S. GIOVANNI BATTISTA ORATORIO

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(1)S. GIOVANNI BATTISTA ORATORIO - St. John The Baptist — ADRIANA LAZZARINI, contralto Herod —. GIORGIO. Salome — ZIMRA. TADEO,. ORNATT,. bass. soprano. Herodias — ELENA BARCIS, soprano ~ Counsellor —. ALFREDO. NOBILE, tenor. POLYPHONIC CHOIR OF TURIN & ANGELICUM ORCHESTRA OF MILAN Conducted by CARLO FELICE CILLARIO. Recorded by Angelicum, Milan, 1962. Pressed. in U.S.A..

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(3) Vas NS “Ss. MUSIC GUILD M34.. -. go?. fw. at. ea. ew. BEG. 7. .. oe. %. -. ANGELICUM. RECORDING. Ay feles.Cos”. (1642-1682). STRADELLA. O. ALESSA. 1. S. GIOVANNI BATTISTA, ORATORIO. WOOP. Ona. Herodias — ELENA BARCIS, soprano Counsellor — ALFREDO NOBILE, tenor _. St. John The Baptist — ADRIANA LAZZARINI, contralto Herod — GIORGIO TADEO, bass Salome — ZIMRA ORNATT, soprano Polyphonic Choir of Turin & Angelicum. Erodiade figlia e Consiglerere Non fia ver che mai si si sciolga cosi dolce serviti, _ né che l’anima si voka a e il mio Re non ami pit. Il Santo | Non piu, ferma, il privzvzto fallire pubblico ormai s’é reso e trapassando il segm a ee muove il Ciel, la Terra e Dio.. Erode E chi con tanto tenjrar-ario ardire la sacrilega lingua @pitpio disioglie? Chi nelle regie sogl§ pe perché venga a turbare i sensi mil in introdusse costui? Ola, ola, chi sei? Il Santo Ben mi ravvisi, ¢ ulteitempo non furo a te discaijququesii liberi sensi.. 1?. ee. Orchestra of Milan. Conducted by Carlo Felice Cillario Little documentary evidence remains to inform of the details of Alessandro Stradela’s life. He was born in Modena in 1642, but his musical education and development remain obscure. Somewhat early in his career he came under the influence of the Lombardy-Emilia school. He was also familiar with musical practices in Rome. He lived in Bologna for a period of time. The bulk of his work as a composer centers around Venice where he was active from about 1664-1675. At about this time he fell in love and ran off with the wife of a Venetian. The record is not very clear; there has been some doubt whether the lady in question was actually wife, mistress, or fiancée, and there has been some doubt whether the cuckold was a nobleman, a politico, or merely a wealthy merchant. In any event, he was sufficiently powerful to have Stradella followed around northern Italy by a hired assassin. An attempt to murder him in Turin failed, but in 1682 in Genoa the dagger found its mark, bringing to a close the career of one of the most gifted and inventive musicians of the Italian settecento. Stradella exerted a pivotal influence on the development of many musi_ cal forms, but almost all of his considerable output still remains in manuscript scattered among the libraries in northern Italy. Primarily a: composer of music for voices and orchestra, he was chiefly known for his operas, oratorios, religious and secular cantatas, as well as for motets and madrigals.. Il Santo Amiche selve, addio, graditi alberghi di tranquilla quiete ove nel gioir mio lore trassi piu liete e disgiunto da me non che dal mondo sol per riunirne al Ciel vissi giocondo. ; Deste un tempo a me recetto, selve care ed innocenti, ed in mezzo ai miei tormenti scene apriste di diletto. Selve beate,. addio, gia ch’altrove mi guida il cielo istesso.. Coro Dove, Battista, dove a noi ti rapisce. invida sorte? Il Santo Alla corte. Una del coro. .. Ferma, ferma, deh, ferma il piede | econ il piede anco il pensiero arresta; ferma, ché non conviene a chi si trova d’innocenza in porto. .. sented in the form of a recitative, arioso, aria, ensemble,. and. context.. Dr. William | B. Ober. quiet, ; : where with great joy I passed the happiest hours, -and where transported outside myself and apart from the world T lived only in joyful union with Heaven.. augusto,. di magnanime cure piu che di gemme ed di tesori onusto | deponi, ormai, deponi la vasta mole dei pesanti affanni e a te sollievo e a noi conforto apporta: troppo il viver del Prence al regno. importa. Erodiade figlia Volin pure lontano dal sen quegl’affanni ch’opprimono il cor, il diletto si muti il dolor, in ambrosia si cangi il velen. Si, si, de’ tuoi devoti, d’Erodiade tua secondo i voti. Il Consigliere - Poi, lasciando dell’empiree strade lo stellato sentiero, prende in seno del mare il biondo auriga dolce reposo. Prendi anche tu, Signore ch’al mondo imperi,. norma dal Re degli astri errar non puoi se il ciel serve d’esempio ai passi tuoi. Erodiade figlia . : Sorde dive, ch’ai mortalil’aureo stame ognor tessete, | sospendete, sospendete l’atre forbici fatali, accio se il nostro Nume con la mia genitrice umile invoco,. duri piu la cagion del mio bel foco.. -. Non fia ver che mail si sciolga cosi dolce servitu, né ch’altrove il.cor si volga e il mio Re non ami piu.. 7. |. .. Non piu, cedo, non pit: se fu da noi diviso, torni il piacere e si richiami il riso. S‘intreccino col canto giocondissime danze, godero lieto e festante.. els. e fra dure catene de}ememerario ardir paghi le pene. Il Santo. | Se pegno gradito vasiesiete di morte, mille baci v’imprimdasjaspre tisorse. Coro S’uccida il reo, s’ucfla,la, | 3 e fra dure catene dqtertermeririo ardir paghi le pene. Erode 7 3 Provera se questo scfroro gli umili innalza et Supuperbi atterra, Fulmini piova in cie} p prodein terra.. |. Erodiade figlia. show noble repentance and scorn for sin, as a ruler of yourself and the kingdom. Herod ) : 3 My mightiest hand will thunder as a thousand whirlwinds;. with severest condemnation it will scatter bolts and lightning, Conceal this wretch in a deep dungeon, a prison blind to the light of day, and if his ravings ever caused laughter, let him now learn weeping from my vengeful wrath. Chorus | Let the guilty be slain; let him be killed, and pay the penalty for his rash boldness in harsh chains. The Saint If a pledge of death please you, I give you a thousand kisses, a terrible victory. Chorus , | | Let the guilty be slain; let him be killed, and pay the penalty for his rash boldness in harsh chains. Herod : , He shall taste how this scepter exalts the humble and casts down the proud; May sentning strike from heaven, for powerful on earth am, i :. Salome. Farfalla ardita troppié é salita vicino a me;. presso alle sfere le pmame altere si, si perdé. Erodiade figlia Vaghe ninfe del Gigiarlano che movete al ballo il pié, deh, deh, mi dite se Joitoite dentro l’alma al par di me. Anco in ciel le stellérerremule vezzosette ognora danzano ma per questo non ainanzano il mio cor di cui son emule.. Erode. burdens;. bring relief to yourself and comfort to us; the happiness of the Prince means too much to the realm. Salome Let the sorrows that oppress your heart fly far from your breast;. 7. sorrow becomes silent in joy and poison changes to nectar. Yes, yes! Follow the wishes of your devotees and of your Salome. The Counsellor. ee. After leaving the starry path of the ethereal highway, the golden charioteer takes sweet rest in the bosom of the sea. Take also, yourself, Sire, you who rule the world, the example of the King of Stars, you cannot err, if heaven serves as your guide. Salome O ye unlistening gods, who weave without cease the golden fleece for us mortals, | hold back, hold back those black shears of fate, so that, if I humbly invoke with my, mother, my own God, | the cause of my beautiful fire may burn on. Let it not come true that such sweet servitude ever be broken, | Nor that his heart be changed and my King no longer Herod. a3. ai I yield. No longer, no longer let there be division among us,. .. |. Let joy return and laughter be recalled; let the happiest dances mingle with song; I will gaily and festively enjoy it.. : Oh, di questi occhi npi bi luce pit chiara, Erodiade cara, chiedi pure cid che joioi chesicure saran poi le tue richieste. Erodiade figlia ' Signor, di tua buontie ie altronon bramo che sol benigna inve) m me sigiri, petrimonio che basti} m miei &siri. Erode Con si dolci manierjtaltalmente usurpi de’ miei affetlil il trom, che lofferirti in don’ stimo vil a meta anc§ellel Rego.. Vanne, ritorna e chil: ji: un magnanimo Re cj i i servionora é superiore alle domjdede. anora,. Il Santo Godete pur, godete, ijzrerembodel piacer, in braccio ai sensi, cijhi hi mortli, ardete a vana deita viimime e incensi. Io per me non cange%, ¢, cosi ferme ho le mie voglie, Valtrui felicitai con Idaiexie doglie. Graditi tormenti che [lmlma agitate con aspro vigor, voi siete contenti che Piapia portate a questo mio cor.. Io per me non cange: si costante al mio des: con l’altrui libertade fcalcarcer mio. |. The bold butterfly has flown too near me; yes, its proud wings scorched by the sun. Salome a O beautiful nymphs of Jordan who move your feet in dance, = ¢. and speaker of truth is not heard.. The Counsellor Paes Invincible Herod who on his brow wears the auguast crown, 3 weighted more with magnanimous cares than jewels and treasures, put aside, now, put aside the vast load of your heavy. well at me, and one day free senses of mine will not disturb you.. grant again its former sway to your oppressed conscience;. ; S’uccida il reo, s’ucfla,la,. I do not fear storms; the sea disturbs me not, for God serves as the sure Pilot of my ship. Let the cruelest north winds blow their fiercest blasts, My faith will triumph. Let the sea leap up with howls and moans, my soul will still resist the severest waves. Stay, yes, stay, O my champions: To-day Heaven has chosen me to overcome the evil power of others. Chorus . Where, where, O Baptist, where alas do you go but only where deceit and fraud rule. who is this impious one | loosens his sacrilegious tongue with such rash fire? in this royal household gave entrance to this man, comes to disturb my senses? 7 there! Hey there! Who are you?. change your life; change your path; Look within yourself, O Herod;. | Tuonera tra mille typimini la mia destra potentissima, con sentenza rigidissha 1a scaglera saette e fulmini. Di cieco carcere neljenen profondo ai rai del mondo si ji ii il miro, e se mai risero le sulfolfollie, e or dalle mie ire velicdicatric impari a piangere.. Coro. To the court. A Voice from the Chorus Halt, halt, O halt your footstep and with it also your thought. Stay! It is not fitting that one who | walks in innocence, seek storms where he becomes a : victim.. love me.. Erode. Erode. Herod. pray tell me, if you rejoice in your souls as much as I. Even in the sky, twinkling stars dance prettily everywhere, * But even so, they do not outdo my heart, which they emulate, |. O beloved Salome, clearest light of these mine eyes, ask, now, what you wish, and your requests will be - granted, Salome Sire, I ask nothing else of your bounty than that your benign sun be turned upon me— a reward that satisfies all my desires, Herod With such sweet ways you grasp the throne of my affections so. much that I deem it vile to offer you as a gift, even half my kingdom. Leave me, then return and ask: a generous king who honors his subjects, is even more generous to their requests.. The Saint | Rejoice, then, rejoice in the bosom of In the embrace of the senses, O blind Burn victims and incense to your false. 7 pleasure, mortals! gods.. For my part, I would not exchange, so steadfast am I,. the happiness of others for my pains. O welcome torments that wrack my soul you are pleased because you bring joy mine. For my part, I would not exchange My prison, so faithful to my desire,. _ bs with harsh vigor, to this heart of | 3. with the liberty of others.. Erodiade madre Figlia, se un gran tego jo brami di conseguir dérejregio afetto, chiedi sol di Battista |te! teschio altero, dono maggior di qual} v¢ voglia impero, che se cade recisa la diuilui lingua al suolo, trofeo riman delle nos. af’armi Erode,. e chi di un Re trionffil/il regno gode.. _ Erodiade figlia Regnator glorioso, di tue premesse al lusinghiero invito vorrei ch’ossequioso. sembrasse il mio desire e non ardito, che con ugual timore stassi se.tace o pur se parla il core. Erode. Hear then, hear the truth:. e riconcedi all’opprda ia ragio lo scettro usato; mostra del fallo illuje :e ammenda e sdegno, principe di te stesso} pc poi dd regno.. For a time you gave me refuge, O dear and ‘innocent. The Saint. Herod And who Who who Hey The Saint Look these. Ascolta, ascolta il vio:o: cangia del viver tuoarcangia il sentiero. Torna, Erode, in teftestesso,. Farewell, friendly forest, pleasant shelter of peace and. The Saint. cercar procelle ove rimanga assorto. probably the first composer to distinguish sharply between a Il Santo concertino and a concerto grosso, The trumpet concertos of the Non temo le procelle, il mar non curo, Bolognese school by Stradella, Vitali, and Cazzati paved the perch’al naviglio mio serve di scorta e sicurta Iddio. way for the development of the solo concerto. The cantata form | Sofhn pur rabbiosi fremiti d’aquiloni crudelissimi: which had been developed in Rome by Luigi Rossi (1598-1653) la mia fe’ trionfera. and Giacomo Carissimi (1605-1674) was later expanded by Strida il mar con urli e gemiti: both Giovanni Legrenzi (1625-1690) and Stradella. In paranco ai flutti severissimi l’alma mia resistera. ticular, Stradella’s gift for vigorous and curving melodies was Restate, si, restate, o miei campioni; displayed to. good advantage in this form, and his influence on a rintuzzar lo zelo dell’altrui fallo oggi m/’elesse il cielo. Alessandro Scarlatti, Bach and Handel is quite obvious. In particular, Handel borrowed large portions of material from Coro Stradella, most notably the “Flies and Lice” chorus from Dove, dove, Battista, dove Israel in Egypt. ahi, che dove sol regna inganno e frode, Most important of all was Stradella’s contribution to the il favellar di verita non s’ode, oratorio form. The oratorio was a sacred but non-liturgical Il Consigliere ; dramatic composition in which a scriptural subject was preInvitto Erode che su l’ampia fronte cingi il diadema chorus, usually with the aid of a narrator or testo. The presence of the narrator in the mid-17th century was the chief difference between oratorio and opera. Although he did not invent the form as such, Carissimi first made it popular; of his 16 extant oratorios all but one are for Latin texts. However, even as in opera the desire of the audience for a comprehensible text prevailed, and soon oratorios were being written to Italian text, the so-called oratorio volgare. Likewise, as in opera, the chorus was reduced from its central position, and attention was focussed on the soloists. Notable examples of this type of oratorio were written by Ferrari, Legrenzi, and Vitali, but the ones by Stradella appear to have had the widest range of musical ideas as well as the loftiest goals. Stradella himself considered the oratorio S. Giovanni Battista to be his finest work, even surpassing his operas. It was written in 1676, and has been described as a masterpiece of characterization with a breadth of melody and a wealth of harmonic ideas that indicate its advanced stylistic position, One effective section is the concluding scene in which Stradella combines the joy of Herod’s daughter of St. John’s death with hher father’s remorse in a striking duet over a chaconne bass, thereby representing two conflicting emotional expressions in a contrapuntal. :. forest os. and opened scenes of delight to me in the midst of my tribulations, Blessed forest; farewell! Grant me permission to leave you now, since Heaven itself is guiding me elsewhere. Chorus Where, O Baptist, where does this jealous destiny carry you away from us? |. da voi partire ormai mi fia permesso,. In his Sinfonie a piu instrumenti (c. 1680), Stradella was. The Saint. b). Salome and the Counsellor Let not such sweet servitude ever be broken, - Nor his heart be changed that my king no longer love me. The Saint — : | ; No more! Stay! Your secret is now uncovered and going _ beyond bounds, it moves heaven, earth and God to anger.. ‘Herodias — Daughter, if a great treasure you would obtain from royal favor, ask only for the proud head of the Baptist, a gift greater than any other kingdom, for if his severed tongue falls to the ground, Herod will become the trophy of our machinations, for whoever triumphs over a king, enjoys the realm.. _ Parla, la fede mia t’impegno e giuro che dal poter d’Augusto tutto quel che domandi impetra un giusto. Erodiade figlia Bramo sol che Battista .. . Bramo, ma temo.... Erode Abbi la liberta, deh, rompi ogni dimora, esponi il tuo desio. Erodiade figlia Bramo che muoia! Erode Ahi, troppo, ahi troppo brami, e a qual cagione il chiedi? Erodiade figlia Egli t’offese! Erode Sento dure contese di pieta nel mio core me s'ei fosse innocente . . Erodiade figlia. ie. Reo si fa chi d’un Re provoco la deita. Erodiade figlia e Erode 7 Nel seren de’ tuoi (miei) contenti ; da piu venti combattuta é la tua (mia) nave; sdegno, amor, pietade’ed ira mal s’aggira nel tuo sen (entro il sen) dolente e grave. Erodiade figlia _ _ Deh, che piu tardi a consolar la speme di questo afflitto core che piu viver no pud se vive ancora chi le.sue grazie atterra, e discolora il seren della fronte, perde l’avorio e l’ostro solo in udir, solo in mirar quel mostro? Queste lacrime e sospiri che tu miri braman solo, 0 mio gran Re braman pur poca mercé. Erode In questa dei miei affetti dubbia tempesta e fiera | vinse la crudelta, Battista pera! Provi pur le mie vendette se il mio nume provocd; Tempri il ciel le sue saette per punir chi lirritd, Coro S’uccido il reo e fra dure catene del temerario ardir paghi le pene. Il Santo 7 ~ Quando mai fia che morte, del Re tieranno obbediente ai cenni, scocchi contro di me I’arco fatale e lo spirto del carcere terreno libro voli al suo fattore in seno? L’alma vien meno solo in pensare di vagheggiare dell’Increato sol gli eterni rai. 7 Erodiade figlia Morirai,. morirai;. ucceditelo pur, Ministri all’opra! Sara la tua caduta dai giusti amata e dai fellon temuta. Il Santo Uccidetemi. pur, uccidetemi pur,. Ministri all’opra! Sara la mia caduta amata si, non dal mio cor temuta. Erode | Chi nel comun gioire me perturba il riposo? Qual Megera ed Aletto mi concia l’alma e mi trafigge il petto? Qual terribile tromba con eco infausta entro il mio sen rimbomba? Di Battista la voce m’empie il cor di spavento. Erodiade figlia 1 Che gioire, che contento provo e sentro fra di me! Pid felice, pid giocondo giorno il mondo non vede. E perché, dimmi, piu felice giorno il mondo non vede? E perché? Erode | 3 Che martire, che tormento, provo e sento fra di me. Men giocondo giorno il mondo non vede piu infelice giorno il mondo non vede. E perché? E perché, dimmi, piu infelice men giocondo giorno. il mondo non vede? E perché? Coro N. N. .. °. Bip. San. °. E perche? E perché, dimmi piu infelice, men gioconds ciorno ‘1 mondo non vede? F perché?. Salome — eal O glorious ruler, with the flattering ‘invitation of your promises, | I would like my request to be respectful and not bold; whether my heart speaks or is silent, I shall maintain the same reverence, Herod Speak; I pledge my faith and swear that you will have exactly all that you ask of august power.. Salome I wish only that the Baptist . . I wish, but I am afraid... Herod | Feel free! Come, cease all delay, express your desire. Salome | ‘I want him to die! Herod Ah! Too much! You ask too much! And what prompts your request? Salome He has wronged you! | Herod I feel a fierce struggle for mercy in my heart, | as if he were innocent... Salome Guilty is he who provokes the divinity of a king. Salome and Herod In the serenity of your (my) happiness, your (my) boat is now buffetted by strong winds. | Disdain, Love, Pity and Anger struggle in your (my) sad and heavy breast, Salome | Well, why do you delay further to console with hope this afflicted heart, which can no longer live, if he lives who destroys its beauties, and discolors the serenity of my brow, which loses its ivory and purple butto hear, but to look at that monster?. Herod. These tears and sobs that you see desire only, O my great king, desire but a little favor.. In this tempestuous and fierce struggle of my feelings, your cruelty has won; | the Baptist dies! Let him taste also my vengeance, if he provoked my god. Heaven scatters its thunderbolts to punish those who anger it. : Chorus Let the criminal be killed and pay the penalty for his rash boldness in harsh chains. The Saint When. shall it be, O death,. that, obedient to the signal of a tyrant king, you will shoot your fatal dart against me, and let my soul fly free from this earthy prison to the bosom of its Creator? My soul faints but to think of beholding the eternal rays of the uncreated sun. Salome } You shall die! You shall die! Kill him then! Servants, do your duty! Your death will be welcomed by upright men and feared by traitors. The Saint Kill me, then! Kill me, then!. ‘Servants, do your duty! My death will be welcomed, yes, - Not feared by my heart. Herod | Who disturbs my peace in this common joy? What Megera and Alecto disturb my soul and’ pierce my breast? What terrible trumpet fills my bosom, Resounding with horrible echo? The voice of the Baptist fills my heart with fear. Salome A ae What joy! What happiness I taste and feel within me! The world will not see a happier, more joyful day. Why, tell me, will the world not see a happier day? Why? Herod What a martyrdom! What a torment I taste and feel within me! ’ A less joyful day the world will not see; An unhappier day the world will not see. And why? Why, tell me, will the world not see 7 an unhappier, less joyful day? Why? Chorus. Why? Tell me why will the world not see an unhappier, less joyful jay? Why?.

(4) MONO 3345. M-34 rpm. ALESSANDRO S. GIOVANNI Adriana. Zimra. Lazzarini,. Contralto;. Ornatt, Soprano; Alfredo. POLYPHONIC ANGELICUM. STRADELLA,. BATTISTA: Georgio. Elena. Nobile,. Tadeo,. ORCHESTRA. OF. TURIN ‘OF. in. U.S.A,. &. MILAN. C. F. CILLARIO (continued). Pressed. Bass;. Soprano;. Tenor. CHORUS. Conductor:. Oratorio. Barcis,.

(5) MONO M-34 334 rpm ALESSANDRO S$. GIOVANNI. STRADELLA'. BATTISTA:. Oratorio. (conclusion) Adriana Zimra. Lazzarini, Contralto; Ornatt.. orano; do. Ele. Nobile,. Georgio Barcis,. Tadeo,. Bass;. Soprano;. Tenor. POLYPHONIC CHORUS OF TURIN & ANGELICUM ORCHESTRA OF MILAN Conductor: C. F. CILLARIO Pressed. in U.S.A,.

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