Toreador Song



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 (toréador is an old Spanish term for "bullfighter") and describes various situations in the bullring, the cheering of the crowds and the fame that comes with victory. Elements of this aria re-appear later in Carmen: of note "Toréador, en garde", which follows shortly after "Votre toast...".

Simon and Zamel the Camel sing this song an an a-Capella version in a Ready, Steady, Wiggle! (TV Series 2) episode: Zamel the Camel.

French
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 !

English
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!