Candide - 10 Glitter and be gay

From the 2005-"Live on Broadway"-version, with the New York Philharmonic under conductor Marin Alsop.

Cunegonde: Kristin Chenoweth
The Old Lady: Patti LuPone

LYRICS
(Thanks to Sarah to send me these!)

Glitter and be gay,
That's the part I play;
Here I am in Paris, France,
Forced to bend my soul
To a sordid role,
Victimized by bitter, bitter circumstance.
Alas for me! Had I remained
Beside my lady mother,
My virtue had remained unstained
Until my maiden hand was gained
By some Grand Duke or other.

Ah, 'twas not to be;
Harsh necessity
Brought me to this gilded cage.
Born to higher things,
Here I droop my wings,
Ah! Singing of a sorrow nothing can assuage.

And yet of course I rather like to revel,
Ha ha!
I have no strong objection to champagne,
Ha ha!
My wardrobe is expensive as the devil,
Ha ha!
Perhaps it is ignoble to complain...
Enough, enough
Of being basely tearful!
I'll show my noble stuff
By being bright and cheerful!
Ha ha ha ha ha! Ha!

Pearls and ruby rings...
Ah, how can worldly things
Take the place of honor lost?
Can they compensate
For my fallen state,
Purchased as they were at such an awful cost?

Bracelets...lavalieres
Can they dry my tears?
Can they blind my eyes to shame?
Can the brightest brooch
Shield me from reproach?
Can the purest diamond purify my name?

And yet of course these trinkets are endearing,
Ha ha!
I'm oh, so glad my sapphire is a star,
Ha ha!
I rather like a twenty-carat earring,
Ha ha!
If I'm not pure, at least my jewels are!

Enough! Enough!
I'll take their diamond necklace
And show my noble stuff
By being gay and reckless!
Ha ha ha ha ha! Ha!

Observe how bravely I conceal
The dreadful, dreadful shame I feel.
Ha ha ha ha!

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Candide
• 2005
• Live
• on
• Broadway

[TheiKatt]

I love how when she hits the high E (E flat?) at the end, the conductor turns around on his podium and looks at her.

[fritzbespoke]

quite nice, but I definitely prefer Diana Damrau's interpretation ... and no, that's not because im German

[p2pbarisax]

@TheiKatt E flat! lol good ear!

[goldenlockie]

she so small and such a big voice wauw!

[DatBugler]

To everyone who commented about the conductor turning around: Marin Alsop is a SHE.

[KalahariKAri]

This was so wonderful, I Love Kristin Chenoweth; she's perfect in this!

[eduardodu86]

As I've read time and time again in comments here people making this mistake, I'd like to point out that Marin Alsop, the conductor, is a woman.

[gogo245]

@TheiKatt hahaha even though that is very funny. I think the conductor turned around to make sure, when he should conduct the rest of the music. ha

[Daphnegirl93]

Uhuhuhuhuh... PEARLS.

[aavauxhall]

This exemplifies exactly why Candide should remain in the Musical Theatre canon and not the self important opera form.

[MelonJMusic]

@rekupp She absolutely CAN and has hit those notes. She's done it on stage during a performance or two of Wicked. You can find evidence of it on Youtube. The woman is phenominal. Now...she DOES have a very shrill voice but it is of no strain to her.

[MelonJMusic]

How could ANYONE dislike this???