page_title: Toreador Song
section_title: Libretto
hierarchical_section_title: Toreador Song / Libretto
caption_attribution_description: Poster for the opera "Carmen", showing a matador. Presented by Cuyahoga County Opera Association and the Federal Music Project&#160;: Ballet directed by Madame Bianca.
context_page_description: The Toreador Song is the popular name for the aria "Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre", from the opera Carmen, composed by Georges Bizet to a libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy. It is sung by the bullfighter Escamillo as he enters in act 2 and describes various situations in the bullring, the cheering of the crowds and the fame that comes with victory. The refrain, "Toréador, en garde", forms the middle part of the prelude to act 1 of Carmen.
context_section_description: 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, songe en combattant
  
  Qu'un œil noir te regarde,
  
  Et que l'amour t'attend,
  
  Toréador, l'amour, l'amour t'attend! 
  
  L'amour! L'amour! L'amour!
  
  Toréador, Toréador, Toreador!
  Your toast, I can return it to you,
  
  Señores, Señores, because with soldiers
  
  yes, toreros can get along;
  
  For the pleasures, for the pleasure
  
  they fight!
  
  The circus is full, it is a celebrating day!
  
  The circus is full from top to bottom;
  
  The crowd goes mad,
  
  the crowd is arguing
  
  with great deal!
  Apostrophes, shouts and noises
  
  Push to the breaking point!
  
  Because it is the celebration of courage!
  
  It is the celebration of the braves of heart!
  
  Let's go! On guard! Let's go!
  
  Let's go! Let's go! Ah!
  
  (Chorus ×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.
  
  "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 circus 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!
  
  (Chorus ×2)
  
  Toreador, on guard! Toreador!
  
  Toreador!
  
  And think well , yes think as you are fighting
  
  that a dark eye is watching you,
  
  and that love is waiting for you,
  
  Toreador, love, love is waiting for you! 
  
  Love! Love! Love!
  
  Toreador, Toreador, Toreador!
caption: A matador on a Carmen poster, 1939
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