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from Act I of the German opera Die Lustige Witwe by Franz Lehár
Libretto: Victor Léon

Role: Hanna Glawari, a rich widow
Voice Part: soprano       Fach: lyric soprano
Setting: The Pontevedrian Embassy, Paris, early 20th century
Synopsis: Hanna enters the party and is immediately surrounded by a large number of male admirers. She expresses her appreciation for their attention, which she mentions is probably because of her wealth.
Range: Tessitura:
B3 - B5F#/Gb4 - F#/Gb5
Translations/Aria Texts:
Translation into English by Lea Frey (added 1999-01-26)
Mazurka, Hanna's aria from Die Lustige Witwe

Hab in Paris mich noch nicht ganz	I have in Paris not yet entirely
so acclimatisiert,			Acclimatized myself,	
Dass dieser süsse Firlefanz		So that this sweet nonsense
Von mir verstanden wird!		Is entirely understood by me!
Bin noch Pontovedrinerin		I am still a Pontovedran lady
ein bischen all zu sehr.		A bit too much, in fact.
Ja, wär ich schon Pariserin		Indeed, were I already a Parisienne
Verstünd ich etwas mehr!		I‘d understand somewhat better!
Die Herr’n sind liebenwürdig sehr	The gentlemen are very kind,
Gilt das meiner Person?			Is that due to my person?
Ich fürchte dies gilt mehr		I fear this is due more
Meiner vielfachen Million!		To my multiple millions!

Ach, tun Sie nur nicht so!		Ah, don’t behave like that!
Gar oft hab’ ich’s gehört,		Rather often have I heard this,
Wir Witwen, ach, wir sind begehrt!	We widows, ah, we are desired!
Erst wenn wir armen Witwen reich sind,	Only when we poor widows are rich,
Ja, dann haben wir doppelten Wert!	Well, then we have double the value!	

In unser’m Gelde liegt unser Wert,	In our money lies our value,
So hab’ ich’s immer gehört!		So have I always heard it!

Bei mir daheim ist’s nicht der Brauch	In my homeland it’s not the custom
Dass Damen man hofiert,			That one courts ladies,
Mit Komplimenten wird man auch		With compliments one is also 
Falls niemals molestiert!		Almost never bothered!
Geht einer gar ins Zeug so scharf, 	If anyone goes at this so sharply,
So unverschämt wie Sie,			So shamelessly as you,
Dann weiss man wohl, dass er es darf,	Then one knows well, that it is acceptable,
Denn heucheln wird er nie!		For, play the hypocrite,  he never will!

Lassen Sie dies fade Schmeicheln!	Give up this insipid flattery!
Ich durchschaue Euer Heucheln!		I see through your hypocrisy!
Ja!  Ja!  Ja!, ja!, ja ---		Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes ---

Translation by Lea Frey (blfrey@earthlink.net)
Sounds:
none
Sheet Music/Scores:
none
Recordings:
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