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WORDS FOR MUSIC
Opera Surtitles

WORDS FOR MUSIC Samples

Hänsel und Gretel
Dear Susie, what’s rustling in the straw?
The geese are barefoot and have no shoes.
The shoemaker has leather,
but no way to work.
-So he can’t make…
-Just let them go barefoot.
…shoes!
Fiddle dee dee, that’s too bad.
Who’ll give me money for sugar and bread?
If I sell my bed and lie in the straw,
I won’t be stuck by feathers or bitten by…
-Oh, I’m so hungry!
-…fleas.
-If mother would only come home.
-Yes, I can’t bear this hunger.
For weeks, nothing but dry bread.
What misery!
Hush, Hansel. You know what father says
when mother sometimes loses heart:
“When our need is greatest,
God stretches out his hand to you.”
That sounds very true,
but unfortunately it doesn’t fix anything.
How long has it been since we’ve had
something good to eat?
Pancakes, buttered rolls,
I hardly know how they taste. I want to…
Hush, don’t be cross!
Be patient and make a friendly face.
This cross face is a horror.
You look like such a grouch.
Grouch, out of the house. I’ll teach you
to be a pain and spoil the fun.
Grouch, horrible brat,
annoyance! Get out of here!
Hansel: I can’t stand being so poor.
I give up. I can’t bear it!
Gretel: Even if your tummy growls,
I won’t give up. Out with you!
So there! If you’ll stop complaining,
I’ll even tell you a secret.
A secret!
That would be great.
Listen, little brother. Look in the pitcher.
There’s some milk, a gift from our neighbor.
When mother comes home,
she can make us tasty rice pudding.
Rice pudding! Count me in.
How thick is the cream on the milk?
Let me taste it. I want to lick it all up.
What, stealing? Aren’t you ashamed?
Take your fingers out, you thieving brat!
Now, back to work quickly,
so we’ll finish on time.
If mother comes home and we haven’t
done our work, we lazybones are in trouble.
Work? That’s not what I’m thinking of.
Let’s dance and be happy.
Dance! I would love that.
Let’s sing a song, too.
We’ll dance and sing,
just like our aunt taught us.
Little brother, dance with me.
I give both my hands to thee.
Once this way, once that way,
turn around. It’s just like play.
Must I dance?
I can’t.
Show me how it’s done,
so I can learn to dance.
With your little feet tap, tap, tap,
with your little hands clap, clap, clap.
Once this way, once that way,
turn around. It’s just like play.
You’ve done well. I didn’t think you could.
Look at my Hansel, he’s learning to dance.
With your little head nick, nick, nick,
with your little fingers click, click, click.
Once this way, once that way,
turn around. It’s just like play.
Little brother, pay attention to Gretel.
Let’s link arms and dance together.
I love dancing and being happy.
I don’t like being alone and sad.
Turn yourself around, dear Hans.
Come to me. Dance in a circle.
Get away from me. I’m the proud Hans.
I don’t dance with girls. That’s too stupid!
Go away, proud Hans,
I’ll get you to turn around.
-Gretel, you have a hole in your stocking.
-Hansel, do you still want to tease me?
I don’t dance with wicked boys.
That would be too stupid.
Don’t be cross, dear little sister.
I’ll get you to turn around.
Dance happily. If your stocking has a hole,
mother will knit you a new one.
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