Vilja Song-The Merry Widow (Franz Lehar)

Vilja Song-The Merry Widow. New York City Opera, March 1996. Jane Thorngren (saprano), The Merry Widow
There once was a VIlia, a witch of the wood,
A hunter beheld her alone as she stood,
The spell of her beauty upon him was laid;
He looked and he longed for the magical maid!
For a sudden tremor ran,
Right through the love bwildered man,
And he sighed as a hapless lover can.
Vilia, O Vilia! the witch of the wood!
Would I not die for you, dear, if I could?
Vilia, O Vilia, my love and my bride,
Softly and sadly he sighed.
The wood maiden smiled and no answer she gave,
But beckoned him into the shade of the cave,
He never had known such a rapturous bliss,
No maiden of mortals so sweetly can kiss!
As before her feet he lay,
She vanished in the wood away,
And he called vainly till his dying day!
Vilia, O Vilia, my love and my bride!
Softly and sadly he sighed, Sadly he sighed, "Vilia."
Source(s):
www.theatreorgans.com/jimhenry...
www.pathguy.com/Vilia_ChetAtki...

[@eddiejohn7744]

Absolutely beautiful , nothing today can compare with this

[@utube0803]

Diva Jane makes this song her own! Absolutely gorgeous voice and amazing performance.

[@1hlinkjr1939]

I have watched this video dozens of times and never tire of the beautiful melody and the voice of the singer.

[@catherinepelletier8872]

Same.

[@stellajennings2265]

Still watching this brilliant performance.👏👏👏

[@1hlinkjr1939]

I listened very carefully to this aria and transcribed the words as follows: The gypsies tell tales that fright to pass the long Marsovian nights they sing a song, an ancient tale, about a witch of beauty rare. There once was a Vilja, a witch of the wood, and all longed to love her but no mortal could A huntsman one day saw her bathe in a brook, and she saw the huntsman and laughed at his look. He began to shake for fear that the witch would disappear. But he stayed hoping it would draw her near. Vilja, oh Vilja the witch of the wood, I long to love you but what mortal could? Vilja, oh Vilja, I never can go back to the home that I know. Vilja, oh Vilja, the witch of the wood, I long to love you but what mortal could Vilja, oh Vilja, I never can go back to the home that I know. The Vilja drew near him and held out her hand and she led him on through the wild forest land. They came to a cave in the cold forest deep, her kiss was bewitched and he fell in a sleep. when he woke he was alone, for the forest maid had flown evermore he would seek the bliss he’d known. Vilja, oh Vilja, the witch of the wood, I long to love you but what mortal could Vilja, oh Vilja, I never can go back to the home that I know. Vilja, oh Vilja, the witch of the wood I long to love you but what mortal could Vilja, oh Vilja, so love sick am I Kiss me again or I die Oh Vilja, Vilja.

[@1hlinkjr1939]

@blackcatsarecool It was my pleasure. The melody and the lyrics are stunning!

[@LadyJennandCo]

@@1hlinkjr1939 Adding my thanks for your transcription. Very very much appreciated.

[@pronkerpronker6708]

Wonderful, thanks.

[@bronxboy47]

@@1hlinkjr1939 I agree. The song is one of the loveliest I've ever heard.

[@williamschlenger1518]

What a voice.

[@Sharkattackguy]

THis is exactly the voice type and sound for Lehar.

[@barrywilliams8324]

This song so reminds me of Sunday evenings listening to Alan Keith's " Your Hundred best tunes" on The B.B.C light programme. I was 14 years of age at the time, If I could only take one record with me to a desert Island this would be it.

[@vivianpercy7580]

Magnificent!

[@laurabraun7371]

So beautiful! A tribute to my Dad who died a year ago today. I watched him play violin in the Merry Widow. Magical song!!

[@limunyee9289]

令人迷醉，太美妙了！眼淚不其然流下來。 感謝Henry把歌詞默下來。🙏🙏🙏

[@martinlang4479]

Goose pimples. As beautiful as any voice I've ever heard.

[@billwilkie6574]

Wonderful version. I have been hearing this song since the 1950s (on 78rpm disc) throughh all the technology advances and I think this is as good as I have previously heard, and better than most. Congratulations!

[@rafaelchacon2892]

she is wonderfull, great voice, strong voice. Like it

[@TadBaterbomb]

I remember when my school preformed this back in October, I think. Such a beautiful song. I’m glad to have sung with the main singer

[@bronxboy47]

I think the Vilja song is one of the loveliest songs ever written. Heartfelt thanks to Herr Lehar.

[@kurbatska]

Oh, what a gorgeous voice!!!!! And she is so gorgeous!!!!!

[@41vidbarber]

A beautiful song, perfectly sung.

[@hettieels5540]

So beautiful! Such refined entertainment ..timeless..🥰

[@glencooper5647]

what a perfect voice'i have never heard this sung better

[@andersoncarvalho4617]

BRAVA!!!

[@juliaillescas6503]

A beautiful rendition of Vilja. So many sopranos just kill those final soaring notes but Miss Jane Thorngren does it easily and with great feeling. Thanks for sharing. That must have been a wonderful production of the Lehar classic!

[@davidwright1626]

Most beautiful voice ❤️

[@kinyinglsu9685]

天使般美妙的歌声，安抚人的心灵！

[@Tenortalker]

What a lovely singer I had not heard of before. Charming.

[@k.rarabi1153]

Sweet melody!

[@jonniemike]

One of the best live recordings of this I've ever seen. Perfect!!!

[@Rebecca_0602]

Wow!!!! Love this

[@steveegallo3384]

True....an all-time favorite of mine. Greetings from Tepoztlán!

[@martinlang4479]

Wow! She has a very beautiful voice.

[@RobinDhillonUxbridge]

Me too

[@ValerieHeyes-wm8qd]

The most beautiful rendition I have heard. What a voice! Betty Dalton.

[@jannybloemers9508]

Franz lehar is very good in operettes,thank yuo all.janny

[@ianbentley7276]

so beautiful

[@ganglezz]

Been looking for this for a while, John Coltrane took the main melodic statement and made it into a jazz tune. Always wanted to hear the original!

[@nandorver1142]

Beautiful music!! The wonderful operetta of Ferenc Lahá of Hungary

[@scottweeks6379]

OHHHHHHH JUST BEAUTIFUL!

[@jeanmichel1423]

Quelle beauté @

[@Bagoozi]

This was AMAZING!

[@deliafox4154]

Beautiful thank you

[@marymeehan6145]

Outstanding

[@marymeehan6145]

Outstanding!

[@nataliegomez-phipps7258]

Beautiful..

[@bigowl9408]

Beautifully sung in Anglo-Saxon English.

[@republiccooper]

Beautiful interpretation.

[@hansdekorver7365]

Thanks for the upload ! Wonderful singing ! And very touching.

[@dalekruse5666]

This is one of my favorite recordings of this aria….so artistic and touching. I've had the great fortune of singing in productions with Jane at the Minnesota Opera…what an artist!

[@martinlang4479]

Show off. (I'm just envious.)

[@teresacello]

It is a wonderful rendition! Lucky you!

[@kenmckenna5685]

Who is the soprano Jane ?

[@dalekruse5666]

@@kenmckenna5685 Jane Thorngren...a fellow Iowan and an incredible artist.

[@kenmckenna5685]

@@dalekruse5666 Thanks Dale , l have heard many sopranos sing that song but Jane Thompson,s rendition is by far the most enjoyable. Has she recorded more songs ?

[@jmj4879]

Rêve, beauté : thank you !

[@markciale5246]

Glorious!!

[@alwarwick2737]

I have a video recording of the whole production from whence this clip came. It was a truly wondrous production with a magmificent cast.

[@rudolforulloda3695]

Another great performer with Vilja Song in The Merry Widow! Awesome

[@robertfrankgill5962]

"Your Hundred Best Tunes" with Alan Keith.

[@jorgefu66]

Maravilloso

[@billwilkie6574]

I just noticed that (as at this time (July 2020)) 30 people have not liked it. Why?

[@wiesawrudnicki5303]

bravissima

[@soundsandsoul6421]

I wonder what coltrane was thinking when he interpreted this into jazz

[@FranciscoFerrerGaliana1930]

Maravillosa Aria , magistral interpretación de Tener Fleming

[@califfaluz8707]

Esplêndida!!!!

[@christophesingio9801]

Mise ne scene ridiculous !!!!!!!!

[@battygirrl]

Who's here because of Floor?

[@the6-sw888]

You nailed it! So did Floor. Here we are.

[@navrasicsi]

Me :)

[@edwindewit8349]

And me !

[@MunthApollo]

I wasn't here because of Floor. I was here because I saw the operetta live last night and wanted to listen to different versions of the songs. But omg I am a big Floor fan, thank you for commenting this so I could know about her version!

[@reynaldoflores4522]

Who or what is Floor ?

[@datasicherung6406]

Fantastic!! who is the singer?

[@dalekruse5666]

Jane Thorngren

[@jaredtinkham3974]

COLTRANE!!!!!!!!

[@marlitolosa7868]

[@MarioStahl1983]

I wonder what happened to Jane Thorngren. Is she still around?

[@samueltaylor9935]

Lol Coltrane’s jazz version fits this better

[@imbob9108]

i only listened to this because it was hitlers favorite song

[@brendonrutherford5118]

Funny I thought his favourite song by an unknown Nazi composer was "Gas Chamber Blues"

[@MrCuddlyable3]

Lovely singer, lovely song. But for the purpose of this aria the stage is overcrowded with dummy extras.

[@madgeson]

MrCuddlyable3 The song is set at a Summer party with many guests.

[@MrCuddlyable3]

Yes but it need not be directed like Mary Poppins - the kids are a distraction.

[@Sharkattackguy]

The children add charm and are hardly a distraction.

[@leosurname6993]

Very valid argument, however you must take this into consideration: no one gives a fuck about your opinion.

[@Piia2023]

...and a dummy comment...!