List of Musical Items
The following is a list of the "scenes" into which the libretto is divided. Each separate scene is typically a mixture of musical elements: recitative, arioso, arietta and sometimes ensemble, with occasional instrumental interludes.
| Scene | Performed by | First lines | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prologue | |||
| Prologue | L'humana fragilatà, Tempo, Fortuna, Amore | Mortal cosa son io (I am mortal) |
In the libretto prologue the gods are Fato, Fortezza and Prudenza (Fate, Strength and Prudence) |
| Act 1 | |||
| 1: Scene I | Penelope, Ericlea | Di misera regina non terminati mai dolenti affani! (Miserable Queen, sorrow and trouble never end!) |
|
| 1: Scene II | Melanto, Eurimaco | Duri e penosi son gli amorosi fieri desir (Bitter and hard are the lovers' cruel torments) |
|
| 1: Scene III | Maritime scene, music missing from score | ||
| 1: Scene IV | Music only | The sleeping Ulisse is placed ashore by the Faeci | |
| 1: Scene V | Nettuno, Giove | Superbo è l'huom (Man is proud) |
In some editions this scene begins with a Chorus of Sirens, using other music. |
| 1: Scene VI | Chorus of Faeci, Nettuno | In questo basso mondo (In this base world) |
|
| 1: Scene VII | Ulisse | Dormo ancora o son desto? (Am I still asleep, or am I awake?) |
|
| 1: Scene VIII | Minerva, Ulisse | Cara e lieta gioventù (Dear joyful time of youth) |
|
| 1: Scene IX | Minerva, Ulisse | Tu d'Aretusa a fonte intanto vanne (Go thou meanwhile to the fountain of Arethusa) |
Act 1 in the five-act libretto ends here |
| 1: Scene X | Penelope, Melanto | Donata un giorno, o dei, contento a' desir miei (Grant me one day, ye gods, content to all my wishes) |
|
| 1: Scene XI | Eumete | Come, oh come mal si salva un regio amante (O how badly does a loving king save himself) |
|
| 1: Scene XII | Iro, Eumete | Pastor d'armenti può prati e boschi lodar (A keeper of cattle can praise meadows and woods) |
|
| 1: Scene XIII | Eumete, Ulisse | Ulisse generoso! Fu nobile intrapresa {Noble Ulysses! You undertook noble deeds) |
End of Act 1 (score) |
| Act 2 | |||
| 2: Scene I | Telemaco, Minerva | Lieto cammino, dolce viaggio (Happy journey, sweet voyage) |
|
| 2: Scene II | Eumete, Ulisse, Telemaco | Oh gran figlio d'Ulisse! È pur ver che tu torni O great son of Ulysses, is it true you have come back?) |
|
| 2: Scene III | Telemaco, Ulisse | Che veggio, ohimè, che miro? (What do I see, alas, what do I behold?) |
Act 2 in the five-act libretto ends here |
| 2: Scene IV | Melanto, Eurimaco | Eurimaco! La donna insomma haun cor di sasso (Eurymachus, in short the lady has a heart of stone) |
|
| 2: Scene V | Antinoo, Pisandro, Anfinomo, Penelope | Sono l'altre regine coronate di servi e tu d'amanti (Other queens are crowned by servants, you by lovers) |
|
| 2: Scene VI | "Ballet of the Moors", music missing from score | ||
| 2: Scene VII | Eumete, Penelope | Apportator d'altre novelle vengo! (I come as bearer of great tidings!) |
|
| 2: Scene VIII | Antinoo, Anfinomo, Pisandro, Eurimaco | Compagni, udiste? (Friends, did you hear?) |
|
| 2: Scene IX | Ulisse, Minerva | Perir non può chi tien per scorta il cielo (He who has heaven as an escort cannot perish) |
|
| 2: Scene X | Eumete, Ulisse | Io vidi, o pelegrin, de' Proci amanti (I saw, O wanderer, the amorous suitors) |
Act 3 in the five-act libretto ends here. In Henze's two-act version Act 1 ends here |
| 2: Scene XI | Telemaco, Penelope | Del mio lungo viaggio i torti errori già vi narrari (The tortuous ways of my long journey I have already recounted) |
|
| 2: Scene XII | Antinoo, Eumete, Iro, Ulisse, Telemaco, Penelope, Anfinomo, Pisandro | Sempre villano Eumete (Always a lout, Eumete...) |
Act 4 in the five-act libretto ends here |
| Act 3 | |||
3: Scene I |
Iro | O dolor, o martir che l'alma attrista (O grief, O torment that saddens the soul) |
|
| 3: Scene II | Scene not set to music because Monteverdi considered it "too melancholy". The souls of the dead suitors are seen entering hell. | ||
| 3: Scene III | Melanto, Penelope | E quai nuovi rumori, (And what strange uproars) |
|
| 3: Scene IV | Eumete, Penelope | Forza d'occulto affetto raddolcisce il tuo petto (The power of a hidden affection may calm your breast) |
|
| 3: Scene V | Telemaco, Penelope | È saggio Eumete, è saggio! (Eumaeus is truly wise!) |
|
| 3: Scene VI | Minerva, Giunone | Fiamma e l'ira, o gran dea, foco è lo sdegno! (Anger is the flame, O great goddess, hatred is the fire) |
|
| 3: Scene VII | Giunone, Giove, Nettuno, Minerva, Heavenly Chorus, Chorus of Sirens | Gran Giove, alma de' dei, (Great Jove, soul of the gods) |
|
| 3: Scene VIII | Ericlea | Ericlea, che vuoi far? (Eurycleia, what will you do?) |
|
| 3: Scene IX | Penelope, Eumete, Telemaco | Ogni nostra ragion sen porta il vento (All your reason is borne away by the wind) |
|
| 3: Scene X | Ulisse, Penelope, Ericlea | O delle mie fatiche meta dolce e soave (O sweet, gentle ending of my troubles) |
|
| End of opera | |||
Read more about this topic: Il Ritorno D'Ulisse In Patria
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