Peter Hammill - 12. Five Years Ago video free download

From the opera, The Fall Of The House Of Usher. This is from the 1999 re-release, "The Fall Of The House Of Usher (Deconstructed & Rebuilt)". The original 1991 release, under Some Bizzare Records, contained drum parts. When Hammill regained rights to the opera, he removed the drum parts and added string parts, played by Stuart Gordon on violin.

Music by Peter Hammill

Libretto by Chris Judge Smith

The House - Peter Hammill

Roderick Usher - Peter Hammill

Madeline Usher - Lene Lovich

Montresor - Andy Bell

The Herbalist - Herbert Grönemeyer

Chorus - Sarah Jane Morris

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ACT 4

(The following morning)

MADELINE: That must be Montresor...

Good morning! Oh, how lovely to see you -

since Roderick told me you were coming

I have been so excited.

Now you are here, all will be well once more.

I was not here last night to greet you,

you must think me ill-mannered,

but sadly I am not enjoying the good health I used to...

MONTRESOR: Yes.

Madeline, I must confess it's hard finding words

that say what I feel...

MADELINE: Oh, Montresor, you're being solemn

and it's all quite uncalled for.

I feel quite sure I'm growing stronger

and the doctor agrees with me -

so you see all will be well once more.

Five years ago we were a very different family,

but how things change!

Roderick and I were both living abroad when father died.

We both returned from Florence

to take up Roderick's inheritance.

The House was dark and so full of sadness.

But you know my brother and how sensitive he is.

He lives in the music of his wild melodies.

Now as time went by so his songs grew sadder,

now he never smiled as he played.

Now he sings of death and some things even madder;

shuts himself away, brooding to himself,

come to me at night,

staring at my face 'till I feel afraid.

MADELINE: When I am better we must all

holiday together

as in the old days.

MONTRESOR: Yes, you know

how much I'd love that

MADELINE: You would be good for us both,

as good for us both as before

MONTRESOR: You look so much the same!

MADELINE: I must confess that you have changed...

Do you remember?

MONTRESOR: Everything.

The fragile hour,

the silent walk with a friend.