THE ARIAS

Vivaldi: Armida al campo. ‘Chi alla colpa’

Recit

In van la mia pietà tenta l'ingrato. E in, col vestirla D'un'Eroica menzogna, cerca asconder la colpa all'ira mia. Troppo udii, troppo viddi, e 'l negarmela ancor la fà pìù ria.

Aria

Chi alla Colpa fa’tragitto, nuova Colpa non spaventa.

Chi alma rea d'un solo deletto nel peccar, non e contenta!

Who is to Blame

Recit

In vain my pity tempts the ungrateful. And in vain, by dressing her in an heroic lie, She seeks to hide the guilt from my wrath. I’ve heard and seen too much, and denying it to me makes it even more difficult.

Aria

Whoever makes a journey towards righteousness, fears no new guilt. Souls who delight in sin however, are never happy!

Vivaldi: Juditha Triumphans ‘Veni, veni, me sequere fida’. Come, come, follow me, my faithful

Veni, veni, me sequere fida Abra amata, Sponso orbata.

Turtur gemo ac spiro in te. Dirae sortis tu socia confida

Debellata

Sorte ingrata, Sociam laetae habebis me.

Come, come, follow me confidently, beloved Abra, deprived of your husband. Like a dove I moan and sigh in you. You, trusted companion of horrendous fate, when the hideous destiny will be broken, you shall have me as a joyful companion.

Vivaldi: La Silvia ‘Orribile lo scempio’ Horrible Destruction

Orribile lo scempio

Nel Sangue si vedrà

E all’altrui cor d’Esempio La stragge servirà.

Horrible destruction!

It will reveal itself in bloodshed! And in the enemies’ heart, it will serve as an example.

Vivaldi: Farnace ‘Gelido in ogni vena’ Like Ice in Every Vein

Gelido in ogni vena

Scorrer mi sento il sangue.

L'ombra del figlio esangue

M' ingombra di terror.

E per maggior mia pena

Veggio che fui crudele

A un'anima fedele,

A un innocente cor.

Like ice in every vein, I feel my blood flow, the shade of my lifeless son falls over me; I’m traumatised. And worse than that pain, I see that I was cruel to an innocent soul, to my dearest child.

Telemann: Die Stille Nacht ‘Der Am ölberg zagende Jesus’

Die stille Nacht umschloss den Kreis der Erden, Die Nacht, die sonst der Müden Labsal ist, Wenn sie die täglichen Beschwerden Durch angenehme Ruh versüsst. Jedoch, (o schreckenvolle Nacht, Die meinen Geist vor Angst verschmachten heisst.)

Denn Jesus, als das Abendmahl vollbracht,

Nimmt seinen Weg zum Hof Gethsemane, Da überfällt ihn solch ein Weh, Voll Zittern, Angst und Zagen, Dass er vor Schmerzen kaum So viel kann sagen:

Er rung die heilgen Hände Aus überhäuftem Schmerz. Die Augen schlug er himmelwärts, Und dass der Vater ihm nur etwas Labsal sende, So hub er seine Stimm empor, Und bracht ihm dies Gebet Mit heissen Seufzern vor:

Mein Vatter! wenn dirs wohlgefällt, So lass den Kelch jetzt von mir gehen. Mein Schmerz ist unerträglich gross, Drum reiss mich von demselben los. Jedoch, dir sei es heimgestellt. Dein Wille soll allein geschehen.

Biber: ‘Der Nachtwächterlied’

Lost ihr Herr’n und last euch sag’n’ Der Hammer der hat neyne geschlagn, Hüets Feier hüets wohl, Undt lobet Gott den Herrn, Undt Unser liebe Frau.

The Distresssed Jesus on the Mount of Olives

The silent night encompassed the earth’s horizon, The night, which otherwise is the relief of the weary

When it, by dint of pleasant rest, Softens their everyday burdens. But … (oh terrorful night That bids my spirit faint for fear!).

For Jesus, when the Last Supper has been accomplished, Takes His path to the villa Gethsemane, Where such a woe falls upon him – full of trepidation, fear, and distress –That, for sorrows, He is scarcely able To say this much: He wrung his saintly hands, Out of heaped-up sorrow. His eyes He cast heavenward; And so that [God] the Father might only send him some relief, He lifted up his voice, And offered Him this prayer, With ardent sighs

My Father!, if it well-pleases you, Then let the cup [of suffering] now pass from me. My sorrow is unbearably great; Therefore wrest me free from that. But let it be up to you. Your will alone shall be done.

The Nightwatchman’s Song

Listen folks and mark the hour, The bell strikes nine within the tower, All’s safe and all’s well, And praise to God the Father and to Our Lady