The one and only Maria Callas sings “Pleurez! Pleurez, mes yeux” from Le Cid, an opera in four acts by Jules Massenet to a French libretto by Adolphe d’Ennery, Louis Gallet and Édouard Blau. It is based on the play of the same name by Pierre Corneille. This performance was recorded at the Hamburg Music Hall (today’s Laeiszhalle) in 1962 with the then NDR Symphony Orchestra (today’s NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra) conducted by Georges Prêtre.
Maria Callas sings “Pleurez! Pleurez, mes yeux” from Le Cid, an opera in four acts by Jules Massenet. This performance was recorded at the Hamburg Music Hall in 1962 with the then NDR Symphony Orchestra (today’s NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra) conducted by Georges Prêtre.

Massenet’s “Pleurez! Pleurez, mes yeux”

“Pleurez! Pleurez, mes yeux” is a famous aria from Jules Massenet’s opera “Le Cid,” composed in 1885. The opera is based on Pierre Corneille’s play of the same name and tells the story of Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, known as El Cid, a legendary Spanish hero.

In the aria, Chimène, one of the central characters, is in deep emotional turmoil. She loves Rodrigo but is also bound by duty to avenge her father’s death, who Rodrigo killed in a duel. In this moment of despair, she calls upon her eyes to weep, expressing her profound sorrow and conflict. The title “Pleurez! Pleurez, mes yeux” translates to “Weep! Weep, my eyes” in English, capturing the intense emotional tone of the piece.

Massenet’s music in this aria is expressive and lyrical, enhancing the dramatic intensity of Chimène’s lament. The orchestration complements the vocal line, creating a rich, emotional atmosphere. This aria has been performed by many renowned sopranos, becoming a favorite in the operatic repertoire for its powerful expression of grief and inner conflict.

Pleurez! Pleurez, mes yeux lyrics [text]

French

De cet affreux combat je sors l’âme brisée!
Mais enfin je suis libre et je pourrai du moins
Soupirer sans contrainte et souffrir sans témoins.

Pleurez! pleurez mes yeux! tombez triste rosée
Qu’un rayon de soleil ne doit jamais tarir!
S’il me reste un espoir, c’est de bientôt mourir!
Pleurez mes yeux, pleurez toutes vox larmes! pleurez mes yeux!

Mais qui donc a voulu l’éternité des pleurs?
O chers ensevelis, trouvez-vous tant de charmes à léguer aux vivants d’implacables douleurs?
Hélas! je me souviens, il me disait:
Avec ton doux sourire…
Tu ne saurais jamais conduire
Qu’aux chemins glorieux ou qu’aux sentiers bénis!

Ah! mon père! Hélas!
Pleurez! pleurez mes yeux!
Tombez triste rosée
Qu’un rayon de soleil ne doit jamais tarir!
Pleurez mes yeux!
Ah! pleurez toutes vos larmes! pleurez mes yeux!
Ah! pleurez!

English Translation

From this awful struggle, I emerge with a broken soul!
But after all, I am free and I will at least be able to
To sigh without constraint and to suffer without witnesses.

Cry! weep my eyes! Fall sad dew
That a ray of sunshine must never dry up!
If I have any hope left, it is to die soon!
Weep my eyes, weep all your tears! weep my eyes!

But who wanted the eternity of weeping?
O dear buried ones, do you find so many charms in bequeathing implacable sorrows to the living?
Alas! I remember, he said to me:
With your sweet smile…
You could never drive
Than to the glorious paths or to the blessed paths!

Ah! My father! Alas!
Cry! weep my eyes!
Fall sad dew
That a ray of sunshine must never dry up!
Weep my eyes!
Ah! cry all your tears! weep my eyes!
Ah! Cry!