La Traviata: ”Libiamo Ne’lieti Calici” (Brindisi) 1853 – Giuseppe Verdi

So I raise today’s piece to you, dear reader. It’s been waiting 172 years to get here.

Libiamo ne’ lieti calici in Italian means Let’s drink from the joyful cups. I don’t know how cups can be joyful, but don’t let that get in the way of this most splendid and festive occasion. Let us revel in this fine Friday and bask in the celebration – just as the words implore: Let’s enjoy ourselves, fleeting and quick. This sparkling tune is more commonly known as The Drinking Song. On that subject, I haven’t drunk alcohol since the 10th of July, 2025, so my beverage will be of the non alcoholic variety, but a toast none the less. I have reached my longest period of cessation from alcohol in my adult life and here’s hoping it carries through to the end. Raise your glasses, dear friends, and hurrah to that!

This famous duet from Giuseppe Verdi’s opera La Traviata brims with exuberance and vitality – a piece that celebrates the sweet brevity of life itself. I heard it again on my player just the other day, and it swept me up in such a wave of lightness that I couldn’t resist sharing it here. In truth, I had been reluctant to present it before – precisely because it is so well known. From the outset of this project, my intent was to spotlight lesser-heard works that shaped my appreciation of music. But sometimes joy trumps obscurity. Hearing it once more in my still-tender state of sobriety, I felt that irresistible pull: “let this baby rip.”

I’ve presented two renditions of the Brindisi (Toast) below. The first comes from the 2018 Metropolitan Opera in New York (with English subtitles), where the set design, costumes, and colours gleam with such elegance and splendour. The second is the beloved version from the mega-popular Three Tenors concert (yes, Plácido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, and the other guy), whom I previously featured singing Puccini’s Nessun Dorma (None Shall Sleep). Unsurprisingly, The Drinking song is such a popular performance choice (as is this opera itself) for many great tenors and sopranos.

Scene (Wikipedia)

The duet is performed in the first act of the opera, during a late-night party at Violetta Valéry’s house. It is sung by Violetta and Alfredo Germont, a young man who is in love with her. Alfredo is convinced by his friend Gastone and by Violetta to show off his voice. He begins this drinking song, later joined by Violetta and the rest of the company.

Alfredo
Let’s drink, let’s drink from the joyous chalices
that beauty blossoms.
And may the fleeting moment
be elated with voluptuousness.
Let’s drink from the sweet thrills
that love arouses,
because that eye aims straight to the almighty heart.
Let’s drink, my love: the love among chalices
will have warmer kisses.

Flora, Gastone, Barone, Dottore, Marchese, Chorus
Ah, let’s drink, my love: the love among chalices
will have warmer kisses.

Violetta
With you, with you I’ll be able to share
my cheerful times.
Everything is foolish in the world
which is not pleasure.
Let’s enjoy ourselves, for fleeting and quick
the delight of love is:
it’s a flower that blooms and dies
and can no longer be enjoyed.
Let’s enjoy ourselves, fervent
flattering voice invites us.

Flora, Gastone, Barone, Dottore, Marchese, Chorus
Ah, let’s enjoy the cup, the cup and the chants,
the embellished nights and the laughter;
let the new day find us in this paradise.

Violetta: Life means celebration.
Alfredo: If one hasn’t known love.
Violetta: Don’t tell someone who doesn’t know.
Alfredo: But this is my fate.

All
Ah, let’s enjoy the cup, the cup and the chants,
the embellished night and the laughter;
let the new day find us in this paradise.
Ah, ah, let the new day find us. (We shall let the new day find us.)
Ah, ah, let the new day find us. (We shall let the new day find us.)
Ah, yes… (Yes, we shall let, we shall let the new day find us…)

References:
1. Libiamo ne’ lieti calici – Wikipedia