1. "Belle nuit"

o beautiful night!

Lovely night, oh, night of love
Smile upon our drunkeness!
Night much sweeter than the day
Oh beautiful night of love!
Time flies by, and carries away
Our tender caresses for ever!
Time flies far from this happy oasis
And does not return
Burning zephyrs
Embrace us with your caresses!

Burning zephyrs
Give us your kisses!
Your kisses! Your kisses! Ah!

Lovely night, oh, night of love
Smile upon our joys!
Night much sweeter than the day
Oh, beautiful night of love!
Ah! Smile upon our joys!
Night of love, oh, night of love!

In the Tales of Hoffmann, by Offenbach, the Muse of Poetry is determined to make sure Hoffmann, a poet, forsakes all other loves except his craft and by association, her. She takes the appearance of Hoffmann's closest friend, Nicklausse, and follows him through his reliving of the memories of the three women he loved.  In this duet, Nicklausse, sings this tipsy, whimsical nod to the pleasures of the night, with Giulietta, a Ventian courtesan, trying to warn Hoffmann away from her false declarations of true love.

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