The Jacques Offenbach Society

Homepage  ·  Newsletter  ·  Membership  ·  Contact  ·  Links

What is that music in “Life is Beautiful”?

Many people have written to the Offenbach Society asking about the music heard in ”Life is Beautiful” (La vita è bella), the Oscar-winning film which includes Offenbach's work.

Though I (the webmaster, John Hayward-Warburton) haven't seen the film, I understand that the most prominent piece of music is the Barcarolle from Contes d'Hoffmann, the “Tales of Hoffmann”, which begins Belle nuit...

Here is a translation of the words:

NICKLAUSSE
Lovely night, oh night of love,
  smile upon our joys!
Night much sweeter than the day,
  oh beautiful night of love!

GIULIETTA, NICKLAUSSE
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 caresses!

Lovely night, oh night of love,
  smile upon our joys!
Night much sweeter than the day,
  oh beautiful night of love!
Most CDs of the opera list this as “Entr'acte et No. 18 (Barcarolle)”.

Please continue to explore this site (which will be expanded greatly soon), or read more about the film at its official site, “Life is Beautiful”.


Pages coded by John Hayward-Warburton, music@billabong.demon.co.uk