ALEX
L’amour et enfant de Bohême,

Il n’a jamais, jamais connu de loi,

Si tu ne m’aime pas, je t’aime

Si je t’aime prends garde a toi!

ALL

Prends garde a toi! (2 parts)

ALEX

Si tu ne m’aime pas, si tu ne m’aime pas, je t’aime

ALL

Prends garde a toi! (2 parts)

ALEX

Mai si je t’aime, si je t’aime prends garde a toi!

ALL

L’amour et enfant de Bohême,

Il n’a jamais, jamais connu de loi,

Si tu ne m’aime pas, je t’aime

Si je t’aime prends garde a toi!

Prends garde a toi!

ALEX

Si tu ne m’aime pas, si tu ne m’aime pas, je t’aime

ALL

Prends garde a toi! (2 parts)

ALEX

Mai si je t’aime, si je t’aime prends garde a toi!

ALL

A toi!

4) Recitative, Cosi fan tutte Act 1 scene 8

ALI

There’s nothing quite so thankless

As managing this wine bar

From midday to midnight

I work, I slave, do my best,

And when I’m finished,

I have nothing to show for it.

For example, the bosses drink the best champagne on offer

And all they let me drink is cheap leftover house wine.

Do they think that I can’t taste the diff’rence?

That it’s fair that they have Moet, or Pol Roger,

But not for me?

Well now at last it’s my turn.

That’s more like it!

They’re coming! I’ll hide the bottle here.

My ladies, I have your drinks ready for you.

Goodness, what has happened?

AMELIA

Ah!

KATELYN

Ah!

ALI

What is the matter?

AMELIA

It’s so traumatic!

KATELYN

It has ruined my life!

ALI

How awful, tell me…

5) Recit & aria, Ah scostati & Smanie implacabili, Cosi fan tutte

KATELYN

Away from me!

I’ve never felt this dreadful

I might do something desperate.

You must close all the curtains

I hate the light

Hate the air I am breathing

I hate myself!

No-one knows how I feel

No-one here can soothe me

No, leave me here alone

Leave me

Leave me

Leave me here alone

Leave me to die here!

Smanie implacabili in Italian

6) Segue recitative, Cosi fan tutte

ALI

My lady Dorabella

ALEX
My lady Fiordiligi

MILLIE

Tell us: what has happened?

KATELYN

A terrible disaster!

ALI

Well, tell us all about it!

AMELIA

Our dear beloved boyfriends are leaving Adelaide!

MILLIE

Is that all? They'll be back.

KATELYN

Who knows!

ALEX

Why do you say that? Where have they gone?

KATELYN

They’ve been posted to New York!

ALEX

But that’s just what you hoped for – they’ll come back with their wallets full of

money!

AMELIA
But they might not come back!

ALI

And if they don’t, even better for you!

AMELIA

How dare you say that?

MILLIE

It's just the simple truth. Without these two, you’ll still have all the others.

AMELIA

Oh, if I lost my Bill, I think I'd rather die!

KATELYN

Oh, without my Freddie, I couldn’t bear it! I know I’d rather die!

ALEX

Bravo!

ALI

You think so, but it’s not true; I’ve never known a woman choosing to die for

love.

MILLIE

Kill yourself for a man? Why on earth would you? You can just play the field…

KATELYN

Where on earth could there be another man, who could come even close to her

Bill, or my Freddie?

ALI
They are no better or worse than the others. You say you love them now –

tomorrow you’ll find others.

MILLIE

One's as good as another – they’re not really worth it.

ALEX

But we won't go into that – they're just in New York…

MILLIE

… and from New York they’ll return.

ALI

But they're away now - so don’t waste any more time in crying, and in all this

emotion – it’s time to have some fun!

AMELIA

Have some fun?

MILLIE

Exactly! A new love affair will be so much fun.

ALEX

And you can bet that your lovers are doing the same as you.

KATELYN

Don't you dare to insult our fiancés! They are faithful, and loyal to the end.

ALI

You think that they’ll be faithful? There’s no way that is ever going to happen!
7) In uomini, Cosi fan tutte

ALI

True faithfulness? In your lovers?

You hope for loyalty?

In your lovers you hope for faithfulness?

In your lovers you hope for loyalty?

Loyalty!

Loyalty!

It’s about time you learnt the simple truth.

It’s about time you learnt the simple truth.

All men are made from the same cookie cutter.

Same cookie cutter.

Waves in the ocean, trees in the breezes

Have more stability than any man.

Gazing into your eyes, telling you charming lies,

Telling you that he’s a real new age man,

It’s just the beginning of their deceit,

Just the beginning of their deceit.

All that they want us for is their own pleasure

And they make sure that we wait at their leisure

Totally pointless to want them to care

Totally pointless to want them to care

Want them to care!

Want them to care!

Let’s pay them back the same way that they treat us,

Play them at their own game, cheat on the cheaters.

Love for convenience, love for ourselves,

Love for convenience, love for ourselves.

Love for convenience, love for ourselves,

La ra la, la ra la, la ra la la.

Love for convenience, love for ourselves. repeat

8) Temerari + Come scoglio, Cosi Act 1 no. 14

AMELIA

How insulting!

Leave our bar this very instant!

Do not ever dare to defame with your coarse and vulgar language

Our hearts, our ears, or our affections.

There is no way, it just won’t happen,

We’ll never forget our true loves.

Our hearts are loyal

And belong now and always

To our dear lovers.

We remain ever true

Til death depart us.

In the face of disaster,

we will stand by them.

Strong always,

My soul remains.

Faithful loyalty

And faithful love.

In our hearts was born the passion

That brings joy and consolation

And it’s death alone that offers

To change our hearts

Death alone can change our hearts

Death alone

Death alone can change our hearts

Death alone can change our hearts.

Have respect, you ungrateful woman

For this example of true devotion.

Don’t you vulgar rude employees

Ever doubt our faith again!

Never doubt our faith again! repeat

9) Recitative, Cosi fan tutte

ALEX

For heaven’s sake – how can you be so unrealistic? Are you women or not?

You’re acting like schoolgirls!

KATELYN

What do you mean?

BELLA

You think that love is so serious. But you have to be ready for every

opportunity!

AMELIA

You can behave like that if you want to.

ALEX

I do, always! And I wish you would, too. Your two New York lovebirds are off

having the time of their lives – don’t be left behind! It’s time to start making

your own adventures.

AMELIA

Absolutely not! How can you even suggest it?

KATELYN

But what if someone saw us?

BELLA

We can take care of that – spread a bit of gossip to hide your tracks…

ALEX

There’s no harm in just having a little look…

10) Una Donna – Cosi – for 3 voices

ALEX

Any girl in the twenty-first century

Needs to know the ways of flirting

What feels right to her

And what doesn’t

Dating apps are where it is at

BELLA

She should be on all the dating sites

Know the ways to attract a lover

Maybe laughing

Maybe crying

Making up the perfect profile.

ALEX

Maybe laughing

Maybe crying

Making up the best pretence.

ALI

In just one moment speak to a hundred

And to a thousand speak with your eyes

Give hope to all of them, handsome or ugly,

Learn to confuse them and stay in your power

Get good at lying

ALEX

Get good at lying

BELLA

Get good at lying

And like a princess

All high and mighty

Get what you want from them

As you deserve

ALEX + BELLA

And like a princess

Get what you want from them

As you deserve

BELLA

Seems like we’re winning (parch’abbian gusto)

ALEX

Let’s keep on going

They’re coming round to us,

We know the scene,

ALEX & BELLA

We know the scene

ALI

In just one moment speak to a hundred

And to a thousand speak with your eyes

Give hope to all of them, handsome or ugly,

Learn to confuse them and stay in your power

Get good at lying

ALI + BELLA

Get good at lying

ALEX, ALI, BELLA

Get good at lying

And like a princess

All high and mighty

Get what you want from them

As you deserve

And like a princess

Get what you want from them

As you deserve

ALI

And like a princess

All high and mighty

Have what you want now

BELLA

You want now

ALEX

You want now

ALL

Have what you want now as you deserve

Yes, as you deserve, yes, as you deserve.

ALEX

Seems like we’re winning

BELLA

Let’s keep on going

ALI

They’re coming round to us,

We know the scene.

ALL

They’re coming round to us,

We know the scene.

They’re coming round to us,

We know the scene,

We know the scene,

We know the scene.

11) Recitative segue, Cosi fan tutte

KATELYN

Well, what do you think? Surely it can’t hurt us, to create a profile on this

site, and have a look at who’s around…

AMELIA

I guess so

KATELYN

Shall we?

AMELIA

Ok, go ahead. But remember I warned you, if something does go wrong…

KATELYN

Nothing bad will happen, if we meet in public places. But one more thing –

we need to decide which dating app to use to start our profiles

AMELIA

I have no idea – you choose

KATELYN

I think it’s this one

12) Prenderò, Cosi fan tutte

KATELYN

I think I’ll put mine on Tinder

It’s the oldest and the best

AMELIA
Are you sure it’s better than Bumble

You can choose what happens next

KATELYN

I’ll put up my favourite picture

From my most attractive side

AMELIA

I don’t know which image I’ll use

I have so many selfies here

KATELYN

Should I say I like the movies?

AMELIA

I might tell them I like dancing

KATELYN

This is much more fun than I imagined

AMELIA

This is much more fun than I imagined

BOTH

He could be the perfect one

This is really an adventure

He could be the perfect one

This is really an adventure

He could be the perfect one

The perfect one

The perfect one

This is really an adventure

He could be the perfect one repeat

13) Recitative, Figaro

MICHAELA

So, how’s it going? Have you got a match yet?

JO

Have a look at this one, for him I’d swipe right

DARCIE

Swipe right! Then you can work out what to say next

MILLIE

And think of somewhere near here, to ask him to meet you

JO

In the pub?

MICHAELA

Or at a restaurant? This place?

KATELYN
Meet at work? How embarrassing…

DARCIE

We’ll make sure it’s quiet, it will be so much more private here

MILLIE

Time to write him a message

14) Sull’aria, Figaro

KATELYN

I’m ready

MICHAELA

I like romantic walks on beaches

DARCIE

Walks on beaches

MILLIE

Snuggling up by a log fire at evening

JO

Snuggling up by a log fire at evening

MICHAELA

My favourite music is opera by Mozart

MILLIE
Don’t say Mozart

JO

I like music by the Beatles

MILLIE

Yes the Beatles

DARCIE

Don’t say Mozart

MICHAELA

Then invite him for a drink

DARCIE

Yes invite him for a drink

JO MILLIE DARCIE MICHAELA

Ask him to bring you a red red rose

KATELYN

Are you sure I can send this?

MICHAELA & JO

I like romantic walks on beaches

MILLIE & DARCIE

Snuggling up by a log fire at evening

MICHAELA & JO

My favourite music is by the Beatles

Then invite him for a drink repeat – from here, Millie & Darcie top line,

Michaela & Jo 2nd line

Ask him to bring you a red red rose

Ask him to bring you a red red rose

A red red rose

A red red rose repeat

15) Recitative, Figaro

KATELYN

Well, wish me luck then

I’m feeling very nervous

AMELIA

Go for it!

You’ll be fine here

You’ve got help if you need it

I’m not quite finished

I’m going to think it over

I’m not sure if I’m ready

KATELYN

You should try it

You never know who is out there

AMELIA

Maybe tomorrow

I’m going for a walk now

16) Recitative Giunse alfin, Figaro

ALEX

Now at last is the moment

We’ll be here if you need us

Let’s hope that he’s good-looking

KATELYN

I’m still so nervous

I don’t know what to talk about

Perhaps I need a drink to calm my nerves

BELLA

You’ll be just fine

Perhaps try some deep breathing

Sit here by the window

You’ll see him

When he’s arriving

ALEX

Try to relax now

You never know

You might enjoy it.

17) Barcarolle, Tales of Hoffmann - in French

Opening – Darcie

2nd voice – Michaela

B section – Jo & Millie

From “Versez nous” section SOP 1 Michaela + Millie, SOP 2 Darcie + Jo

From reprise of “Belle nuit” add SOP 1 Veronica + Bridget; SOP 2 Bofan +

Ciara

18) Saria possible, L’elisir d’amore - Bella & chorus of 1st & 2nd years
GIRLS

Can it be possible?

BELLA

Oh yes, it’s possible.

GIRLS

I can’t believe it.

BELLA

Oh yes, believe it.

GIRLS

But tell us more, how did it happen?

BELLA

Quiet!

GIRLS

How did you find out? How do you know?

BELLA

Don’t let them hear you.

Don’t let them hear you: you must speak softly

Until our bosses know

It must be secret

The only person

Who knows what happened

Is our Despina who runs the bar.

SOP 2

If she has told you

Then it is true

We can rely on her

It must be true

SOP 1

We can rely on her

We can rely on her

(BELLA & SOP 2

Quiet!)

It must be true

It must be true

BELLA

So here’s what happened

On Dora’s date

Our Dorabella was waiting right here

While Fiordiligi went out

To walk, to relax, to think

Who should she meet

But Dora’s date on his way to the bar

You’ll keep the secret?

SOP 1
We won’t say a word.

BELLA

You’ll keep the secret?

SOP 2

We won’t say a word

SOPS 1 & 2

Won’t say a word

Won’t say a word

BELLA

Quiet!

SOP 2

Quiet

BELLA (no chorus under)

He stops to ask her for some directions

She doesn’t realise that he’s from Tinder

They get to talking, they like each other

And then he gives her the red red rose

But quiet!

Quiet!

Quiet!

Quiet!

SOP 1
But quiet it’s a secret

Quiet it’s a secret

Quiet it’s a secret

We won’t tell a soul

SOP 2

But it’s a secret

No, we won’t tell

But it’s a secret

No, we won’t tell

CHORUS

Quiet

Quiet

Quiet

No, we won’t tell

(BELLA “ Quiet”)

Quiet

BELLA with CHORUS

He stops to ask her for some directions

She doesn’t realise that he’s from Tinder

They get to talking, they like each other

And then he gives her the red red rose

But quiet!
Quiet!

Quiet!

Quiet!

SOP 1

But quiet it’s a secret

Quiet it’s a secret

Quiet it’s a secret

We won’t tell a soul

SOP 2

But it’s a secret

No, we won’t tell

But it’s a secret

No, we won’t tell

ALL

Quiet!

Quiet!

But quiet it’s a secret

We won’t tell a soul

He stops to ask her for some directions

She doesn’t realise that he’s from Tinder

They get to talking, they like each other

And then he gives her the red red rose

CHORUS

And then he gives her the red red rose

And then he gives her the red red rose

BELLA

Quiet!

Quiet!

ALL

No, we won’t tell

No, we won’t tell

No, we won’t tell!

19) Possible Recitative tbc

20) CAT DUET

1st 8 bars Katelyn

2nd bars Amelia

Page 4 top 2 staves Katelyn + Amelia

All join from page 4 bottom stave