George Bizet’s first opera Les pêcheurs de perles was first performed in 1863. It is best known for its tenor-baritone duet “Au fond du temple saint” which appears in the first act. Almost as well known is the tenor aria “Je crois encore entendre” which I’ll get around to in a later post.
Enrico Caruso and Mario Ancona set a high bar for the piece in their 1907 recording. In Italian the duet is Del tempio al limita. Caruso was in stunning form and Ancona was a singer trained in the bel canto tradition. The version is abridged to fit on a single side of a 78 rpm recording. The blend and balance between the two is virtually perfect.
Robert Merrill and Jussi Björling
The most famous recording of this duet was made about 60 years ago. Robert Merrill and Jussi Björling recorded it as part of a series of duets originally released on a 10″ vinyl disc. Their rendition took a while to achieve the near legendary status that it now has. Au fond du temple saint. It’s about as close to Caruso and Ancona as you can get.
Almost twenty five years later Merrill’s voice was still in glorious condition. This version was recorded at a 1973 Carnegie Hall concert with Richard Tucker. The program was repeated a short while later in Chicago where I heard the two aging singers at the city’s iconic Auditorium Theater. Tucker was 59 and Merrill 55. They were in as good voice in Chicago as they has been in New York. Au fond du temple saint .
There are many fine performances of this war horse, but it will be hard to find any better than these three. The words to the duet (without cuts) are below.
Robert Merrill and Richard Tucker
Au fond du temple saint
Paré de fleurs et d’or,
Une femme apparaît!
Je crois la voir encore!
Une femme apparaît!
Je crois la voir encore!
La foule prosternée
La regarde, etonnée,
Et murmure tous bas:
Voyez, c’est la déesse!
Qui dans l’ombre se dresse
Et vers nous tend les bras!
Son voile se soulève!
Ô vision! ô rêve!
La foule est à genoux!
Oui, c’est elle!
C’est la déesse
plus charmante et plus belle!
Oui, c’est elle!
C’est la déesse
qui descend parmi nous!
Son voile se soulève et la foule est à genoux!
Mais à travers la foule
Elle s’ouvre un passage!
Son long voile déjà
Nous cache son visage!
Mon regard, hélas!
La cherche en vain!
Elle fuit!
Elle fuit!
Mais dans mon âme soudain
Quelle étrange ardeur s’allume!
Quel feu nouveau me consume!
Ta main repousse ma main!
Ta main repousse ma main!
De nos cśurs l’amour s’empare
Et nous change en ennemis!
Non, que rien ne nous sépare!
Non, rien!
Que rien ne nous sépare!
Non, rien!
Jurons de rester amis!
Jurons de rester amis!
Jurons de rester amis!
Oh oui, jurons de rester amis!
Oui, c’est elle! C’est la déesse!
En ce jour qui vient nous unir,
Et fidèle à ma promesse,
Comme un frère je veux te chérir!
C’est elle, c’est la déesse
Qui vient en ce jour nous unir!
Oui, partageons le même sort,
Soyons unis jusqu’à la mort!
At the back of the holy temple,
decorated with flowers and gold,
A woman appears!
A woman appears!
I can still see her!
I can still see her!
The prostrate crowd
looks at her amazed
and murmurs under its breath:
look, this is the goddess
looming up in the shadow
and holding out her arms to us.
Her veil parts slightly.
What a vision! What a dream!
The crowd is kneeling.
Yes, it is she!
It is the goddess,
more charming and more beautiful.
Yes, it is she!
It is the goddess
who has come down among us.
Her veil has parted and the crowd is kneeling.
But through the crowd
she makes her way.
Already her long veil
hides her face from us.
My eyes, alas!
Seek her in vain!
She flees!
She flees!
But what is this strange flame
which is suddenly kindled in my soul!
What unknown fire is destroying me?
Your hand pushes mine away!
Your hand pushes mine away!
Love takes our hearts by storm
and turns us into enemies!
No, let nothing part us!
No, nothing!
Let nothing part us!
No, nothing!
Let us swear to remain friends!
Let us swear to remain friends!
Let us swear to remain friends!
Oh yes, let us swear to remain friends!
Yes, it is her, the goddess,
who comes to unite us this day.
And, faithful to my promise,
I wish to cherish you like a brother!
It is her, the goddess,
who comes to unite us this day!
Yes, let us share the same fate,
let us be united until death!
I dragged a friend to this her first opera and were both totally awed by the San Diego production. Incredible staging and lighting. I have several nice videos of this opera and they couldn’t compare with this production. Charles Castronovo and Ekatrina Suriana were both wonderful in the leads.
40 some years ago I had neighbors playing loud rock driving me nuts. I blasted them right back with the Gedda recording of this duet……….and they begged for more!!!!!!!
Way to blast those rockers opera babe
Great duet! Although I still have the 10″ LP it is available on CD with a few additions.