Even the most novice operagoer, or those who have never been to a performance, will probably be familiar with Brindisi (The Drinking Song) from Verdi’s La traviata; it has featured in films, television and advertisements. Sung in the first act of Verdi’s masterpiece, Brindisi, or ‘Libiamo ne' lieti calici’ is a swooning, waltz-time celebration in which Violetta and Alfredo sing ‘Let’s drink from the joyful cups’ at a fancy Parisian party.
But that’s not the only drinking song in the operatic world; we love to raise a glass (or two, or three…) so let’s look at some of the tunes that get us in the spirit (pun intended).
Don Giovanni: ‘Fin ch'han dal vino’
Nicknamed ‘The Champagne aria’, this rapid-fire number has Don Giovanni singing of dancing, wine and girls. Donna Elvira interrupts his flirting with Zerlina who unmasks him as a heartbreaking seducer while Donna Anna recognises him as her father’s murderer, and yet, Don Giovanni thrives in the chaos. In his aria he orders Leporello to fetch the champagne and invites all the girls he can find to dance and drink all night.
The Bartered Bride: ‘To pivečko!’
While most operas sing of wine or champagne, Smetana gives us an ode to beer in his comic opera The Bartered Bride. The villagers deliver a rousing drinking song (‘To beer!’), while dancing a furiant, rapid and fiery Bohemian dance. They sing ‘It's beer, it certainly is a gift from heaven’ while away from the jollity Vašek nervously ponders his forthcoming marriage.
Cavalleria rusticana: ‘Viva il vino spumeggiante’
Just as Smetana serves up an idyll for beer, Mascagni does similar justice to wine in his chorus in Cavalleria Rusticana. It’s Easter Sunday and the villagers have just left church when Turiddu invites his friends to come drink wine with him. Turiddu is in high spirits as he gets to spend time with his mistress, Lola, and sings the praises of the wine which makes every thought a happy one.
Faust: ‘Vin ou bière’
Beer or wine… a drunk drinks anything! Or so sing the soldiers of Gounod’s Faust before heading off to war. The crowd of soldiers, students and local girls deliver a rowdy, high-energy anthem that is sure to get you in the party mood.
Carmen: 'Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre'
While the instantly recognisable Toreador Song makes little reference to drinking, this number does open with the bullfighter Escamillo walking into a tavern and raising a glass. He proceeds to toast all those who are brave (or crazy) enough to go up against the bulls in this jaunty number..
Die Fledermaus: ‘Trinke, Liebchen, trinke schnell’
Secrets, schemes and mistaken identity form the basis of Strauss II’s Die Fledermaus… and champagne gets the blame for it all. Singing teacher Alfred sings 'Trinke, Liebchen, trinke schnell' to his secret lover and recites the old German proverb ‘Happy is he who forgets what cannot be changed!’
So, raise a glass of wine, beer or whatever else you fancy to opera and it’s many drinking songs.
Enjoy a live performance of the Brindisi and many more beautiful melodies as our timeless production of La traviata returns to the stage as part of our Autumn 2023 Season, visiting Cardiff, Llandudno, Bristol, Plymouth, Birmingham, Milton Keynes and Southampton.