The Toreador Song, also known as the Toreador March or March of the Toreadors, is the popular name for the

aria In music, an aria (, ; : , ; ''arias'' in common usage; diminutive form: arietta, ; : ariette; in English simply air (music), air) is a self-contained piece for one voice, with or without instrument (music), instrumental or orchestral accompan ...

"" ("I return your toast to you"), from the French opera ''

Carmen ''Carmen'' () is an opera in four acts by the French composer Georges Bizet. The libretto was written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée. The opera was first performed by the O ...

'', composed by

Georges Bizet Georges Bizet (; 25 October 18383 June 1875) was a French composer of the Romantic music, Romantic era. Best known for his operas in a career cut short by his early death, Bizet achieved few successes before his final work, ''Carmen'', w ...

to a

libretto A libretto (From the Italian word , ) is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to th ...

by Henri Meilhac and

Ludovic Halévy Ludovic Halévy (1 January 1834 – 7 May 1908) was a French people, French author and playwright, known for his collaborations with Henri Meilhac on the libretto, libretti for Georges Bizet's ''Carmen'' and comic operas by Jacques Offenbach, inc ...

. It is sung by the

bullfighter A bullfighter or matador () is a performer in the activity of bullfighting. ''Torero'' () or ''toureiro'' (), both from Latin ''taurarius'', are the Spanish and Portuguese words for bullfighter, and describe all the performers in the activ ...

(French: '' toréador'') Escamillo as he enters in act 2 and describes various situations in the

bullring A bullring is an arena where bullfighting is performed. Bullrings are often associated with the Iberian Peninsula, but they can also be found through Iberian America and in a few Spanish and Portuguese ex-colonies in Africa. Bullrings are ...

, the cheering of the crowds and the fame that comes with victory. The

refrain A refrain (from Vulgar Latin ''refringere'', "to repeat", and later from Old French ''refraindre'') is the Line (poetry)">line or lines that are repeated in poetry or in music">poetry.html" ;"title="Line (poetry)">line or lines that are repeat ...

, "", forms the middle part of the prelude to act 1 of ''Carmen''.

Music

The

bass-baritone A bass-baritone is a high-lying bass or low-lying "classical" baritone voice type which shares certain qualities with the true baritone voice. The term arose in the late 19th century to describe the particular type of voice required to sing three ...

couplet In poetry, a couplet ( ) or distich ( ) is a pair of successive lines that rhyme and have the same metre. A couplet may be formal (closed) or run-on (open). In a formal (closed) couplet, each of the two lines is end-stopped, implying that there ...

has a

vocal range Vocal range is the range of pitches that a human voice can phonate. A common application is within the context of singing, where it is used as a defining characteristic for classifying singing voices into voice types. It is also a topic of stud ...

from B₂ to F₄ and a

tessitura In music, tessitura ( , , ; ; ) is the most acceptable and comfortable vocal range for a given singer (or, less frequently, musical instrument). It is the range in which a given type of voice presents its best-sounding (or characteristic) tim ...

from C₃ to E₄. Its

time signature A time signature (also known as meter signature, metre signature, and measure signature) is an indication in music notation that specifies how many note values of a particular type fit into each measure ( bar). The time signature indicates th ...

common time A time signature (also known as meter signature, metre signature, and measure signature) is an indication in music notation that specifies how many note values of a particular type fit into each measure ( bar). The time signature indicates the ...

(4/4), its key is

F minor F minor is a minor scale based on F, consisting of the pitches F, G, A, B, C, D, and E. Its key signature consists of four flats. Its relative major is A-flat major and its parallel major is F major. Its enharmonic equivalent, E-sharp ...

with the refrain in

F major F major is a major scale based on F, with the pitches F, G, A, B, C, D, and E. Its key signature has one flat.Music Theory'. (1950). United States: Standards and Curriculum Division, Training, Bureau of Naval Personnel. 28. Its relati ...

. The tempo indication is ''allegro molto moderato'', =108. The orchestra introduces the first melodic section, which is jaunty and flashy. Like Carmen's Habanera, it is built on a descending chromatic scale as Escamillo describes his experiences in the bullfighting ring. In the chorus praising the toreador, the music turns celebratory and confident in character. Frasquita, Mercédès, Carmen, Moralès, Zuniga and the chorus join for the repeat of the refrain.

Libretto

Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre, Señors, señors car avec les soldats oui, les toréros, peuvent s'entendre; Pour plaisirs, pour plaisirs, ils ont les combats! Le cirque est plein, c'est jour de fête! Le cirque est plein du haut en bas; Les spectateurs, perdant la tête, Les spectateurs s'interpellent À grand fracas! Apostrophes, cris et tapage Poussés jusques à la fureur! Car c'est la fête du courage! C'est la fête des gens de cœur! Allons! en garde! Allons! allons! Ah! (Refrain ×2) Toréador, en garde! Toréador! Toréador! Et songe bien, oui, songe en combattant Qu'un œil noir te regarde, Et que l'amour t'attend, Toréador, l'amour, l'amour t'attend! Tout d'un coup, on fait silence, On fait silence... ah! que se passe-t-il? Plus de cris, c'est l'instant! Plus de cris, c'est l'instant! Le taureau s'élance en bondissant hors du toril! Il s'élance! Il entre, il frappe!... un cheval roule, entraînant un picador, "Ah! Bravo! Toro!" hurle la foule, le taureau va... il vient... il vient et frappe encore! En secouant ses banderilles, plein de fureur, il court! Le cirque est plein de sang! On se sauve... on franchit les grilles! C'est ton tour maintenant! Allons! en garde! allons! allons! Ah! (Refrain ×2) Toréador, en garde! Toréador! Toréador! Et songe bien, oui, Et songe en combattant Qu'un œil noir te regarde, Et que l'amour, t'attend! Toréador, l'amour, l'amour t'attend! (Refrain x2) L'amour! L'amour! L'amour! Toréador, Toréador, Toréador! Your toast, I can requite it, Señores, Señores, because with soldiers, yes, toreros can reach an understanding, Because for pleasure, for pleasure they othfight! The bullring is full, it is a festival day! The bullring is full from top to bottom; The crowd, losing its head, the crowd cries out in a great roar! Calling out names, shouts, and noises Rise to a frenzy, For this is the celebration of courage! It is the celebration of the brave at heart! Let's go! On guard! Let's go! Let's go! Ah! (Refrain ×2) Toreador, on guard! Toreador! Toreador! And contemplate well, yes, contemplate as you fight that a dark eye is watching you, and that love is waiting for you, Toreador, love, love is waiting for you! All at once, we are silent, we are silent,... Oh, what is happening? No more shouts, this is it! No more shouts, this is it! The bull is rushing while jumping out of its fence! He is rushing in! He's entering, hitting! A horse is falling, Dragging down a

picador A ''picador'' (; pl. ''picadores'') is one of the pair of horse-mounted bullfighters in a Spanish-style bullfight that jab the bull with a lance. They perform in the ''tercio de varas'', which is the first of the three stages in a stylized bull ...

. "Ah! Bravo! Toro!" the crowd is calling, The bull goes on... he comes... he comes, hitting once more! While shaking his banderillas, full of rage, he runs!... The ring is full of blood! We flee... we pass the gates! It's your turn now! Let's go! On guard! Let's go! Let's go! Ah! (Refrain ×2) Toreador, on guard! Toreador! Toreador! And contemplate well, yes, contemplate as you fight that a dark eye is watching you, and that love is waiting for you, Toreador, love, love is waiting for you! (Refrain ×2) Love! Love! Love! Toreador, Toreador, Toreador!

Legacy

Usage and renditions of the Toreador Song have appeared in various forms of media, such as when the song was performed by

Samuel Ramey Samuel Ramey (born March 28, 1942) is an American operatic bass. At the height of his career, he was greatly admired for his range and versatility, having possessed a sufficiently accomplished bel canto technique which enabled him to sing the mu ...

on ''

Sesame Street ''Sesame Street'' is an American educational television, educational children's television series that combines live-action, sketch comedy, animation, and puppetry. It is produced by Sesame Workshop (known as the Children's Television Worksh ...

'', who rewrote the lyrics to be about the letter L, or in an episode of ''

Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series, created by Sydney Newman, C. E. Webber and Donald Wilson (writer and producer), Donald Wilson, depicts the adventures of an extraterre ...

''. The English language version of the song, ''Stan (or ''Stand'') ''up and Fight'', written by

Oscar Hammerstein II Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II (; July 12, 1895 – August 23, 1960) was an American lyricist, librettist, theatrical producer, and director in musical theater for nearly 40 years. He won eight Tony Awards and two Academy Award ...

for '' Carmen Jones'', has long been associated with

Munster Rugby Munster Rugby () is one of the professional provincial rugby union, rugby teams from the island of Ireland. They compete in the United Rugby Championship and the European Rugby Champions Cup. The team represents the Irish Rugby Football Union, ...

. An adapted version, ''Geelong Cats: We Are Geelong'', has been used by the Geelong Cats

Australian Football League The Australian Football League (AFL) is the pre-eminent professional sports, professional competition of Australian rules football. It was originally named the Victorian Football League (VFL) and was founded in 1896 as a breakaway competition ...

team. The song is prominently featured in the 2014 video game ''

Five Nights at Freddy's ''Five Nights at Freddy's'' (''FNaF'') is a video game series and media franchise created by Scott Cawthon that includes video games, novels, graphic novels, and films. The story arcs typically follow a night guard or other character trying t ...

'', where the song plays as the theme of the title antagonist upon the player running out of power in-game. As such, the Toreador Song has occasionally been marketed as Freddy's theme. Since the middle of the 1990s the Toreador Song has been used in

Formula 1 Formula One (F1) is the highest class of worldwide racing for open-wheel single-seater formula Auto racing, racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The FIA Formula One World Championship has been one ...

and the

World Rally Championship The World Rally Championship (abbreviated as WRC) is an international rallying series owned and governed by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, FIA. Inaugurated in 1973, it is the oldest FIA world championship after Formula One. E ...

during the champagne spraying on the podium. A piece of the Toreador Song's sheet music, with lyrics translated to English by Jerry Castillo, is owned by the

Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums, Education center, education and Research institute, research centers, created by the Federal government of the United States, U.S. government "for the increase a ...

and kept in the

National Museum of American History The National Museum of American History: Kenneth E. Behring Center is a historical museum in Washington, D.C. It collects, preserves, and displays the heritage of the United States in the areas of social, political, cultural, scientific, and m ...

. The series Thermae Romae Novae features an adaptation of the Toreador Song by Italian bass-baritone

Paolo Andrea Di Pietro Paolo Andrea Di Pietro (born November 8, 1986), better known mononymously in Japan as , is an Italian singer and actor living and working in Japan (''Gaikokujin tarento''). He has appeared in a variety of Japanese commercials, TV shows and films. ...

. The adaptation was specifically created for the series to reflect the theme of bathhouses and their practices with Japanese lyrics written by

himself.

References

External links

*, Opera Company of Philadelphia at Reading Terminal Market in 2011
French text and English translation
{{Authority control, state=collapsed Arias by Georges Bizet Carmen Opera excerpts Baritone arias Arias in French 1875 compositions Songs about sportspeople Songs about cattle Songs about Spain Compositions in F minor Compositions in F major Bullfighting French marches