At last, such immense joy! I know your work well . You know, I composed some variations on a melody of yours. -Really? Which one? - ''Mio Caro Adone. '' I' m flattered . A funny tune, but it yielded good things. And now he has returned the compliment. Herr Salieri composed this little march for you. Really? Well, there it is. Down to business. We' re going to commission an opera from you. What do you say? Did we vote in the end for German or Italian? Sire, if you remember, we did finally incline to Italian. Did we? I don't think it was really decided, Your Majesty. -German. Please let it be German. -Why so? Because I've already found the most wonderful libretto. Have I seen it? I don't think you have, Herr Direktor. It's quite new. -I'll show it to you immediately. -I think you'd better. Well . . . . . .tell us about it. Tell us the story. Well, it's quite amusing, Majesty. It's set-- The whole thing is set in a. . . . Yes? Where? In a harem, Majesty. In a seraglio. -You mean in Turkey? -Yes, exactly. Then why especially does it have to be in German? It doesn't, especially. It could be in Turkish if you really want. No, my dear fellow, the language is not finally the point. Do you really think that subject is appropriate for a national theater? Why not? It's charming . I mean, I won't actually show concubines exposing their. . . . It's not indecent. It's highly moral, Majesty. It's full of proper German virtues. Excuse me, Majesty, but what do you think these could be? Being a foreigner, I'd love to learn. Well, telI him, Mozart. Name us a German virtue. -Love, sire. -Oh, love! Of course, in Italy we know nothing about love. No, I don't think you do. Watching Italian opera, all those male sopranos screeching . . . . . .stupid, fat couples rolling their eyes about. That's not love. It's rubbish! Majesty, you choose the language. I'll set it to the finest music ever offered a monarch. Well, there it is. Let it be German. This is yours. Keep it. It's already here in my head . What? On one hearing only? I think so, sire. Yes. Show us. The rest is just the same, isn't it? That doesn't really work, does it? Did you try. . . ? Shouldn't it be a bit more. . . ? Or this? This. Yes. Better? What do you think? Grazie, Signore. All l ever wanted was to sing to God. He gave me that longing . . . . . .and then made me mute. Why? Tell me that. If he didn't want me to praise him with music. . . . . .why implant the desire. . . . . .like a lust in my body? And then deny me the talent? Madame Cavalieri is here for her lesson, sir. Maestro. Well . . . ? How do you like it? It's Turkish. My hairdresser said everything this year's going to be Turkish. Does he? What else did he tell you today? Come, come! Give me some gossip. Well, I heard you met Herr Mozart. News travels fast in Vienna. And he's been commissioned to write an opera. Is it true? -Yes. -Is there a part in it for me? -No. -How do you know? -Do you know where it's set, my dear? -Where? In a harem. -What's that? -A brotheI . Come. Let's begin. -What does he look like? -Mozart? -You might be disappointed . -Why? Looks and talent don't always go together, Katerina. Looks don't concern me, maestro. Only talent interests a woman of taste. Shall we continue? There she was. l don 't know where they met or how. There she stood! On stage, for all to see. Showing offlike the greedy songbird she was. Ten minutes of ghastly scales. Arpeggios! Whizzing up and down like fiireworks at a fairground. Understand, I was in love with the girl . Or at least in lust. And I swear to you, I never laid a finger on her. All the same, I couldn't bear to think of anyone else touching her. Least of all, ""the creature. "" Brava, madame! You are an ornament to our stage. Your Majesty. Well, Herr Mozart. A good effort. Well, decidedly that. An excellent ------------------------------ Читайте также: - текст Ганнибал: Восхождение на английском - текст Десять негритят на английском - текст Чебурашка и Крокодил Гена на английском - текст Бобик в гостях у Барбоса на английском - текст Том Джонс на английском |