Libiamo ne'lieti calici (Drinking Song) is the most famous aria from Verdi's La Traviata, perhaps one of the most known fragments of opera around the world, and an obligatory performance (as this opera itself) for any great tenor. The words were written by libretist Francesco Maria Piave. Those who have performed it include Luciano Pavarotti, Giuseppe di Stefano, Plácido Domingo, José Carreras, Enrico Caruso, and many others. This article is about the musical term aria. ... Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi (either October 9 or 10, 1813 – January 27, 1901) was an Italian Romantic composer, mainly of opera. ... La traviata, an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, takes as its basis the novel La dame aux Camélias by Alexandre Dumas, fils, published in 1848. ... The Teatro alla Scala in Milan. ... In music, a tenor is a male singer with a high vocal range. ... Francesco Maria Piave Francesco Maria Piave (18 May 1810 – 5 March 1876) was an Italian librettist who was Verdis life-long friend and collaborator. ... Luciano Pavarotti (born October 12, 1935), an Italian tenor, is one of the most famous living singers, not only in the world of opera, but across all genres. ... The Italian tenor Giuseppe Di Stefano (born 24 July 1921) is a famous opera singer whose career spanned from the late 1940s to the early 1970s. ... Plácido Domingo Plácido Domingo [1] (born January 21, 1941) [2] is a world-famous Spanish operatic tenor, well-known for his versatile, strong voice that is possessed of a ringing and clear tone throughout its range. ... José Carreras The Catalan tenor Josep Carreras (born December 5, 1946) is a famous Spanish opera singer much admired for his Verdi and Puccini roles. ... Enrico Caruso (February 25, 1873–August 2, 1921) was one of the most famous tenors in the history of opera. ...

This aria takes part in the first act of this opera, at Violetta's house, and it is sung by Alfredo Germont, as a challenge to show off his voice.

Lyrics

Italian

Libiamo, libiamo ne'lieti calici
che la belleza infiora.
E la fuggevol ora s'inebrii
a voluttà.
Libiamo ne'dolci fremiti
che suscita l'amore,
poiché quell'ochio al core omnipotente va.
Libiamo, amore fra i calici
più caldi baci avrà.

Tra voi tra voi saprò dividere
il tempo mio giocondo;
Tutto è follia nel mondo ciò
che non è piacer.
Godiam, fugace e rapido
e'il gaudio dell’amore,
e'un fior che nasce e muore,
ne più si può goder.
Godiam c'invita un fervido
accento lusighier.

(Godiamo, la tazza e il cantico
la notte abbella e il riso;
in questo paradiso ne sopra il nuovo dì.)

La vita è nel tripudio
quando non s'ami ancora.
Nol dite a chi l'ignora,
e' il mio destin così ...

Godiamo, la tazza e il cantico
la notte abbella e il riso;
in questo paradiso ne sopra il nuovo dì

Reference

• The Aria Database