Enrico Caruso - Minuit Chrétien - O Holy Night 1916 in original French

The only Christmas song recorded by Caruso (from the 23rd February 1916).
Minuit Chrétien, "O Holy Night" ("Cantique de Noël") is a Christmas carol composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847 to the French poem "Minuit, chrétiens" by Placide Cappeau (1808-1877), a wine merchant and poet. Cappeau was asked to write a Christmas poem by a parish priest. It has become a standard modern carol for solo performance with an operatic finish.

Other great performances of this beautiful carol that I adore are Björlings Swedish rendition: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nrDfqoYzNo and Georges Thill's version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS8G_LyYlso

More Caruso info on my non-profit website: http://www.enricocaruso.dk (English).

TEXT FRENCH:

Minuit, chrétiens,
C'est l'heure solennelle
Où lHomme Dieu descendit jusquà nous
Pour effacer la tache originelle
Et de Son Père arrêter le courroux.
Le monde entier tressaille despérance
En cette nuit qui lui donne un Sauveur.
Peuple à genoux,
Attends ta délivrance!
Noël! Noël!
Voici le Rédempteur!
Noël! Noël!
Voici le Rédempteur!

Le Rédempteur
A brisé toute entrave:
La terre est libre et le ciel est ouvert.
Il voit un Frère où nétait quun esclave;
Lamour unit ceux quenchaˆnait le fer.
Qui Lui dira notre reconnaissance?
Cest pour nous tous quIl naˆt,
QuIl souffre et meurt.
Peuple debout,
Chante ta délivrance!
Noël! Noël!
Chantons le Rédempteur!
Noël! Noël!
Chantons le Rédempteur!

ENGLISH TRANSLATION:

Midnight, Christians, it is the solemn hour,
When God-man descended to us
To erase the stain of original sin
And to end the wrath of His Father.
The entire world thrills with hope
On this night that gives it a Savior.

People kneel down, wait for your deliverance.
Christmas, Christmas, here is the Redeemer,
Christmas, Christmas, here is the Redeemer!

May the ardent light of our Faith
Guide us all to the cradle of the infant,
As in ancient times a brilliant star
Guided the Oriental kings there.
The King of Kings was born in a humble manger;
O mighty ones of today, proud of your greatness,

It is to your pride that God preaches.
Bow your heads before the Redeemer!
Bow your heads before the Redeemer!

The Redeemer has overcome every obstacle:
The Earth is free, and Heaven is open.
He sees a brother where there was only a slave,
Love unites those that iron had chained.
Who will tell Him of our gratitude,
For all of us He is born, He suffers and dies.

People stand up! Sing of your deliverance,
Christmas, Christmas, sing of the Redeemer,
Christmas, Christmas, sing of the Redeemer!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Christmas
• songs
• caruso
• Cantique
• de
• Noël

[lovecuba2]

That makes sens. Thanks for clarifying this. Whenever I see the title Holy Night I think of Silent Night, Holy Night. That may just be me.

[tomfroekjaer]

@lovecuba2 So do I :-)

Minuit chrétien isn't well-known in my country (Denmark), Silent Night, Holy Night is.



[mabainter]

@tomfroekjaer FYI - that is *not* an accurate translation of this song. It's a mangled and corrupted rewrite in English. Check wikipedia's page for O_Holy_Night

[tomfroekjaer]

@mabainter OK. Corrected.

[lovecuba2]

I hate to break this to you but this is "Minuit Chretien" and not Holy Night.

[tomfroekjaer]

@lovecuba2 Yes. Corrected.

[RONNIEJNZN]

I'M LISTENING TO ON CHRISTMAS EVE'S EVE, WITH WINE IN MY GLASS AND TEARS IN MY EYES. I HAVEN'T FELT CHRISTMAS IN YEARS BUT FOR SOME REASON, PERHAPS DIVINE INTERVENTION, THIS YEAR IT'S SOOOO BACK FOR ME. GOD BLESS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS 2010.

[Cranae]

Caruso is the best I've ever heard for power, range, and the sheer aching beauty and humanity of his artistry. For all our strugglings and sufferings, every once in a while one of us reaches the summit. And brings the rest of us along.

[rvsd44]

Enrico Caruso was Andrea Bocelli's voice teacher. He imparted singing techniques to Andrea like no other. Whenever Andrea does his "diminuendo" voice, he sounds just like Enrico.

[cesarmonteiromd]

Oh my God this is so beautiful, so full of emotion. Caruso the best forever. No one could put emotion on an interpretation like he did. Thak you so much for uploading.

[Loribyn]

Just imagine what he'd have sounded like were he recorded on modern equipment!? What a voice ... oh to have been around to see him Live! (sigh). Thank you for this gem.

[DonLicuala]

@mabainter -It's pretty close. Maybe you shouldn't rely on Wikipedia.

Most songs (poetry, etc) do not receive literal translation because there is a cultural feel to the expression of ideas. Maybe a Quebecois could clarify this for us, since he/she more frequently confronts ideas in both languages.

[oldfogiebp]

Not the only carol. Listening to WABC late night in car. They played several carols by Caruso on cylindrical records. Beautiful. I have no idea whether anyone could access these recordings.

[PEAinSwe]

@lovecuba2

The English title of this song has for a looooong time been "O Holy Night".

[GuyArbus]

Nous avons un aperçu de la voix des anges, c'est un sacré cadeau ... presque 100 ans et toujours aussi intense.

[h0rsel0verme]

its amazing! he has the best voice ever! i first heard this like a few days ago in french class and had to look it up because i love this song and i love this version of it!

[bernalor1]

What an incredibly beautiful voice!