'Pres des Remparts de Seville' Lyrics

'Carmen' Rehearsal For Bregenz Festival
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The aria "Pres des remparts de Seville" is sung by the beautiful, free-spirited Carmen, in the first act of Bizet's famous opera of the same name"Carmen" tells the story of the gypsy woman who seduces soldier Don Jose. When she leaves him for the toreador Escamillo, Don Jose is overcome with jealousy and kills her. 

History of the Opera 'Carmen'

Bizet's opera debuted in 1875 at the Opera Comique in Paris. Its untraditional depiction of social status and morality made it highly controversial among contemporary French audiences. "Carmen" is set in southern Spain, and is written as an opera comique in four acts. 

Arias From 'Carmen'

In addition to "Pres des remparts de Seville," Bizet's most famous work has several other notable arias, including "Habanera" in Act I, where Carmen sings about love and desire, and the "Toreador Song" from Act II, which introduces Escamillo. 

Carmen Sings 'Pres des Remparts de Seville'

After she is arrested for fighting with a woman at the cigarette factory, Carmen sings "Pres des remparts de Seville." Don Jose, the soldier assigned to guard her, finds it hard to carry out his orders because Carmen is flirting with him. 

She sings of wanting to visit her friend, Lillas Pastia, who owns an inn near the wall of Seville. She proclaims that visiting the inn alone would lead to boredom, but visiting with another person would surely be much more pleasurable. She sings that she has rid herself of her last lover since he turned out to be a devil. Now that her heart is free to love, who will have her? The next man to love her, she will love in return.

French Lyrics of 'Pres des Remparts de Seville'

Pres des remparts de Seville,
Chez mon ami, Lillas Pastia
J'irai danser la Seguedille
Et boire du Manzanilla.
J'irai chez mon ami Lillas Pastia.
Oui, mais toute seule on s'ennuie,
Et les vrais plaisirs sont a deux;
Donc, pour me tenir compagnie,
J'emmenerai mon amoureux!
Mon amoureux, il est au diable,
Je l'ai mis a la porte hier!
Mon pauvre coeur tres consolable,
Mon coeur est libre comme l'air!
J'ai les galants a la douzaine,
Mais ils ne sont pas a mon gre.
Voici la fin de la semaine;
Qui veut m'aimer? Je l'aimerai!
Qui veut mon ame? Elle est a prendre.
Vous arrivez au bon moment!
J'ai guere le temps d'attendre,
Car avec mon nouvel amant,
Pres des remparts de Seville,
Chez mon ami, Lillas Pastia!

English Translation of 'Pres des Remparts de Seville '

Near the walls of Seville,
At my friend place, Lillas Pastia
I will dance the Seguedille
And drink Manzanilla.
I will go to the home of my friend Lillas Pastia.
Yes, all alone one can get bored,
And real pleasures are for two;
So, to keep me company,
I'll take my lover!
My love, he is the devil,
I did away with him yesterday!
My poor heart is very consolable
My heart is free as a bird!
I have a dozen suitors,
But they are not to my liking.
This is the end of the week
Who will love me? I will love him!
Who wants my soul? It is for you to take.
You arrive at the right time!
I have little time to wait,
Because with my new lover,
Near the walls of Seville,
I will go to my friend, Lillas Pastia!