Entertainment Music "Que fais-tu, blanche tourterelle?" Lyrics and Text Translation Stephano's Aria from Gounod's Opera, Romeo et Juliette Share PINTEREST Email Print Illustrated portrait of Charles Gounod conducting with caption 'GOUNOD'S ROMEO ET JULIETTE AT THE OPERA, PARIS', circa 1880s. Photo by Fotosearch/Getty Images Music Classical Music Lyrics Basics Operas Rock Music Pop Music Alternative Music Country Music Folk Music Rap & Hip Hop Rhythm & Blues World Music Punk Music Heavy Metal Jazz Latin Music Oldies Learn More By Aaron Green Music Expert B.A., Classical Music and Opera, Westminster Choir College of Rider University Aaron M. Green is an expert on classical music and music history, with more than 10 years of both solo and ensemble performance experience. our editorial process Aaron Green Updated March 17, 2017 In the third act of Charles Gounod's five act opera, Romeo et Juliette, based on William Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, Stephano, Romeo's page, sings a message to the Capulets after Romeo and Juliet secretly marry. The aria makes a mockery of the Capulets by stating that their beautiful white turtledove (Juliette) who is held hostage in a nest of vultures, will one day flee to marry a pigeon (Romeo). This entices the Capulets out of their estate and into the streets where the boys can fight. Recommended Listening Searching YouTube for "Que fais-tu, blanche tourterelle?" will result in hundreds of recordings; the majority of which are performed by student singers as part of their voice recitals. The three selections I picked for you below are from professional recordings with mezzo-sopranos of varying voice types. Marie-Ange Todorovitch (listen on YouTube)Eliane Lublin (listen on YouTube)Annalisa Stroppa (listen on YouTube)Carmen Hernandez (listen on YouTube) "Que fais-tu, blanche tourterelle?" French Lyrics Depuis hier je chercheen vain mon maître!Est-il encore chez vous?Mes seigneurs Capulet?Voyons un peu si vos dignes valetsA ma voix ce matinOseront reparaître. Que fais-tu blanche tourterelle,Dans ce nid de vautours?Quelque jour, déployant ton aile,Tu suivras les amours!Aux vautours, il faut la bataille,Pour frapper d'estoc et de tailleLeurs becs sont aiguisés!Laisse-là ces oiseaux de proie,Tourterelle qui fais ta joieDes amoureux baisers!Gardez bien la belle!Qui vivra verra!Votre tourterelle vous échappera,Un ramier, loin du vert bocage,Par l'amour attire,A l'entour de ce nid sauvageA, je crois, soupire!Les vautours sont à la curee,Leurs chansons, que fuit Cytheree,Résonne a grand bruit!Cependant en leur douce ivresseLes amants content leurs tendressesAux astres de la nuit!Gardez bien la belle! "Que fais-tu, blanche tourterelle?" English Lyrics Since yesterday I tryin vain my masterIs he still with you?My lords, Capulet?Let's see if your worthy servantsTo the sound of my voice this morningDare to reappear. What do you do white doveIn this nest of vultures?Some day, you will spread your wings,You will follow love!Vultures, they must battleTo hit, to cut, and thrustTheir sharp beaks!Let these birds of prey be,Live to your joy doveLovers kissing!Keep well and beautiful!Time will tell!Your turtledove will escape you,A pigeon, far from his green grove,By love, is attractedRound about this wild nestA, I think, sigh!Vultures are at the quarry,Their songs, which fled Cytherea,Sounds with a loud noise!However, their sweet intoxicationHappy lovers in their loving tenderness tellThe stars of the night!Keep well and beautiful! More About Gounod's Opera, Romeo et Juliette French composer, Charles Gounod began work on his opera Romeo et Juliette in 1867, for Paris's Théâtre Lyrique - the same company where his opera Faust, based on Goethe's famous tale, was a huge success (it was performed over 300 times in a span of 10 years). His librettists, Jules Barbier and Michel Carré, kept Shakespeare's tragedy nearly intact, only changing a few things by removing scenes and slightly modifying the ending so that Romeo and Juliet are both alive just before they die. The opera premiered on April 27, 1867, and it proved to be just as adored as his opera Faust.