ADDITIONAL NOTES GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL Born Halle 1685. Died London 1759. ‘UN PENSIERO NEMICO DI PACE’ FROM IL TRIONFO DEL TEMPO E DEL DISINGANNO, HWV46A Composed 1707. Il Trionfo del tempo e del Disinganno was composed and first performed in 1707. It was Handel’s first oratorio and, throughout the course of his career, was revised a further two times, for a total of three different versions. With the libretto by Cardinal Benedetto Pamphili, it is the story of a competition between Beauty, Pleasure, Time and Disillusionment, with the overarching message being: we are only young and carefree for a very short time; then we get old and die!
JULIA LEZHNEVA BAROQUE BRILLIANCE BRISBANE Mon 10 Oct 7pm
Richard Tognetti Director & Violin Julia Lezhneva Soprano
MELBOURNE Sat 15 Oct 7.30pm
PORPORA
In caelo stelle clare fulgescant I. In caelo stelle clare fulgescant II. Exulta, exulta o cor! III. Care Deus cordis amantis IV. Alleluia
BACH
Orchestral Suite No.1 in C major, BWV1066 I. Ouverture II. Courante III. Gavotte I & II IV. Forlane V. Menuet I & II VI. Bourée I & II VII. Passepied I & II
HANDEL
Salve Regina, HWV241 I. Salve Regina II. Ad te clamamus III. Eia ergo avvocata nostra IV. O Clemens, o pia
SYDNEY Sat 8 Oct 7pm Wed 12 Oct 7pm Tue 18 Oct 8pm
‘Un pensiero nemico di pace’ is a da capo aria sung by Bellezza (Beauty). While Bellezza is trying to disavow the very notion of Tempo (Time), in this aria she is actually running from Tempo and his ‘voracious’ scythe, thus demonstrating that Tempo not only exists but that he is coming after her.
GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL ‘FELICISSIMA QUEST’ALMA’ FROM APOLLO E DAFNE, HWV122 Composed 1710. Despite the anonymous libretto, Handel’s dramatic cantata, Apollo e Dafne, is based on Ovid’s Metamorphoses, as told by Petrarch in Canzoniere. The story begins with Apollo, who has just vanquished the horrific Python and freed the people of Delphi.
Interval VIVALDI
Sinfonia from Ottone in Villa, RV729
Apollo’s arrogance, which extends to him claiming that he is a better archer than even Cupid, goads Cupid to punish his boasting by shooting him and making him fall hopelessly in love with the nymph, Dafne. And so begins the iconic story of unrequited love.
HANDEL
Un pensiero nemico di pace from Il Trionfo del tempo e del Disinganno, HWV46a
HANDEL
Felicissima quest’alma from Apollo e Dafne, HWV122
HANDEL
Sonata a 5 in B-flat major, HWV288 I. Andante II. Adagio III. Allegro
HANDEL
Alessandro, HWV21 Alla sua gabbia d’oro (from Act II) Brill nell’alma (from Act III)
‘Felicissima quest’alma’ is the very aria that seals Apollo’s fate. On hearing her gorgeous voice and seeing her exquisite face, he is instantly smitten with Dafne, casting all else to one side as he sets about winning her heart. The pizzicato string accompaniment and lilting oboe melody are present in all three of Dafne’s arias in the cantata.
Approximate durations (minutes): 14 – 25 –13 – INTERVAL – 4 – 4 – 6 – 9 – 6 – 5 This concert will last approximately one hour and 50 minutes, including a 20-minute interval.
IN CAELO STELLE CLARE FULGESCANT In caelo stelle clare fulgescant et herbe in colle laetae vivescant volent in fronde aves canendo. In rivo in prato flores et ondae murmure grato suavi odore plaudant iucunde mecum gaudendo. Exulta, exulta o cor! Astra fulgendo flores laeti ridendo animae voto arrident; nec amplius in me spes modo languescit; sed affectum in Deum demuo flarrescit. quid tardas ergo o cor pectus inflamma o sacra Caeli flamma. Arde contenta demum a te fugasta paeana amare in incendio beato anima cara.
MAY THE BRIGHT STARS SHINE IN THE HEAVENS
UN PENSIERO NEMICO DI PACE
A THOUGHT HOSTIE TO PEACE
May the bright stars shine in the heavens and the happy grasses flourish on the hillside and the birds fly among the leaves as they sing. In the brook, in the meadow, let flowers and water with their sweet perfume and gentle murmur gladly celebrate as they rejoice with me.
Un pensiero nemico di pace fece il Tempo volubile edace e con l’ali la falce gli diè. Nacque un altro leggiadro pensiero per negare sì rigido impero ond’il Tempo, più Tempo non è.
A thought hostile to peace made Time fickle and voracious and gave him wings and a scythe. Then another, happy, thought was born to counter such cruel tyranny, hence Time is no longer Time.
Exult, exult, o heart! Stars shining brightly, flowers laughing merrily, spirits smile upon this pledge; no more does hope languish in me, it now abounds in the love of God. Why then, o heart, do you hold my soul in the flames, oh, the sacred flames of Heaven? Burn with joy at last, now that your suffering is over, and find love, dear soul, in that blessed fire.
Care Deus cordis amantis sentio in me paenas placavi iam ardoris mei constantis splendet fax clara et serena.
Dear Lord of loving heart, I feel my torment ease within me, now the bright and serene flame of my constant ardour is gleaming.
In spe beata corsuspirando est divo affetu anima plena. Alleluia.
In blessed hope my yearning heart is made whole by the love of God. Alleluia.
SALVE REGINA Salve Regina, mater misericordiae, vita dulcedo et spes nostra, salve. Ad te clamamus exules filii Evae, ad te suspiramus gementes et flentes in hac lacrimarum valle. Eia ergo, avvocata nostra illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte, et Jesum benedictum fructum ventris tuis nobis post hoc exilium ostende. O clemens, o pia, o dulcis virgo Maria.
HAIL QUEEN Hail Queen, mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope, hail. To you we cry, exiles, sons of Eve, to you we sigh, mourning and weeping, in this valley of tears. Turn then, our advocate, your eyes of mercy towards us. And after this our exile And after this our exile Merciful, holy, sweet virgin Mary.
FELICISSIMA QUEST’ALMA
HOW VERY HAPPY IS THIS SOUL
Felicissima quest’alma, ch’ama sol la libertà. Non v’è pace, non v’è calma per chi sciolto il cor non ha.
How very happy is this soul, which loves only freedom. There is no peace, there is no calm for one whose heart is fettered.
ALLA SUA GABBIA D’ORO
TO HER GILDED CAGE
Alla sua gabbia d’oro suol ritornar talor quell’augellin canoro che rapido fuggi: sai perche torna ancor donde parti? la sua prigion gli e cara piu della liberta.
To her gilded cage will often return that little singing bird that quickly flew away; do you know why she returns to the place she left? Her prison is dearer to her than her freedom.
Ma la prigione d’oro sai perche piace allor all’augellin canoro? Piu caro al suo signor sa ben che tornera.
But, do you know why the little singing bird likes her gilded prison? Because she knows her master will love her more when she comes back.
BRILLA NELL’ALMA
IN MY SOUL SPARKLES
Brilla nell’alma un non inteso ancor dolce content, e d’alta gioja il cor, soave inonda. Si nella calma azzurro brilla il mar, se splende il sole, e i rai fan tremolar tranquilla l’onda.
In my soul sparkles an unheard-of sweet content, and my heart is gently flooded with great joy. As in the calm the sea glitters blue, the sun shines, and its rays make the waves tremble gently.