Orpheus

 

 

opera by Claudio Monteverdi

Portuguese version by Ruth Salles
from the translation by Mechthild Vargas (Mecca)

ORPHEUS
Claudio Monteverdi

Claudio Monteverdi was considered the greatest Italian composer of his generation and a great opera player. He was born in Cremona in 1567 and died in Venice in 1643. “Orpheus”, one of the first operas to be created in the world, was performed for the first time in Mantua in 1607. It is not known who wrote the libretto, but it is attributed to Rinuccini.

Thanks to the literal translation from Italian made by Mechthild Vargas (Mecca), a music teacher, I recreated the libretto in Portuguese, in 1993, for the 8th grade of teacher Ana Flora do Nascimento Amado. By choice of the two teachers, some passages, instead of being sung, were spoken.

Ruth Salles

 

CHARACTERS

Music
Orpheus
Eurydice
messenger
Hope
Charon
proserpine
Pluto
echo
Apollo
shepherds
nymphs
Shadow Spirits

Note: In the sung parts, there will be an apostrophe after one syllable that links to the next. A very long spoken part has been abbreviated.

TOCCATA

It sounds during the opening of the curtains with all instruments, followed by a refrain.

PROLOGUE

MUSIC (sung part):
“From my Permesso'beloved to you I come, (*)
noble heroes, blood of kings and peers,
of whom Fame narrates great deeds.
No one ever compares your worth!”
(ritornello)
“I am the Music'the sound with gentle'ardor.
I will calm the trembling heart,
and either noble wrath or love
I can ignite the coldest mind.”
(ritornello)
“I am golden zither. in a singing voice
mortal ears flatter'em calm;
and this is how the sonic harmony
it comes from the lyre of heaven, and I enfold the soul.”
(ritornello)
“I have come to tell you about 'Orpheus, for he deserves it well:
wild beasts come if their song resounds;
the shadows always answer your prayers,
Immortal glory of Pindo and Elicona.” (**)
(ritornello)
“While I'm happy or sad I sing,
don't move, oh no restless sparrow,
nor are there waves on the shore murmuring,
and let the breeze cease the most subtle path.”

(ritornello, as the shepherds enter.)

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

(*) – Permesso: river of ancient Greece, in Boeotia, which leaves Mount Elicona.
(**) – Pindus and Elicona, mountains of ancient Greece, between Thessaly and Epirus.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

FIRST ACT
In the fields of Thrace

 

1st SHEPHERD (Spoken part):
- And on this happy, happy day,
where pain became joy
in our demigod,
sing, shepherds! And, with a slight charm,
let our song be worthy of Orpheus.
today is generous
who was once disdainful,
Eurydice so beautiful.
Today you are happy
Orpheus in her arms and yet
how he suffered and shed his tears!
For on this happy, happy day
where pain became joy
in our demigod,
sing, shepherds! And, with a slight charm,
let our song be worthy of Orpheus.

CHORUS OF NYMPHAS AND SHEPHERDS (sung part, quintet):
“Come, Hymenaeus, and let thy face be blazing (***Hymenaeus***, god of marriage, son of Apollo. )
like a rising sun,
that brings serene days to lovers,
and makes the shadow and terror of afflictions and pain disappear (bis).”

NYMPH (spoken part):
– Muses, pledge of Parnassus, love of heaven, (***Parnassus***, mount of ancient Greece.)
gentle comfort to those who sigh and cry,
your sound strings
tear the dense veil from the black cloud.
And while today, for our Orpheus,
we call Hymenaeus,
I plucked your strings.
With your singing our sound agrees.

CHORUS OF NYMPHAS AND SHEPHERDS (sung part, quintet):
“Leave the mountains, leave the springs,
merry, graceful nymphs.
And in this meadow, at the usual balls,
let your beautiful feet dance.
The sun catches up with your dances
that are more beautiful than those
that, in the moonlight night,
stars in the sky are dancing.
For you, the foreheads of the two lovers
with flowers they will adorn themselves.
Your torments and your regrets
that may already be finished.”
(ritornello)

SHEPHERDS (spoken part):
- But you, gentle singer, who with your tears
you already made our field cry,
why, to the sound of the famous zither,
do not the valleys rejoice in the vastness?
You reveal more fervor
if a happy song speaks of love.

ORFEU (sung part):
“Rose of heaven, life of the world
and worthy son of whoever reigns in this universe,
sun that surrounds and contemplates everything
the direction of the stars,
say if you've seen someone
luckiest'and most joyful'lover?
It was a very happy day,
my dear, in which we saw each other,
and happier the hour when I sighed for you,
because you also sighed for me;
very happy'the'moment'in which the candid hand
with the purest trust you extended me.
If I had so many hearts in me
as there are stars in the sky and groves in these mountains,
everything would then be overflowing
all the pleasure that makes me happy today.”

EURÍDICE (sung part):
"I won't say what
in thy pleasure my joy;
I gave my heart,
he's right next to yours, Love living.
Do you want to know, Orpheus, if I'm happy,
then ask me how much I love you.”

CHORUS OF NYMPHAS AND SHEPHERDS (sung part, quintet):
“Leave the mountains, leave the springs,
merry, graceful nymphs.
And in this meadow, at the usual balls,
let your beautiful feet dance.

The sun catches your dances,
that are more beautiful than those
that, in the moonlight night,
stars in the sky are dancing.” (eventually this chorus can be cut)
(ritornello)

CHORUS OF NYMPHAS AND SHEPHERDS (sung part, quintet):
“Come, Hymenaeus, and be
your burning face
like a rising sun
that brings serene days to lovers
and makes the shadow and terror of afflictions and pain disappear (bis).” (eventually this can be cut)

1st SHEPHERD (spoken part):
— But if our good from heaven we win,
as from heaven everything we find comes,
let's give it, devotees,
the most kind wishes.
I ran to the temple to beg
to whom in his right hand he carries the world,
that our good may be preserved.
(ritornello) (To go to the temple.)

1st and 3rd PASTOR (spoken paste):
- May you not despair in this life
no one in pain, though the pain is endless
of us violently seizes us.
(ritornello with a dance)

NYMPA, 2nd and 4th SHEPHERDS (spoken part):
– Also, after the darkest cloud
makes the world come to an atrocious storm,
the sun with bright rays encourages us.
(ritornello)

2nd and 1st SHEPHERDS (spoken part):
– After the harsh winter afflicts so,
dress the field with spring flowers.

CHORUS OF NYMPHAS AND SHEPHERDS (sung part, quintet):
“Behold Orpheus! Behold Orpheus! It was endless
your cry. However, he left.
It's so happy now (bis),
nothing more (3 times)
desires him'still (3 times).”
(symphony)

 

SECOND ACT

ORFEU (sung part):
“I am returning to you,
dear jungle, campo'amado.
Here the sun is shining,
I was enlightened by him.
I am returning to you (bis).”
(dancing refrain)

1st PASTOR (sung part):
“Look! Orpheus takes shelter
in the shade of this beech
at the time when it spreads
from the sun the light of life.
(ritornello)
On the shore, under the shade,
let's be comfortable.
our voice invades
the murmur of the wave.”
(dancing refrain)

1st and 3rd SHEPHERDS (sung part):
“In the lush meadow,
all wild number,
sometimes, by custom,
come have your rest.”
(ritornello)
“And Pan, god of shepherds,
you hear'here sick,
remember sweetly
from the pains of love.”
(ritornello)

1st and 3rd SHEPHERDS (spoken part):
– The graceful nymphs
spinning here come coming,
and your pretty fingers
They are already picking roses.

CHORUS OF NYMPHAS AND SHEPHERDS (sung part, quintet):
“Orpheus, may it be worthy of the sound of your lyre
this grass'where the gentle breeze breathes out.”
(ritornello)

ORFEU (sung part):
“O gloomy groves, (bis),
remember my suffering;
with pity on my lament,
answered the rocks.
O gloomy groves, (bis).
(ritornello)
I replied if I looked like (bis)
be the most disconsolate.
My fate has been changed.
Gone's the pain, came'joy.
I replied if I looked
be the most disconsolate.”
(ritornello)
“I've been sad, I've been sick, (bis).
Today's pain of suffering,
that I've been through so long,
magnify him well present.
I've been sad, I've been sick, (bis).”
(ritornello)
“Only for thee, O my beloved, (bis),
I bless my torment
and happy I'm happy
with lucky luck.
Only for you, O my beloved, (bis).”

1st SHEPHERD (spoken part):
– Look, see, Orpheus: everywhere
the forest laughs, the field laughs;
sing more your golden song
and make the blessed day sweet!

MESSENGER (entering; speaking part):
— Oh, stinging pain, oh, cruel sad fact,
oh, perfidious stars, oh, greedy sky.

3rd SHEPHERD (spoken part):
– What sad sound clouded the happy day?

MESSENGER (spoken part):
– Just when Orpheus sings,
even so shall I cease your singing,
because what I'm going to say only brings tears.

2nd SHEPHERD (spoken part):
– This is Silvia graceful,
the sweet companion of the beautiful Eurydice.
What atrocious pain is read on his face!
She comes so tired… Great gods,
keep your benign eyes on us!

MESSENGER (spoken part):
– Shepherd, stop your singing!
Today our joy in pain turns.

ORFEU (spoken part):
– Where do you come from? Where are you going?
Nymph, what do you bring?

MESSENGER (spoken part):
– To you I come, Orpheus,
messenger so sad
of an unfortunate and so disastrous fact:
your beautiful Eurydice...

ORFEU (spoken part):
– What are you saying?

MESSENGER (spoken part):
– Your beloved wife is dead.

ORFEU (spoken part):
- Oh gosh!

MESSENGER (spoken part):
– In a flowery meadow,
with other companions,
she picked flowers,
I wanted to make you a garland;
when a snake
comes treacherously,
stung his foot with a poisonous tooth.
It was then that, suddenly,
your face pales, and your eyes
lost the light, which the sun itself does not show.
So we all, terrified and sad,
right next to her we force
to bring your spirit
with the cool wave and powerful prayers;
but, ah, it was useless;
only once did your eyes finally open,
and she called: "Orpheus... Orpheus...",
and with a deep sigh
died in my lap.
I felt in my chest so much pain and pity
and so terrifying...

1st SHEPHERD (spoken part):
— Oh, stinging pain, oh cruel, sad fact.
oh, perfidious stars, oh, greedy sky.

3rd SHEPHERD (spoken part):
— With the bitter news,
looks like the unfortunate which stone changes
who, for much suffering, doesn't even cry.

1st SHEPHERD (spoken part):
– Ah, just a tiger or a bear’s heart
I wouldn't feel your bad pity,
without the greatest of goods, wretched lover.

ORFEU (sung part):
“You 'are dead, 'you're dead,
my life, and I breathe?
You left me today, today you left me
and no more, no more return, and here I stay?
No, no… If I put feeling in my verses,
I will go safe'to the deepest'abyss,
and I can move the Shadow King,
and I will bring you and you will see stars.
If cruel fate does not allow it,
I will stay with you in the home of death.
Farewell earth, farewell sky and sun, farewell!”

CHORUS OF NYMPHAS AND SHEPHERDS (sung part, quintet):
“Alas, stinging pain, alas, cruel sad fact,
oh, perfidious stars, oh, greedy sky!
Don't trust your north to passing luck,
that's already gone… Be careful!
The great height (bis),
there's the abyss' beside it.”

MESSENGER (spoken part):
- The word came from me
that served as a cleaver
who cut the loving soul from Orpheus.
Hateful to shepherds and nymphs,
hateful to myself, where do I hide?
Dark bat, from the sun I will always flee
and in a lonely cave I will live alone,
I feel so much pain.
(symphony) (messenger leaves.)

1st and 3rd SHEPHERDS (spoken part):
– Who consoles us, oh, sad ones?
Or who gives us
in the eyes live fountain
that makes us cry as it suits?
The day seems to us
so happy it was, more painful.
Today got dark
two bigger lights
that all of this forest:
Eurydice and Orpheus. Injure a viper.
The other the pain pierces; and they went off. (Here a chorus was already repeated)

2nd and 4th SHEPHERDS (spoken part):
– But where, oh, where are they?
of that wretched nymph the beautiful cold arms?
Where a worthy shelter will find the soul
who today left us in the flower of youth?
Go, shepherds, go shepherds!
Come on, pious ones, look for her
and with sad tears,
the due tribute by us is paid
at least to body and blood.

CHORUS OF NYMPHAS AND SHEPHERDS (sung part, quintet):
“Alas, stinging pain, alas, cruel, sad fact,
alas, perfidious stars, alas, greedy sky!”
(ritornello)
(symphony)

END OF THE SECOND ACT

 

(to be continued)

 

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