Adele Leigh Birthday Anniversary Today

Adele Leigh
English lyric soprano
(15 June 1928 - 23 May 2004)


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The Mantovani Orchestra and Four Voices (1964)
- And This Is My Beloved Quartet(after Borodin)

And This Is My Beloved
Four Voices
(1964 Studio Recording)


Setting: In the Wazir's palace
(The Caliph orders the Wazir to search for the girl he will marry. While he describes her, Marsinah, in the next room, tells her father of the wonders of the man she has met.)


In the Wazir's Palace, Room #1
Father & Daughter:
The Poet: Robert Merrill (Baritone)
Marsinah: Adele Leigh (Soprano)

In the Wazir's Palace, Room #2
Wazir & Caliph:
Wazir: Ian Wallace (Bass)
Caliph: Kenneth McKellar (Tenor) (His birthday: 23 June)


THE POET:
You'd say his eyes were...?

MARSHINAH
Some time bright.

THE POET
But only sometime?

MARSHINAH
Often dark.

THE POET
Well, that is plain!

MARSHINAH
Plain words can't tell the thrill!

THE POET
Then tell it how you will!

MARSHINAH
Dawn's promising skies
Petals on a pool drifting
Imagine these in one pair of eyes
And this is my beloved!

WAZIR
You'd say her eyes were...?

CALIPH
Sometime bright.

WAZIR
But only sometime?

CALIPH
Often dark.

WAZIR
Not very clear!

CALIPH
Mere words cannot convey!

WAZIR
Then try another way.

CALIPH
Strange spice from the south,
Honey through the comb sifting,
Imagine these on one eager mouth,
And this is my beloved!

THE POET
You'd say his smile was...?

MARSHINAH
Sometime gay.

THE POET
But only sometime?

MARSHINAH
Often sad.

THE POET
Sad smiles are strange!

MARSHINAH
He can be very strange...

WAZIR:
This takes imagining!

THE POET
So?

MARSHINAH
I hope he'll never change!

WAZIR:
And when she speaks?

CALIPH
Ah...

THE POET
And when he talks to you?

CALIPH
Music!

MARSHINAH
Ah...

WAZIR
Music?

MARSHINAH
Mystery!

THE POET
Mystery?

WAZIR
And when she moves?

The POET
And when he walks with you?

CALIPH, then MARSHINAH
Paradise, comes suddenly near!
All that can stir,
All that can stun,
All that's for the heart's lifting;
Imagine these in one perfect one.

THE POET
It's clear, it's love!
I'll find your love!
I promise you I will!
Those eyese should never cry!
With all my heart I'll try!

WAZIR
I fear this love!
All Highest One
I offer so much more!
Hopeless!
For ev'ry man there's more than one!
We'll wait!

CALIPH, then MARSHINAH
And this is my beloved!

Interlude: The Mantovani trademark strings
(The Poet leaves, and the Caliph and Wazir also leave their room.)

MARSHINAH
Strange spice from the south,
Honey through the comb sifting,
Imagine these on one eager mouth,
And this is my beloved!
And when he speaks
And when he talks to me...
Music! Mystery!
And whe he moves
And when he walks with me
Paradise comes suddenly near!
All that can stir,
All that can stun,
All that for the heart's lifting;
Imagine these in one perfect one.
And this is my beloved!
And this is my beloved!