Chérubin: “Lorsque vous n’aurez rien à faire”

Composer: MASSENET, Jules
  • Aria translation: “When you have nothing to do … “
  • Pronunciation (phonetic): SHAY-roo-ban
  • Pronuciation (IPA): [ˈʃeɾybæ]
  • Chérubin is based on a play by Francis de Croisset which is meant as a sequel to Beaumarchais’ Figaro plays (the first of which famously inspired The Barber of Seville, the second of which inspired The Marriage of Figaro). Chérubin followed the adventures of amorous pageboy Chérubin (Cherubino), now an infantry officer celebrating his 17th birthday.1
  • In the opera Chérubin is played by a soprano as a trouser role (Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro is a mezzo trouser role). The playwright objected to this since at this point the Cherubino character is way past puberty.2
  • Chérubin was written as a vehicle for opera star / Scottish soprano Mary Garden.3
  • This aria is sung by Nina, the girl-next-door soprano who is in love with Chérubin.4
    • Opening text: “When you have nothing to do, summon me quickly to your side.”5

Sources

  1. Rodney Milnes, “Chérubin,” Grove Music Online (2002), accessed November 14, 2019, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-5000005496. 
  2. Ibid.
  3. Ibid.
  4. Patrick O’Connor, “Massenet: Cherubin,” Gramophone, accessed November 14, 2019, https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/massenet-ch%C3%A9rubin. 
  5. “Lorsque vous n’aurez rien à faire,” IPA Source, accessed November 14, 2019, https://www.ipasource.com/lorsque-vous-n-aurez-rien-a-faire.html. 

Cut IDs

14968