Synopsis

Lyrics

Recording

Cast &
Credits

Soundclips

Historical
Background

World Premiere

Links

Guestbook

About this page

Home

e-mail

   
Jump to a Song:

Celebrate | Songs of my Soul | Look to Yourself | Teach Me to Sing | Freedom | The Spring of 1117 | The World's Greatest Lover | Freedom (reprise) | How Does a Girl Become a Woman | Fire | Do I Hold You | A Servant's Duty | Don't Turn Away | Zero Hour | Now and Always | Virgin of Light | He Must Be Stopped | Cantate | There Will Always Be Love | Dear Husband, Dear Wife | Ashes to Ashes | Procession | Zero Hour | Don't Turn Away (reprise) | When You're Gone | Rage of the Heart


 

OVERTURE

CELEBRATE

Chorale We represent all of mankind
Come with us, we'll stroke your mind
Forget the sadness of your fate
The strain upon your brain
And celebrate

Seasons ever shall be stream
You will teach us how to sing
Tell us stories, make us dance
Across the skies of France
And the world

Come with us, come with us
Celebrate

King of Fools My sceptre!
Chorale Celebrate
King of Fools My crown!
Chorale Celebrate

 

King of Fools I am your King of Fools
I'll always twist the rules
To turn a sour day round to a festive day
Chorale You are our King of Fools
You've got to twist the rules
King of Fools I'll sing a canticle
Perform a miracle
I'll clown and drown your cares away today

I am your King of Fools
I'll always twist the rules
I'll outlaw politics
I'll teach you magic tricks
I'll stamp out prudery and race up revelry
And challenge you to live your fantasies

King of Fools
& Chorale
So sing a canticle
Demand a miracle
And turn a sour day
Into a festive day

Be grand and lyrical, discount satirical
Command to celebrate a holiday

Chorale We vow for you to be our king
King of Fools I am your king
Chorale You must teach us how to sing
King of Fools I am your king
Chorale Tell us stories, make us dance
Across the skies of France
And the world
King of Fools Your king
Chorale Come with us, come with us
Celebrate
King of Fools Your king
Chorale Celebrate
King of Fools Your king! Your king!

[ Back to Top ]

SONG OF MY SOUL
Abelard For every song I sing, for every melody I write
You bring the words, you make them rhyme
You hold the beat and wake the time
Héloïse I yearn to sing your songs
Learn to play your melody
And hear how sweet the tunes repeat
The song of my soul
Abelard I seek your face in everyone I meet
Héloïse I hear your song from eve to morn
Both I open my arms and I dance to the beat
But you're gone
Abelard Some day the dance will last
I will be there until the end
And we'll hear, we'll understand
Our right is our song
Both Then we'll see
A magic that will set us free
Héloïse A magic that will always last
Abelard A wonder that will hold us fast
Both A song that never ends
Héloïse You are my voice
Abelard You are my song
Both Song of my soul

[ Back to Top ]

LOOK TO YOURSELF
Abelard Look to yourself
The truth is within you, the truth is around you
Look to yourself

Trust in yourself
Let no power frighten you, let reason enlighten you
Look to yourself

Lotulfe, William, Alberic Heresy, heresy! Did you hear that?
Heresy, heresy! Did you hear that?
Heresy, heresy! Did you hear that?
Did you hear that?
Abelard Not for the mighty nor for the great
Truth does not flatter
That's not her trait
Lotulfe, William, Alberic Heresy, heresy! Did you hear that?
Heresy, heresy! Did you hear that?
Did you hear that?

We don't know what to think until
We don't know what to feel until
We don't know what to say until
We're told

Abelard All will be well exploring each mystery
And we'll live inventing history
The truth will refine us and help us see
Flourish within us and make us free
Truth's not a prison that locks us in
Truth is a mansion in human skin
Choir Look at him
Look at him standing there
No equal anywhere
Look at him
William Look at him standing there
Ruining me, what does he care
Twisting the truth around
Nothing he says is sound
Lotulfe, William, Alberic He must be stopped!
Lotulfe He will be
Lotulfe, William, Alberic His words are heresy, his words are dignity
Choir His words are dignity
His words are bravery
Lotulfe, William, Alberic His words are blasphemy
His tone infuriates
Choir His message stimulates
Lotulfe, William, Alberic He must be stopped
He must be stopped
Choir His words are luminous
Abelard The truth is within you
Lotulfe, William, Alberic His words are odious
Choir His voice is rapturous
Abelard The truth is within you
Lotulfe, William, Alberic His method scandalous
Abelard The truth is within you
Lotulfe, William, Alberic His voice infuriates
Choir His message stimulates
Lotulfe, William, Alberic He must be, he must be
He must be stopped

[ Back to Top ]

TEACH ME TO SING
Héloïse Teach me
Teach me to sing
Show me the key
To play my truth
Teach me to dance
From earth to sky
Teach me to fly
As high as you
Choir Teach me
Héloïse Teach me
Choir Teach me to sing
Héloïse Teach me to sing
Choir Show me the key
Héloïse The key to play my truth
Choir & Héloïse Teach me to fly
As high as you
Teach me to sing
Héloïse My whole life through
Choir Abelard, Abelard, Abelard!

[ Back to Top ]

FREEDOM
Abelard I fly where the winds kiss the blue sky
To find places scented and lush
I whisper my dreams to the noon thrush
And never let sweet freedom die

I've fled from my tomb of contentment
I've cut through the teeth of their chains
I've broken my bonds of resentment
Loosened the grip on their reins

Openly she teaches
Goddess of all seasons
Silently she speaks my name
Cast your cares upon her
Goddess of all reasons
And you'll never be the same

I play in her courtyard at night-fall
Worship her song without shame
Like water on fire near the sea-wall
Freedom sets my world aflame

Light up all the heavens
Soar up to the summit
And you'll never plummet down
Fantasies so wondrous
Ecstasies so luminous
Freedom's her eternal name

Choir Fantasies so wondrous
Ecstasies so luminous
Freedom's her eternal name
Freedom
Abelard Freedom!

[ Back to Top ]

THE SPRING OF 1117
Héloïse In the spring of 1117
My heart is yearning to sing
For in the convent of 1116
I never knew such a spring

With him I will fly like a song-bird
With him I will try canticles not yet heard

Females For he is Plato
He is mistletoe
He is Socrates
He's the Pyrenees
He is logic, he's forbidden fruit
He is light
Héloïse He's my truth

In the spring of 1117
My heart wants to dance and rejoice
For in my Latin, Greek, French and convent prayers
I never knew such a voice

With him I will fly like a songbird
With him I will try canticles not yet heard

Females For he is Plato
He is mistletoe
He is Socrates
He's the Pyrenees
He is logic, he's forbidden fruit
He is light
Héloïse He's my truth

In the spring of 1117
The world is waiting to play
With him I want to dance out on the roof
But I must study with him


[ Back to Top ]

THE WORLD'S GREATEST LOVER
Guibert I am the world's greatest lover
The greatest lover in the world
I know the game much better than the rest
If you give me a chance
You'll go down with the best
Through history they'll sing of your name
The world's greatest lover
Will bring you fame
Blanche You'll find I require a villa by the sea
With lavender skies
Making love near a tree
Guibert You'll have that villa
You'll have that sea
You'll have that tree
If you love me
Blanche You'll find I need a bejewelled bed
With jasmine and lilacs
And silk for my head
Guibert You'll have that jasmine
You'll have those lilacs
You'll have that bed
If you love me
Blanche
You'll find I demand a phallus of flame
Eternally rising
That never goes lame
Guibert You'll have that phallus
You'll have that rising
You'll have that flame
If you love me
Blanche I know the game much better than the rest
If I'd give you a chance
You'd go down with the best
Both Through history they'll sing of your name
The world's greatest lover
Will bring you fame
Guibert I am the world's greatest lover
The greatest lover in the world
Both I know the game much better than the rest
If you give me a chance
You'll go down with the rest
Through history they'll sing of your name
The world's greatest lover
Will bring you fame

[ Back to Top ]

FREEDOM (Reprise)
Crowd Abelard! Abelard! Abelard!
William Just look at all these trappings, flags, lanterns. When will these unbridled revels end?
Lotulfe Didn't you hear the news?
William What news?
Lotulfe The reason for the celebration. At the great debate this morning, Peter Abelard outperformed professors from all the colleges of France.
Alberic The adulation of the crowd has gone to his head.
William Remember, "pride cometh before a fall"
Crowd Freedom, freedom, freedom!

[ Back to Top ]

HOW DOES A GIRL BECOME A WOMAN
Héloïse How do the blossoms know it's spring?
Who tells the bud that it's a rose?
How does the blue finch learn to sing?
How does a girl become a woman?

How does my song inside get born?
Who tells the stars that it's the morn?
Have you ever seen a rose without a thorn?
How does a girl become a woman?

Blanche Please, be careful, please, be careful
It's best to look before you leap
Plese, be careful, please, be careful
You know, I'd hate to see you weep
Héloïse I'll always look before I leap
Flying higher than the swans
I don't care if I never sleep
I know how a girl becomes a woman

I know how a girl becomes a woman

When he's wonderful

Blanche And so warm, and so fine
Héloïse When he's noble and upstanding
Blanche When he's darling, and lowstanding
Héloïse Every blossom blooms as fast as it can
Both When a boy becomes a man

[ Back to Top ]

FIRE
Abelard When the day is dark and empty
When the pouting sun has gone astray
I seek out what's deep inside me
To find that fire that lights my way
Fire, that clarifies my vision
Fire, that strengthens and makes new
Pure, refine my decision
To do what only I can do

Where the bridge is broken, I'll put new stone
Where the truth is hidden, I'll make it known
Where the metal's tarnished, I'll make it glow
Where the fountain stopped I'll make it flow
Where the candle's out I'll find new light
Where the wise are blind I'll be their sight
Where the grape is sour I'll bring new wine
Where the task is hopeless I'll make it mine

To find that rose without a thorn
To shape new worlds yet to be born
To feed my passion with desire
And show the world I'm made of fire

Where the king fears war, we'll work for peace
Where injustice prevails, I'll make it cease
Where the stanger's homeless he'll be my guest
Where the merchant's weary I'll find him rest
If the world stands still I'll make it dance
If the dream seems hopeless I'll take a chance
If the orphan's hurt I'll right his wrong
If the music dies, I'll sing my song

After all that must be given
I know I will never tire
Of sharing dreams for which I've striven
And show the world I'm made of fire
Of fire


[ Back to Top ]

DO I HOLD YOU
Abelard Do I hold you?
Do I ask you to go?
Do I touch you?
If I dare what I mean
Would I frighten you?
Would I make a scene
And cause you to turn away?
Héloïse Do I hold you?
Do I ask you to stay?
Do I kiss you?
If I dare what I dream
I would find a way to hold you
And make you stay in my arms
Abelard I can't dream at night without seeing you
I can't see you standing there and not touch you
I can't touch you and not want you
I can't forget you, no matter what I do
Héloïse I'm not worried
That the dark of the night will deceive us
For the light of your love
Abelard And the truth in your touch
Both Will protect us
Abelard I must hold you
I must ask you to stay
I must touch you
Both I don't care what they say
What they think, what they do
I must hold you
I must hold you
Hold you

[ Back to Top ]

A SERVANT'S DUTY
Guibert It's a servant's duty to know everything
How else could they help out?
How else could they help out?
Blanche I would never stoop to look through keyholes, no
Never would I try
Never, never, not I
I am not the type to spy through keyholes, no
Others may try, not I
Others may try, not I

Oh but, oh but, if I could only see
One little glimpse from her tree
Oh but, oh but, if I could only catch
One little look at that match

Guibert I would never listen close to keyholes, no
Never would I try
I cross my heart, not I
I would never put my ear to keyholes, no
Even if it's fun
No, that's just not done

Oh but, oh but, if I could only hear
One little whisper so clear

Blanche Oh but, oh but, what I would not face
If I could be in her place
Guibert So, it's a servant's duty to know everything
How else can I help out
Blanche Else, there would be some doubt
Guibert And it's a servant's duty to learn his master's trade
Much better will he serve
Blache Hope I'll keep my nerve
Both Oh but, oh but, maybe she's too afraid
Perhaps we should go to her aid
Guibert Yes, we must find out before it gets too late
Blanche Now's the time can't wait
Both Now's the time can't wait
It's a servant's duty to know everything
Oh yes
How else could I help out

Now, there is no doubt
Oh yes, oh yes, oh


[ Back to Top ]

DON'T TURN AWAY
Abelard I've seen the troubled look within your eyes
I've heard the worried sighs behind the smiles
We knew the risks right from the start
What could we do but choose the heart?

Don't turn away from me sadly
Don't let me hear your good-bye
Don't turn away from me sadly
Let's show them how we can fly

Héloïse Their jealousy is sad and all too clear
Why should we let them interfere?
They call us dreamers ever fools
But they are trapped within their rules

Don't turn away from me sadly
Don't let me hear your good-bye
Don't turn away from me sadly
Let's show them how we can fly

Abelard Don't turn away from me
Don't turn away
Both Our love will outshine
The light of the day
Héloïse This fire inside can never, never lie
A thousand oceans cannot make it die
Our love will last beyond the years
Our passions sweep away the fears
Both Don't turn away from me sadly
Don't let me hear your good-bye
Don't turn away from me sadly
Let's show them how we can fly
Abelard Don't turn away from me
Héloïse Let's show them
Abelard Don't turn away from me
Héloïse Let's show them
Abelard Don't turn away from me
Héloïse Let's show them
Both Don't turn away from me
Don't turn away from me
Don't turn away from me
Now

[ Back to Top ]

ZERO HOUR
English
Chorale
Now what will you do when your back is to the wall?
Now what will you do when you're pushed will you not fall?
Now what will you do when your face is to the ground?
Now what will you do when sweet comfort can't be found?

Zero hour, zero hour
Sneaks upon you like a thief
Zero hour, zero hour
Don't try to find relief

Now what will you do, when you're kicked will you not crawl?
Now what will you do, when you're spinning like a ball?
Now what will you do when your hands are bruised and tied
Now what will you do when you're lost without a guide

Zero hour, zero hour
Turns your flesh and blood to ice
Zero hour, zero hour
Don't make the same mistake twice


[ Back to Top ]

NOW AND ALWAYS
Héloïse Now and always
Together we'll be
We'll turn space upside down
Call time a clown
Live faithful and free

Now, now and always
Now

Abelard Wherever you go
I'll be at your side
No ocean's too wide
No horizon's too far
We'll conquer a star
Both You're my rainbow of light
You're my hands, you're my sight
You're the only way that I know
Abelard You're the mountain I seek
You're the stars at the peak
Both You're the water that I'm thirsting for
Ever more
Héloïse Wherever you go
I'll be at your side
No ocean's too wide
No horizon's too far
We'll conquer a star
Both Now and always
Always
Now and always

[ Back to Top ]

VIRGIN OF LIGHT
Archbishop Peter Abelard, I have summoned you here to respond to Canon Fulbert's charges.
He accuses you of
Blasphemy and heresy
Fulbert And lechery with my niece
Archbishop That's past, Fulbert
They're married now
Though they choose to live apart
He can't deny
They're married now
Fulbert It's lechery with my niece
Archbishop What else, Fulbert? What else?
Fulbert He called the Holy Mother religion ...
Archbishop A what, Fulbert?
Fulbert He called the Holy Mother religion a ...
Archbishop A what, Fulbert?
Fulbert A whore, Archbishop. A whore!
Archbishop Did you? Well, did you?
Abelard I saw a virgin of light
A celestial, beautiful bride
Stained and abused in the night
By her many lovers
Who are people like you, Archbishop
You parade around in silk and ermine, turning your eyes from the naked in the street, turning your noses from the stench of their sores while you perfume your bodies with oriental incense, while you erect vast treasuries in your banks, and lie, and lie, and lie! It is you who abuse the virgin of light and turn her into a whore!
Whispers Heresy, blasphemy, lechery
Abelard I saw a virgin of light
A celestial, beautiful bride

[ Back to Top ]

HE MUST BE STOPPED
Héloïse Such a cold, unyielding fear
Why does the wind call out my name
Swirling storms that move in circles
Setting skies aflame
Choral Fulbert, Fulbert
He's making a fool of you
A laughing stock of you
Fulbert
Abelard Such a cold, unyielding fear
Why does the wind call out my name
Demon shadows of redeem
Saying I'm to blame
Fulbert I must stop him
I must show him how I feel
I must stop him
I must teach him what is real
In this light, so dark and grim
And demons and shadows
Dancing like a veil
Abelard Such a cold, unyielding fear
The wind is pleading that I go
On the morrow I'll reveal
Oh my love, I miss you so
Choral Fulbert, Fulbert
He's making a fool of you
A laughing stock of you
Fulbert, Fulbert
Archbishop If your eye is an occasion of sin to you
Pluck it out
If your tongue is an occasion of sin to you
Tear it out
If your hand is an occasion of sin to you
Cut it off
Fulbert He must be stopped
He must be ...

[ Back to Top ]

CANTATE
Chorale Cantate Domino Canticum Novum
Tenor Alleluia, alleluia
Chorale Quia Mirablilia Fecit Dominus
Altos Alleluia, alleluia
Chorale Ante Conspectum Gentium Revelavit
Iustitia Sua
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
alleluia, alleluia
Group 1 Sing a new song
Cantate, Cantate
Group 1 One voice clear and strong
Group 2 Cantate, Cantate
Group 1 Sing pain and grief away
Sing a better day,
Sing a new song.
Group 2 Cantate, Cantate
Group 1 Sing the darkness away
Group 2 Sing the darkness away
Group 1 Leave despair to yesterday
Group 2 Leave despair to yesterday
Group 1 At Heaven's gate we'll play
Group 2 The flute will lead the way
Chorale Sing a new song
Sing! Sing!
(Cantate lyrics were provided by Carolyn Cimini. Thank you!)
[ Back to Top ]

THERE WILL ALWAYS BE LOVE
Blanche When the dark comes so hard for me
When gloom is all that I see
With you I'll find my way
We'll turn around the day
For there will always be love

When my world sees nothing to hope for
When I hear rumours of war
Somehow we'll find a way
To make a brighter day
For there will always be love

We'll choose to be happy and free
Look and we'll find the right key
New doors will open you'll see

When I feel so sad and alone
When I feel I've lost my last charms
I know I'll find a way
To turn around the day
For there will always be love

I know even though I can't see
Somewhere waiting for me
There will always be love
Somewhere waiting for me
There will always be love


[ Back to Top ]

DEAR HUSBAND, DEAR WIFE
Héloïse Dear husband, friend and lover
My home, my strength, my art
For me there is no other
I'm lost when we're apart

My days are endless winter
At night I'm filled with fear
Each dream a sad reminder
Of when I held you near

When the wind moves through
This empty arid place
And the seasons start to turn
I'd demand if I could
Demand that you return

Dear soul-companion, brother
Dear teacher, husband, love
For me there is no other
Dear husband, friend
Dear love

Abelard Eternal friend and lover
My home, my strength, my art
For me there is no other
I'm lost when we're apart

We will triumph over all strife
We will love even in our rage
For together we've found real life
Dear constant friend
Dear wife


[ Back to Top ]

ASHES TO ASHES
Cantabile Ashes to ashes and dust to dust
Ashes to ashes and dust to dust
Ashes to ashes and dust to dust
So be careful whom you trust

[ Back to Top ]

PROCESSION
Archbishop Peter Abelard, your books are to be burned wherever they are found, and you are to be sentenced to perpetual silence.
Prepare the fires!
Abelard I will not surrender my books to your hellish torch! Never!
Héloïse Let them burn your books. What they can never burn is the example of your courage.

[ Back to Top ]

ZERO HOUR
Guibert Zero hour!

Zero hour, zero hour
Creeps upon you in the night
Zero hour, zero hour
Don't try to use your sight

Now, what will you do when your back is to the wall
Now what will you do when you pushed will you not fall
Now what will you do when your face is to the ground
Now what will you do when sweet comfort can't be found

Zero hour!

Zero hour, zero hour
Sneaks upon you like a thief
Zero hour, zero hour
Don't try to find relief

Now, what will you do when you're kicked will you not crawl
Now what will you do when you're spinning like a ball
Now what will you do when you're hands are bruised and tight
Now what will you do when you're lost without a guide

Zero hour, zero hour
Turns your flesh and blood to ice
Zero hour, zero hour
Don't make the same mistake twice

Now what will you do when you're cut will you not bleed
Now what will you do when your dreams have turned to seed
Now what will you do when they knife you in the back
Now what will you do when you're tied up in a sack

Zero hour, zero hour
Turns your flesh and blood to ice
Zero hour, zero hour
Don't make the same mistake twice

Now what will you do when they're laughing in your face
Now what will you do when your soul feels in disgrace
Now what will you do when you're hanging by a thread
Now what will you do when they wish that you are dead

Show us what you'll do, teacher
Show us what you'll do, seer
Show us what you'll do, lover, teacher, seer
Show us what you'll do, teacher
Show us what you'll do, seer
Show us what you'll do, lover, teacher, seer, scholar
Lover, teacher, seer, scholar, lover

Zero hour, zero hour
Makes you doubt if you are sane
Zero hour, zero hour
You can't hide the pain

Zero hour!


[ Back to Top ]

DON'T TURN AWAY (Reprise)
Abelard I've known your faithful love throughout the years
I've seen you take my part through joy and tears
Stay with me now, dear one or I shall fall
Stay with me now, my love, my all
Both Don't turn away from me sadly
Don't let me hear your good-bye
Don't turn away from me sadly
Let's show them how we can fly

[ Back to Top ]

WHEN YOU'RE GONE
Héloïse When you're gone and I can't see your face
In my heart I pray through the day
That you journey in grace
That our love guide your way
And I feel once again your embrace

When you're gone and I can't hear your voice
There's no color, no light at dawn
There's no promise to spring
No words I can sing
Till I hear once again your voice

I'll always be with you
I'll always be there
I'll always be with you
I'll always care

Abelard I'll always be there
Both I'll always be with you
I'll always be there
I'll always be with you
I'll always care
Always, always
Always care
Always
Héloïse May the light in your heart lead you to light above
May the beauty in your soul lead you the same
May the drawing of this love and the voice of this calling
Bring you light
Bring you peace
Sing your name
When you're gone

I'll always be with you


[ Back to Top ]

RAGE OF THE HEART
Chorale Now in the end is a beginning
Now in the end is a reckoning
Now in the end is a beginning
Guibert Fly through the rage
The desperate rage of the heart
Soar through the rage
The triumphant rage of the heart

Look around it's where we started from
Look around and see you're not the same
Look around and see how far you've come
Look around you've learned your name

Fly through the rage
The desperate rage of the heart
Soar through the rage
The triumphant rage of the heart

Look around and see how far we've flown
Look around, we're in a different place
Look around, and see your not alone
Look around into each other's face

In the mocking laugh of suffering
When our song had seemed to die
Who could stop us from surrendering
Who could teach us how to fly

In the empty games of hoping
Where the magic tricks were lies
Who could stop us from embracing
Who could smother all our cries

In the moment or the yearning
In the passion of the dream
Who could stop us from discearning
Where we've been and what we've seen

In the madness of the yabbering
When the word seemed at an end
Who could stop us from exploring
There are mountains to are sent

Fly through the rage
The desperate rage of the heart
Soar through the rage
The triumphant rage of the heart

Chorale Now in the end is a beginning
Now in the end is a reckoning
Now in the end is a beginning

[ Back to Top ]


These lyrics were written down with the help of: Debbie Liao, Debbie Upton, Beth Dambriunas, Cathy Uy, Robert De Jong, Elaine Gunter and Carolyn Cimini.
Thank you all!


This site was created by Astrid Ostheimer
For copyright notes, please click here. For any other comments or suggestions mail the webmaster. (Please delete the "@nospam" before sending your mail.)