MARTHA - The Goodnight Quartet

From the Bel Canto Opera production; Lady Harriet (aka Martha) and Nancy (posing as 'maids' for a joke) have arrived at the farmhouse of their employers, Lionel and Plunkett, who are smitten with their servants (although the ladies plan to run away during the night). It is midnight, and they are all off to bed.

ALL: Twelve o'clock!

LIONEL: (to Harriet)
Sweetest dreams, until tomorrow
May you rest till dawn's early light, Ah!
Though you've wracked my life with sorrow
You'll sleep easy, so good night

NANCY: I can't say it's been delightful
And the prospects don't look bright
The milieu, mon dieu, is frightful
We'll be off then...so goodnight!

PLUNKETT: Now sleep well my stroppy servant
Better yield to fate than fight
You will note, if you're observant,
I've been vanquished, now good night!

HARRIET: It's with pain that I reject him
I deplore my sorrowful plight
But I must, if I respect him,
Say good-bye now
and good night!

LIONEL:
Sweetest dreams, until tomorrow
May you rest till dawn's early light, Ah!
Though you've wracked my life with sorrow
Still I love you, now good night!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Martha
• Friedrich
• von
• Flotow
• Amanda
• Boyd
• Stephen
• Crook
• Sue
• Black
• Wells
• Bel
• Canto
• Opera

[jglass54]

Lovely rendition. I sang Plunkett in this scene in an opera workshop many years ago, so I have a soft spot for this music.

[mogaduff]

Lovely!!

[mogaduff]

Lovely!!

[mogaduff]

Lovely!!

[Griwhoolda]

What a beautiful quartet!

[aarontenor1]

the text and the melodies in this song make it one of my favorites!

[traubloch]

Beautiful!