Opera North is delighted to share our love of music at Matariki! These kupu Māori represent a poetic reinterpretation by Opera singer and licensed translator Kawiti Waetford MA (Wales), BMus (Otago). Opera is an artform that is shared across centuries, and languages. This is Opera North’s contribution to the unbroken threads of sound that make up a rich universal chorus.
Barcarolle 1881
Jacques Offenbach
Pō koea, he pō aroha - Nightfall, indeed, a night of love
E tītaha ake nei. - Tilting gently this way.
E tō e te rā, nau mai te pō. - As the sun sets, welcome, night.
Te pō te rerehua. - The night, the beautiful one.
Mahuta ana te marama - The moon rises
i taharangi. - in the distant sky.
Hei kawe i ngā tūmanako - To carry our hopes
kia whetūrangi. - to the starlit heavens.
Pupuhi nei te hau, - The wind blows,
anō he awhi kau. - as if embracing us.
Pupuhi nei te hau, - The wind blows,
mori pāpāringa, - a tender caress,
Takamori. - a soft caress.
--
Original Language (French)
Belle nuit, ô nuit d'amour
Souris à nos ivresses.
Nuit plus douce que le jour
Ô, belle nuit d'amour.
Le temps fuit et sans retour
Emporte nos tendresses.
Loin de cet heureux séjour
le temps fuit sans retour.
Zéphyrs embrasés
Versez-nous vos caresses.
Zéphyrs embrasés
Versez-nous-nous vos baisers.
Vos baisers
Belle nuit, ô nuit d'amour,
Souris à nos ivresses.
Nuit plus douce que le jour.
Ô, belle nuit d'amour.
Ô, nuit d'amour,
Nuit d'amour, ô belle nuit d'amour
C’est la petit’ fill’ du prince 1945
Francis Poulenc
Waerea te papa, waerea te rangi e tū nei. - Clear the earth, clear the sky that sits above.
Mānawa maiea a Matariki, Puanga. - Let us celebrate Matariki and Puanga.
Mānawa maiea te mātahi o te tau. - Celebrate the rising of the new year.
E Pōhutukawa ruia ngā mate hei whetū e. - O Pōhutukawa, place the spirits of the departed to shine as stars.
E Tupuanuku, whenua momona o Rongo e. - O Tupuanuku, fertile earth of Rongo.
E Tupuarangi, te pōkai tara o Tāne e. - O Tupuarangi, the flocking birds of Tāne.
E Waitī, he wai māori nō Parawhenuamea. - O Waitī, the fresh waters from Parawhenuamea.
E Waitā, ko te wai tai, te ora o Tangaroa. - O Waitā, the salt waters, the life of Tangaroa.
Waipunarangi, te ua o Tawhiriua e. Waipunarangi, the rains of Tawhiriua.
Ururangi, hau pūkeri, ko Tawhirirangi e. - Ururangi, the swirling winds of Tawhirirangi.
Hiwa-i-te-rangi, manako nui o te iwi e. - Hiwa-i-te-rangi, great aspirations of the people.
Tēnei te ara o Puanganui, o Puangarua. - This is the pathway of Puanganui, of Puangarua.
Ko ngā mata o te ariki, Tāwhirimatea. - The eyes of the great Lord, Tāwhirimatea.
Original Language (French)
C’est la petit’ fill’ du prince qui voulait se marier.
Sus l’bord de Loire mariez-vous, la belle,
Sus l’bord de l’eau, sus l’bord de Loire joli matelot.
Elle voit venir un’ barque et quarant’ galants dedans.
Le plus jeune des quarante lui commence une chanson.
Votre chanson que vous dites je voudrais bien la savoir.
Si vous venez dans ma barque, belle, je vous l’apprendrai.
La belle a fait ses cent toures en écoutant la chanson.
Tout au bout de ses cent toures la bell’ se mit à pleurer.
Pourquoi tant pleurer, ma mie, quand je chante une chanson ?
C’est mon cœur qu’est plein de larmes parc’que vous l’avez gagné.
Ne pleur’ plus ton cœur, la belle, car je te le renderai.
N’est pas si facile à rendre comme de l’argent prêté.
Soave Sia Il Vento 1790
Mozart
Hau pūangiangi - Gentle breeze
Tai marino - Calm waters
Ngā mana o taiao - The power of the elements
E tauawhi nei - That embrace us
Te kōingo o te ngākau - The desires of the heart
--
Original Language (Italian)
Soave sia il vento,
Tranquilla sia l’onda.
Ed ogni elemento
Benigno risponda
Ai nostril (vostri) desir.
Orfeo ed Euridice Act 1 Scene 1
1762
Christopher Gluck
Auē! Ko koe rā e tīraha neina; e Euritīhe, aro mai rā. Whakarongo mai rā
Oh woe! You who lie supine; Eurydice, hear us. Listen-
Ki ngā tangi apakura, ngā mōteatea e ngau kino nei, e ngau kino nei i a mātou.
To the lamenting cries that cause us so much pain.
Tō tau aroha, e pihe neina kia awhireinga kourua- auraki mai.
Your beloved, who in his extreme grief longs to reunite with you in spirit- return.
Punarua. Te tau o te ate. Hinga tōtara, ngū te wao nui. Poroporoakitia rā ko koe.
Paired. Soul mates. Tōtara falls, the great forest is silent. You are bid farewell.
--
Original Language (Italian)
Ah! se intorno a quest’urna funesta, Euridice, ombra bella, t’aggiri,
Odi i pianti, i lamenti, i sospiri Che dolenti si spargon per te.
Ed ascolta il tuo sposo infelice Che piangendo. Ti chiama e si lagna.
Come quando La dolce compagna Tortorella amorosa perdé.
Va Pensiero 1842
Guiseppe Verdi
Rau mahara, rere arorangi - Countless memories, fly skyward
Ki ngā maunga, ngā whenua_o te kāinga; - to the mountains, the lands of home;
hoki_atu rā ki ngā hau maiangi, - return now to the gentle breezes,
Ki te tīhau a te kōkōtea. - to the song of the kōkōtea (tūī).
Ka mihi aroha ki te hunga - With heartfelt love we acknowledge those
kua riro atu rā ki te pō nui.- who have departed to the great night.
Ōhākītia rā koutou kua mū nei, - Your farewells now complete, you who are silent,
e te tini ngerongero. - multitudes beyond number.
Aratakina mai mātou ngā morehu; - Guide us, the survivors;
wahangū nei te tūpou ki raro. - bowed in silence, our heads to the ground.
Maranga ake, matika e te iwi, - Rise up, stand tall, O people,
Kia hīkoia te marama. - that we may walk in the light.
Ko ōku tapuwae hei whangai manea; - Let my sacred footsteps nourish the pathway,
ngā uri ka whai mai i a tātou. - for the descendants who will follow us.
E te iwi, kia manawaroa. - O people, be steadfast,
Ākina tātou e tū kau nei. - let us be encouraged, we who now simply stand.
--
Original Language (Italian)
Va', pensiero, sull'ali dorate;
Va, ti posa sui clivi, sui colli,
ove olezzano tepide e molli
l'aure dolci del suolo natal!
Del Giordano le rive saluta,
di Sionne le torri atterrate…
Oh mia Patria sì bella e perduta!
O membranza sì cara e fatal!
Arpa d'or dei fatidici vati,
perché muta dal salice pendi?
Le memorie nel petto raccendi,
ci favella del tempo che fu!
O simile di Solima ai fati,
traggi un suono di crudo lamento;
o t'ispiri il Signore un concento
che ne infonda al patire virtù!
Treulich geführt (Bridal Chorus) 1850
Richard Wagner
Ārahina, kōkiritia, - Guide us, move us forward,
mātou e mānawatia atu nei - we who welcome this time and give thanks!
I te paki_o Matariki, - Beneath the shining light of Matariki,
i te paki o Puangarua. - beneath the shining light of Puangarua.
Ahunga nui, hākari nui! - Great mounds of food, a great feast!
Manako nui, mānawatia! - Great hopes, we welcome them!
Anō te pai me te āhuareka, - How beautiful and delightful it is,
Tātou e tau nei, kia harikoa. - For us gathered here, let us be joyful.
Whāia ngā tapuwae o Rehua. - Follow in the footsteps of Rehua.
Maiea te Mātahi o te tau. - We welcome the start of a new year.
Ārahina, kōkiritia - Guide us, move us forward,
mātou e mānawatia atu nei! - we who welcome this time and give thanks!
I te paki o_Matariki, - Beneath the shining light of Matariki,
i te paki o Puangarua. - beneath the shining light of Puangarua.
--
Original Language (German)
Treulich geführt ziehet dahin,
wo euch der Segen der Liebe bewahr'!
Siegreicher Mut, Minnegewinn
eint euch in Treue zum seligsten Paar.
Streiter der Tugend, schreite voran!
Zierde der Jugend, schreite voran!
Rauschen des Festes seid nun entronnen,
Wonne des Herzens sei euch gewonnen!
Duftender Raum, zur Liebe geschmückt,
nehm' euch nun auf, dem Glanze entrückt.
Treulich geführt ziehet nun ein,
wo euch der Segen der Liebe bewahr'!
Siegreicher Mut, Minne so rein
eint euch in Treue zum seligsten Paar.