Barcarolle simply means boating song, often sung by a boatman or gondolier. The best known is one composed by Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880) from his opera Les Contes d’Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffman) which is the one we are singing. In French it is called Belle Nuit, ô Nuit d’Amour which literally means: “Beautiful Night, O Night of Love”. It was translated into English by Norman Weir. We are using an arrangement by R Saar.
Sadly Offenbach did not see the premiere of the opera: he died aged 61 after a period of ill health four months before it was due to open and the unfinished work was completed and edited by other composers. Offenbach is also known for other works including Orpheus in the Underworld. He also achieved fame as a cellist and conductor.
The song itself is in the third act of the opera and is set in Venice. It is sung as a duet between the characters Giulietta the protagonist Hoffmann’s love (soprano) and a Venetian courtesan, and Nicklausse, Hoffmann’s muse, in disguise as his faithful male companion (alto). Like the English translation it talks of the beauty of the night and love.
But the beautiful and romantic words are deceptive – Guilietta is springing an evil trap, and the pure and sweet harmony of the song belies Hoffmann’s impending misfortune.
A song based on the melody called Please Don’t Go was released in 1969 by the singer Donald Peers.
Here is the French version sung as a soprano/alto duet by Irina and Cristina Iordachescu.