Toreador Song
The Toreador Song, also known as the Toreador March or March of the Toreadors, is the popular name for the aria "Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre" ("I return your toast to you"), from the French opera Carmen, composed by Georges Bizet to a libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy.
It is sung by the bullfighter (French: toréador) Escamillo as he enters in act 2 and describes various situations in the bullring, the cheering of the crowds and the fame that comes with victory.
The refrain, "Toréador, en garde", forms the middle part of the prelude to act 1 of Carmen.
Like Carmen's Habanera, it is built on a descending chromatic scale as Escamillo describes his experiences in the bullfighting ring.
In the chorus praising the toreador, the music turns celebratory and confident in character.
[1] Frasquita, Mercédès, Carmen, Moralès, Zuniga and the chorus join for the repeat of the refrain.
[2] Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre, Señors, señors car avec les soldats oui, les toréros, peuvent s'entendre; Pour plaisirs, pour plaisirs, ils ont les combats!
Le cirque est plein, c'est jour de fête!
Le cirque est plein du haut en bas; Les spectateurs, perdant la tête, Les spectateurs s'interpellent À grand fracas!
Apostrophes, cris et tapage Poussés jusques à la fureur!
C'est la fête des gens de cœur!
Le taureau s'élance en bondissant hors du toril!
En secouant ses banderilles, plein de fureur, il court!
Et songe en combattant Qu'un œil noir te regarde, Et que l'amour, t'attend!
Calling out names, shouts, and noises Rise to a frenzy, For this is the celebration of courage!
Usage and renditions of the Toreador Song have appeared in various forms of media, such as when the song was performed by Samuel Ramey on Sesame Street, who rewrote the lyrics to be about the letter L, or in an episode of Doctor Who.
[3][4] The English language version of the song, Stan' (or Stand) up and Fight, written by Oscar Hammerstein II for Carmen Jones, has long been associated with Munster Rugby.
[11][12][13] Since the middle of the 1990s the Toreador Song has been used in Formula 1 and the World Rally Championship during the champagne spraying on the podium.
[14] A piece of the Toreador Song's sheet music, with lyrics translated to English by Jerry Castillo, is owned by the Smithsonian Institution and kept in the National Museum of American History.
[15] The series Thermae Romae Novae features an adaptation of the Toreador Song.
The adaptation was specifically created for the series to reflect the theme of bathhouses and their practices.
