from Act II, Scene 2 of the English opera Albert Herring by Benjamin Britten

Libretto: Eric Crozier

Role: Albert Herring, clerk in his mother's grocery store

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: tenor leggiero

Setting: Mrs Herring's greengrocery, Loxford, East Suffock, England, the night of May first, 1900

Synopsis: At the party at which he is named King of May as a testament to his virtuous behavior, Albert discovers the joys of alcohol. After the party, he revels in the joyous food and drinks of which he partook. He especially enjoyed the lemonade that was spiked with rum, unbeknownst to him. His thoughts shift to Nancy, who was with him at the celebration. He wonders why she paid so much attention to him at the party. He doesn't think that she could be interested in him because he is shy and no girl could really like him. The mere thought of a girl liking him sends him floating on a cloud of ecstasy.