Wagner - Das Rheingold (Synopsis)

Das Rheingold, considerably shorter than its three successors, 

consists of four scenes performed 

without a break.

 

Scene 1 in the 1876 production, designed by Josef Hoffmann

Scene 1

The scale of the whole work is established in the prelude, over 136 bars, beginning with a low E flat, and building in more and more elaborate figurations of the chord of E flat major, to portray the motion of the river Rhine. It is considered the best-known drone piece in the concert repertory, lasting approximately four minutes.

The curtain rises to show, at the bottom of the Rhine, the three Rhine maidens, Woglinde, Wellgunde, and Flosshilde, playing together. The key shifts to A flat as Woglinde begins an innocent song whose melody is frequently used to characterise the Rhine maidens later in the cycle. Alberich, a Nibelung dwarf, appears from a deep chasm and tries to woo them. Struck by Alberich's ugliness, the Rhine maidens mock his advances and he grows angry. 

As the sun begins to rise, the maidens praise the golden glow atop a nearby rock; Alberich asks what it is. The Rhine maidens tell him about the Rhine gold, which their father has ordered them to guard: it can be made into a magic ring which will let its bearer rule the world, but only by someone who first renounces love. They think they have nothing to fear from the lustful dwarf, but Alberich, embittered by their mockery, curses love, seizes the gold and returns to his chasm, leaving them screaming in dismay.

The giants seize Freia

Scene 2

Wotan, ruler of the Gods, is asleep on a mountaintop with Fricka, his wife. Fricka awakes and sees a magnificent castle behind them. She wakes Wotan and points out that their new home has been completed. The giants Fasolt and Fafner built the castle; in exchange Wotan has offered them Fricka's sister Freia, the goddess of youth and beauty and feminine love. Fricka has concerns for her sister, but Wotan is confident that they will not have to give Freia away, because he has dispatched his clever servant Loge to search the world for something else to give the giants instead.

Freia rushes onstage in a panic, followed by Fasolt and Fafner. Fasolt demands payment for their finished work. He points out that Wotan's authority is sustained by the treaties carved into his spear, including his contract with the giants, which Wotan therefore cannot violate. Donner (god of thunder) and Froh (god of spring) arrive to defend their sister Freia, but Wotan stops them; as ruler of the Gods, he cannot permit the use of force to break the agreement. Hoping Loge will arrive with the alternative payment he promised, Wotan tries to stall.

Loge finally returns with a discouraging report: there is nothing that men will accept in exchange for feminine love, and, by extension, nothing the giants would accept in exchange for Freia. Loge tells them that he was able to find only one instance where someone willingly gave up love for something else: Alberich the dwarf has renounced love, stolen the Rheingold and made a powerful magic ring out of it. A general discussion of the ring ensues and everyone finds good reasons for wanting it. Fafner makes a counteroffer: the giants will accept the ring and the Nibelung's gold in payment, instead of Freia. When Wotan tries to haggle, the giants depart, taking Freia with them as hostage.

Freia's golden apples had kept the Gods eternally young; in her absence, they begin to age and weaken. In order to win Freia back, Wotan resolves to follow Loge down into the earth, in pursuit of the gold.

An orchestral interlude follows that "paints" the descent of Loge and Wotan into Nibelheim. As the orchestra fades, it gives way to a choir of 18 tuned anvils (indicated in the score with specific size, quantity and pitch) beating out the dotted rhythm of the Nibelung theme to give a stark depiction of the toiling of the enslaved dwarves.

Alberich and the subjugated Nibelung dwarfs

 

Scene 3

 

In Nibelheim, Alberich has enslaved the rest of the Nibelung dwarves with the power of the ring. He has forced his brother Mime, the most skillful smith, to create a magic helmet, the Tarnhelm. Alberich demonstrates the Tarnhelm's power by making himself invisible, the better to torment his subjects. (The Tarnhelm can also change the wearer's shape, and teleport him long distances.)

Wotan and Loge arrive and happen upon Mime, who tells them about Alberich's forging of the ring and the misery of the Nibelungs under his rule. Alberich returns, driving his slaves to pile up a huge mound of gold. When they have finished, he dismisses them and turns his attention to the two visitors. He boasts to them about his plans to conquer the world. Loge asks how he can protect himself against a thief while he sleeps. Alberich says the Tarnhelm would hide him, by allowing him to turn invisible or change his form. Loge says he doesn't believe it and requests a demonstration, that he transform into a giant snake. 

 

Alberich complies and Loge acts suitably impressed. He then asks if he can also reduce his size, which would be very useful for hiding, but which would be too difficult he thinks. Thus goaded Alberich transforms himself into a toad and the two gods quickly seize him, tie him up, and drag him up to the mountain top.

Scene 3

 

On the mountaintop, Wotan and Loge force Alberich to exchange his wealth for his freedom. They untie his right hand, and he uses the ring to summon his Nibelung slaves, who bring the hoard of gold. After the gold has been delivered, he asks for the return of the Tarnhelm, but Loge says that it is part of his ransom. Finally, Wotan demands the ring. Alberich refuses, but Wotan seizes it from his finger and puts it on his own. Alberich is crushed by his loss, and before he leaves he lays a curse on the ring: until it should return to him, whoever does not possess it will desire it, and whoever possesses it will live in anxiety and will eventually be killed and robbed of it by its next owner. Alberich's discordant "Death-Curse" leitmotif is one of the few leitmotifs which occur regularly and unchanged in all four parts of the Ring Cycle.

The gods reconvene. Fasolt and Fafner return, carrying Freia. Reluctant to release Freia, Fasolt insists that the gold be heaped high enough to hide her from view. They pile up the gold, and Wotan is forced to relinquish the Tarnhelm to help cover Freia completely. However, Fasolt spots a remaining crack in the gold, through which Freia's eye can be seen. He demands that Wotan fill the crack by yielding the ring. Loge reminds all present that the ring rightly belongs to the Rhine maidens. Wotan angrily and defensively declares that he will keep it for his own. The giants seize Freia and start to leave, this time forever.

Suddenly, Erda the earth goddess, a primeval goddess older than Wotan, appears out of the ground. She warns Wotan of impending doom and urges him to give up the cursed ring. Troubled, Wotan calls the giants back and surrenders the ring. The giants release Freia and begin dividing the treasure, but they quarrel over the ring itself. Fafner clubs Fasolt to death (the orchestra repeats the "Death-Curse" leitmotif). Wotan, horrified, realizes that Alberich's curse has terrible power. Loge remarks that Wotan is indeed a lucky fellow; his enemies are killing each other for the gold he gave up.

At last, the gods prepare to enter their new home. Donner summonRheingold Libretto, full text (English)s a thunderstorm to clear the air. After the storm has ended, Froh creates a rainbow bridge that stretches to the gate of the castle. Wotan leads them across the bridge to the castle, which he names Valhalla. Fricka asks him about the name, and he replies enigmatically that its meaning will become clear when his plans come to fruition.

Loge, who knows that the end of the gods is coming, does not follow the others into Valhalla; he tells the audience that he is tempted to destroy the gods and all they have deceitfully acquired. Far below, the Rhine maidens mourn the loss of their gold and proclaim that the glory of the gods is only an illusion. The curtain falls.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Das_Rheingold

 

 Rheingold Libretto, full text (English-German)

http://www.rwagner.net/libretti/rheingold/e-t-rhein.html

 

Or download it in English

http://www.divshare.com/download/18918237-b98

Wagner - Das Rheingold - Solti (Remastered 2008)

Wagner - Das Rheingold - Solti (1959) 

Celebrating the 300.00 views of my blog 

i would like to present to you 

this special 

musical 

gift

DAS RHEINGOLD, the prelude to Wagner's drama DER RING DES NIBELUNGEN, is the shortest work in the series, and at times it can be forgotten. Of the four pieces that make up the Ring Cycle, it probably would not be a stand alone opera, as the other three would be, and with the exception of "The Entry of the gods into Valhalla" it does not have the memorable highlights of the other three longer works of the cycle.

Yet as listeners discover this opera, the richness of this gem becomes apparent. The story is told through the music, and even without knowing the plot, one can sense from the music the blissful state of the Rhine maidens and how the peace is destroyed through greed which will culminate in the final scenes of GOTTERDAMMERUNG. The opera itself contains many of the leitmotifs that will continue throughout the remaining three pieces.

Many critics as well as other Amazon reviewers believe that this may be the best recording of DAS RHEINGOLD, or at least the greatest stereo recording of the work. Two reasons are given as a basis: the solid performance of the singers and the mastery of Sir Georg Solti.
Solti made this recording in the late 1950's which was perhaps one of the greatest moments in history to assemble a cast to record any Wagner opera, and Solti selected the best in a cast that includes George London and Kirsten Flagstad. This recording is magnificent, and the cast works together as an ensemble, which is essential in Wagner. While some opera recordings can still be adequate with uneven performers, for Wagner it can be devastating.

All one needs to do is look at many of the reviews of the Solti WALKURE, which has some captivating moments, but also weak moments that for some (though not all, I love that recording too) ruins the entire work. For some the orchestra is a bit too heavy, a criticism leveled against Solti on many occasions, but overall the orchestra and singers compliment each other well. The only flaw is a few of the non orchestral sound effects that can be a bit jarring at times (some bells and female screams) but at the time the recording was made, they were rather innovative. After listening to the recording a few times, the sound effects are barely noticeable.

Recording Location : Sofiensaal , Vienna , September / October1958

Producer : John Culshaw

Recording Engineer : Gordon Parry

Cast :

Wotan......George London

Fricka......Kirsten Flagstad

Freia......Claire Watson

Froh......Waldemar Kmentt

Donner......Eberhard Wächter

Loge......Set Svanholm

Mime......Paul Kuen

Erda......Jean Madeira

Alberich......Gustav Neidlinger

Fasolt......Walter Kreppel

Fafner......Kurt Böhme

Woglinde......Oda Balsborg

Wellgunde......Hetty Plümacher

Flosshilde......Ira Malaniuk

Wiener Philharmoniker / Sir Georg Solti

Thanks to jbglx for the post

Register to 4shared site for download the rar, its free and very quick site

Cd 1
http://www.4shared.com/rar/vtJ9j_OA/W_Rhein_CD1_jbglx.html?

Cd 2
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Wagner - Parsifal – Krauss – Archipel (1953) 4CDS

 Wagner - Parsifal (Bayreuth 1953 Live)

Krauss’s Parsifal is another memorable interpretation, on a par with though different from Knappertsbusch in 1951 (now on Naxos). Krauss’s reading is one of the quickest in the Bayreuth annals, but that very pace gives the piece a direct vigour and dramatic consistency not always heard in his coeval’s deeply considered, reverential reading. Krauss imparts a wonderful feeling for the particular texture and tempo needed for each scene, culminating in the cleansing, sustained ecstasy of the work’s close.

Four principals are common to both sets. Ludwig Weber, as Gurnemanz, sings with even more rotund tone and with increased involvement. George London repeats his anguished, strongly voiced Amfortas. Martha Mödl’s Kundry’s individually accented Kundry remains unique, although Waltraud Meier, in more recent performances, is almost her equal, and Uhde is unsurpassed as Klingsor. With Wind- gassen singing Siegfried, Vinay took over from him in the title part and gives a typically expressive performance. 

He, Mödl and Uhde make the whole of Act 2 as vivid as any. Greindl is a suitably sonorous Titurel. Throughout chorus and orchestra perform with dedication – try the Act 1 transformation and the succeeding choruses. Altogether this is a traversal of the score among the most satisfying on CD.

Alan Blyth

Parsifal by Richard Wagner
Performer: Hermann Uhde (Baritone), Eugene Tobin (Tenor), Theo Adam (Bass Baritone),
Rita Streich (Soprano), Ludwig Weber (Bass), Josef Greindl (Bass),
Ramon Vinay (Tenor), Martha Mödl (Soprano), George London (Bass),
Hermann Uhde (Bass Baritone), George London (Bass Baritone), Martha Mödl (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor: Clemens Krauss
Orchestra/Ensemble: Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, Bayreuth Festival Chorus
Period: Romantic
Written: 1877-1882; Germany
Date of Recording: 1953
Venue: Live Bayreuth
Language: German

Covers + Lossless. Not My Rip

Links :
http://www.sharebeast.com/tp975j4r7ilx

Buy :
http://www.amazon.com/Wagner-Parsifal-Richard-Classical/dp/B0002YLCLK

Purcell - The Fairy Queen / John Eliot Gardiner

 Disc 2 - 13. The plaint - O let me weep

O let me weep, for ever weep,
My Eyes no more shall welcome Sleep;
I'll hide me from the sight of Day,
And sigh, and sigh my Soul away.
He's gone, he's gone, his loss deplore;
And I shall never see him more. 

Purcell - The Fairy Queen / John Eliot Gardiner

The Fairy-Queen (1692; Purcell catalogue number Z.629) is a masque or semi-opera by Henry Purcell; a "Restoration spectacular". The libretto is an anonymous adaptation of William Shakespeare's wedding comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream. First performed in 1692, The Fairy-Queen was composed three years before Purcell's death at the age of 35. Following his death, the score was lost and only rediscovered early in the twentieth century.

Purcell did not set any of Shakespeare's text to music; instead he composed music for short masques in every act but the first. The play itself was also slightly modernised in keeping with seventeenth-century dramatic conventions, but in the main the spoken text is as Shakespeare wrote it. The masques are related to the play metaphorically, rather than literally. Many critics have stated erroneously that they bear no relationship to the play, but recent scholarship has shown that the opera, which ends with a masque featuring Hymen, the God of Marriage, was actually composed for the fifteenth wedding anniversary of William and Mary.

Growing interest in Baroque music and the rise of the countertenor contributed to the work's re-entry into the repertoire. The opera received several full-length recordings in the latter part of the 20th century and several of its arias, including "The Plaint" ("O let me weep"), have become popular recital pieces.

In July 2009, in celebration of the 350th anniversary of Purcell's birth, The Fairy-Queen was performed by Glyndebourne Festival Opera using a new edition of the score, prepared for The Purcell Society by Bruce Wood and Andrew Pinnock.

The Fairy-Queen was first performed on 2 May 1692 at the Queen's Theatre, Dorset Garden in London by the United Company. The author or at least co-author of the libretto was presumably Thomas Betterton, the manager of Dorset Garden Theatre, with whom Purcell worked regularly. This belief is based on an analysis of Betterton's stage directions.[2] A collaboration between several playwrights is also feasible. Choreography for the various dances was provided by Josias Priest, who also worked on Dioclesian and King Arthur, and who was associated with Dido and Aeneas.

A letter describing the original performance shows that the parts of Titania and Oberon were played by children of eight or nine. Presumably other fairies were also played by children; this affects our perspective on the staging.

Synopsis

Act 1

The first scene set to music occurs after Titania has left Oberon, following an argument over the ownership of a little Indian boy. Two of her fairies sing of the delights of the countryside ("Come, come, come, come, let us leave the town"). A drunken, stuttering poet enters, singing "Fill up the bowl". The stuttering has led many to believe the scene is based on the habits of Thomas d'Urfey. However, it may also be poking fun at Elkanah Settle, who stuttered as well and was long thought to be the librettist, due to an error in his 1910 biography.

The fairies mock the drunken poet and drive him away.

Act 2

It begins after Oberon has ordered Puck to anoint the eyes of Demetrius with the love-juice. Titania and her fairies merrily revel ("Come all ye songsters of the sky"), and Night ("See, even Night"), Mystery ("I am come to lock all fast"), Secrecy ("One charming night") and Sleep ("Hush, no more, be silent all") lull them asleep and leave them to pleasant dreams.

Act 3

Titania has fallen in love with Bottom (now equipped with his ass' head), much to Oberon's gratification. A Nymph sings of the pleasures and torments of love ("If love's a sweet passion") and after several dances, Titania and Bottom are entertained by the foolish, loving banter of two haymakers, Corydon and Mopsa.

Act 4

It begins after Titania has been freed from her enchantment, commencing with a brief divertissement to celebrate Oberon's birthday ("Now the Night", and the abovementioned "Let the fifes and the clarions"), but for the most part it is a masque of the god Phoebus ("When the cruel winter") and the Four Seasons (Spring; "Thus, the ever grateful spring", Summer; "Here's the Summer", Autumn; "See my many coloured fields", and Winter; "Now Winter comes slowly").

Act 5

After Theseus has been told of the lovers's adventures in the wood, it begins with the goddess Juno singing an epithalamium, "Thrice happy lovers", followed by a woman who sings the well–known "The Plaint" ("O let me weep"). A Chinese man and woman enter singing several songs about the joys of their world. ("Thus, the gloomy world", "Thus happy and free" and "Yes, Xansi"). Two other Chinese women summon Hymen, who sings in praise of married bliss, thus uniting the wedding theme of A Midsummer Night's Dream, with the celebration of William and Mary's anniversary.

The Fairy Queen libretto

Act I
Come, come, come, let us leave the Town
And in some lonely place,
Where Crouds and Noise were never known,
Resolve to spend our days.
In pleasant Shades upon the Grass
At Night our selves we'll lay;
Our Days in harmless Sport shall pass,
Thus Time shall slide away.

Drunken Poet:
Fill up the Bowl, then, &c.

1st Fairy, Chorus :
Trip it, trip it in a Ring;
Around this Mortal Dance, and Sing.

Poet:
Enough, enough,
We must play at Blind Man's Buff.
Turn me round, and stand away,
I'll catch whom I may.

1st Fairy, Chorus:
About him go, so, so, so,
Pinch the Wretch, from Top to Toe;
Pinch him forty, forty times,
Pinch till he confess his Crimes.

Poet:
Hold you damn'd tormenting Punk,
I do confess ?

Both Fairies:
What, what, &c.

Poet:
I'm Drunk, as I live Boys, Drunk.

Both Fairies:
What art thou, speak?

Poet:
If you will know it,
I am a scurvy Poet.

Chorus:
Pinch him, pinch him for his Crimes,
His Nonsense, and his Dogrel Rhymes.

Poet:
Hold! Oh! Oh1 Oh!

Both Fairies:
Confess more, more.

Poet:
I confess, I'm verypoor.
Nay prithee do not pinch me so,
Good dear Devil, let me go;
And as I hope to wear the Bays,
I'll write a Sonnet in thy Praise.

Chorus:
Drive 'em hence, away, away
Let 'em sleep till break of Day.
Act II
Come all ye Songsters of the Sky,
Wake, and Assemble in this Wood;
But no ill-boding Bird be nigh,
None but the Harmless and the Good.

Trio:

May the God of Wit inspire,
The Sacred Nine to bear a part;
And the Blessed Heavenly Quire,
Shew the utmost of their Art.
While Echo shall in sounds remote,
Repeat each Note,
Each Note, each Note.

Chorus:
Now joyn your Warbling Voices all.

Song and Chorus:
Sing while we trip it on the Green;
But no ill Vapours rise or fall,
Nothing offend our Fairy Queen.

Night:
See, even Night her self is here,
To favour your Design;
And all her Peaceful Train is near,
That Men to Sleep incline.
Let Noise and Care,
Doubt and Despair,
Envy and Spight,
(The Fiends delight)
Be ever Banish'd hence,
Let soft Repose,
Her Eye-lids close;
And murmuring Streams,
Bring pleasing Dreams;
Let nothing stay to give offence.

Mystery:
I am come to lock all fast,
Love without me cannot last.
Love, like Counsels of the Wise,
Must be hid from Vulgar Eyes.
'Tis holy, and we must conceal it,
They profane it, who reveal it.

Secresie:
One charming Night
Gives more delight,
Than a hundred lucky Days.
Night and I improve the tast,
Make the pleasure longer last,
A thousand, thousand several ways.

Sleep:
Hush, no more, be silent all,
Sweet Repose has clos'd her Eyes.
Soft as feather'd Snow does fall!
Softly, softly, steal from hence.
No noise disturb her sleeping sence.
Act III
If Love's a Sweet Passion, why does it torment?
If a Bitter, oh tell me whence comes my content?
Since I suffer with pleasure, why should I complain,
Or grieve at my Fate, when I know 'tis in vain?
Yet so pleasing the Pain, so soft is the Dart,
That at once it both wounds me, and tickles my Heart.

I press her Hand gently, look Languishing down,
And by Passionate Silence I make my Love known.
But oh! I'm Blest when so kind she does prove,
By some willing mistake to discover her Love.
When in striving to hide, she reveals all her Flame,
And our Eyes tell each other, what neither dares Name.

Ye Gentle Spirits of the Air, appear;
Prepare, and joyn your tender Voices here.
Cath, and repeat the Trembling Sounds anew,
Soft as her Sighs and sweet as pearly dew,
Run new Division, and such Measures keep,
As when you lull the God of Love asleep.


Coridon:
Now the Maids and the Men are making of Hay,
We h've left the dull Fools, and are stolen away.
Then Mopsa no more
Be Coy as before,
But let us merrily Play,
And kiss the sweet time away.

Mopsa:
Why, how now, Sir Clown, what makes you so bold?
I'd have ye to know I'm not made of that mold.
I tell you again,
Maids must never Kiss no Men.
No, no: no Kissing at all;
I'll not Kiss, till I Kiss you for good and all.

Coridon:
Not Kiss you at all?

Mopsa:
No, no, no Kissing at all!

Coridon:
Why no Kissing at all?

Mopsa:
I'll not Kiss, till I Kiss you for good and all.

Coridon:
Should you give me a score,
'Twould not lessen your store,
The bid me chearfully, chearfully Kiss,
And take, and take, my fill of your Bliss.

Mopsa:
I'll not trust you so far, I know you too well;
Should I give you aninch, you'd soon take an Ell.
The Lordlike you Rule,
And laugh as the Fool,
No, no, &c.

Coridon:
So small a Request,
You must not, you cannot, you shall not deny,
Not will I admit of another Reply.

Mopsa:
Nay, what do you mean?
O fie, fie, fie!


A Nymph:
When I have often heard young Maids complaining,
That when Men promise most they most deceive,
The I thought none of them worthy of my gaining;
And what they Swore, resolv'd ne're to believe.
But when so humbly he made his Addresses,
With Looks so soft, and with Language so kind,
I thought it Sin to refuse his Caresses;
Nature o'ercame, and I soon chang'd my Mind.
Should he employ all his wit in deceiving,
Stretch his Invetion, and artfully feign;
I find such Charms, such true Joy in believing,
I'll have the Pleasure, let him have the Pain.
If he proves Prejur'd, I shall not be Cheated,
He may deceive himself, but never me;
'Tis what I look for, and shan't be defeated,
For I'll be as false and inconstant as he.


A Thousand Thousand ways we'll find
To Entertain the Hours;
No Two shall e're be known so kind,
No Life so Blest as ours.
Act IV
One of the Attendants:
Now the Night is chac'd away,
All salute the rising Sun;
'Tis that happy, happy Day,
The Birth-Day of King Oberon.

Two Others:
Let the Fifes, and the Clarions, and shrill Trumpets sound,
And the Arch of high Heav'n the Clangor resound.


Phoebus:
When a Cruel long Winter has frozen the Earth,
And Nature Imprison'd seeks in vain to be free;
I dart forth my Beams, to give all things a Birth,
Making Spring for the Plants, every Flower, and each Tree.
'Tis I who give Life, Warmth, and Vigour to all,
Even Love who rules all things in Earth, Air, and Sea;
Would languish, and fade, and to nothing would fall,
The World to its Chaos would return, but for me.

Hail! Great Parent of us all,
Light and Comfort of the Earth;
Before your Shrine the Seasons fall,
Thou who givest all Nature Birth.

Spring:
Thus the ever Grateful Spring,
Does her yearly Tribute bring;
All your Sweets before him lay,
The round his Altar, Sing and Play.

Summer:
Here's the Summer, Sprightly, Gay,
Smiling, Wanton, Fresh and Fair;
Adorn'd with all the Flowers of May,
Whose various Sweets perfume the Air.

Autumn:
See my many Colour'd Fields
And loaded Trees my Will obey;
All the Fruit that Autumn yields,
I offer to the God od Day.

Winter:
Now Winter comes Slowly, Pale, Meager, and Old,
First trembling with Age, and then quiv'ring with Cold;
Benumb'd with hard Forsts, and with Snow covere'd o'ver,
Prays the Sun to Restore him, and Sings as before.
Act V
Juno:
Thrice happy Lovers, may you be
For ever, ever free,
From that tormenting Devil, Jealousie.
From all that anxious Care and Strife,
That attends a married Life;
Be to one another true,
Kind to her as she to you,
And since the errors of this Night are past,
May he be ever Constant, she for ever Chast.
O let me weep, for ever weep,
My Eyes no more shall welcome Sleep;
I'll hide me from the sight of Day,
And sigh, and sigh my Soul away.
He's gone, he's gone, his loss deplore;
And I shall never see him more.

A Chinese Man:
Thus the gloomy World
At first began to shine,
And from the Power Divine
A Glory round about it hurl'd;
Which made it bright,
And gave it Birth in light.
Then were all Minds as pure,
As those Ethereal Streams;
In Innocence secure,
Not Subject to Extreams.
There was no Room then for empty Fame,
No cause for Pride, Ambition wanted aim.

Chinese Woman:
Thus Happy and Free,
Thus treated are we
With nature's chiefest Delights.
We nover cloy,
But renew our Joy,
And one Bliss another Invites.

Chorus:
Thus wildly we live,
Thus freely we give,
What Heaven as freely bestows.
We were not made
For Labour and Trade,
Which Fools on each other impose.

Chinese Man:
Yes, Daphne, in your Looks I find
The Charms by which my Heart's betray'd;
Then let not your Disdain unbind
The Prisoner that your Eyes have made.
She that in Love makes least Defence,
Wounds ever with the surest Dart;
Beauty may captivate the Sense,
But Kindness only gains the Heart.

1st Woman:
Har how all things with one Sound rejoyce,
And the World seems to have one voice.

2nd> Woman:
Hark now the Echoing Air a Triumph Sings,
And all around pleas'd Cupids clap their Wings.

Chorus:
Hark! Hark!

2nd Woman:
Sure the dull God of Marriage does not hear;

Both:
We'll rouse him with a Charm, Hymen appear!

Chorus:
Hymen appear!

Both:
Our Queen of Night commands thee not to stay, Appear!

Hymen:
See, see, I obey.
My torch has long been out, I hate
On loose dissembled Vows to wait,
Where hardly Love out-lives the Wedding-Night,
False Flames, Love's Meteors, yield my Torch no Light.

Both Women:
Turn then thine Eyes upon those Glories there,
And catching Flames will on thy Torch appear.

Hymen:
My Torch, indeed, will from such Brightness shine:
Love ne'er had yet such Altars, so divine.


They shall be as happy as they're fair;
Love shall fill all the Places of Care:
And every time the Sun shall display his Rising Light,
It shall be to them a new Wedding-Day;
And when he sets, a new Nuptial-Night.

More : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fairy-Queen
Buy : http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=5881

Wagner - Tristan und Isolde (Only the 3 first parts)

Music you must listen during your life No.3 (Μότσαρτ - Ο Μαγικός Αυλός)

Mozart: Die Zauberflote (Ο Μαγικός Αυλός) Claudio Abbado 

Links :

http://www.wupload.com/file/759484341/CD1.rar

http://www.wupload.com/file/760055781/CD2.rar

http://www.wupload.com/file/760118691/Covers.rar

O Μαγικός Αυλός, KV 620 (γερμ. Die Zauberflöte) είναι γερμανική όπερα σε δύο πράξεις του Βόλφγκανγκ Αμαντέους Μότσαρτ, βασισμένη σε λιμπρέτο του Εμάνουελ Σικανέντερ (1751-1812). Το έργο είναι γραμμένο στη μορφή του γερμανικού ζίνγκσπιλ (singspiel) και συντέθηκε το 1791, κατά το τελευταίο έτος ζωής του Μότσαρτ. Παρουσιάστηκε για πρώτη φορά στις 30 Σεπτεμβρίου 1791 στο θέατρο του Βάιντεν (Theater auf der Weiden), στη Βιέννη, όπου σημείωσε μεγάλη επιτυχία. Χαρακτηρίζεται ως η τελευταία όπερα του συνθέτη, αν και το μεγαλύτερο μέρος της συντέθηκε πριν το έργο Η Μεγαλοψυχία του Τίτο (La clemenza di Tito), το οποίο ωστόσο παρουσιάστηκε νωρίτερα. Ο Μαγικός Αυλός, έργο πλούσιο σε συμβολισμούς, για το οποίο έχουν προταθεί πολυάριθμες ερμηνείες, διαπνέεται από τις ιδέες του Διαφωτισμού και του Τεκτονισμού, ενσωματώνοντας παράλληλα στοιχεία παραμυθιού.

Πρώτη πράξη

Η πλοκή της όπερας υπονοείται πως εκτυλίσσεται στην αρχαία Αίγυπτο, ωστόσο δεν προσδιορίζεται με σαφήνεια η εποχή ή ο τόπος. Η πρώτη σκηνή διαδραματίζεται σε ένα βραχώδες τοπίο, ενώ στο βάθος διακρίνεται ένας ναός. Κατά τη διάρκεια του κυνηγιού, ο πρίγκηπας Ταμίνο ζητά βοήθεια (μέρος 1ο, Zu Hilfe! zu Hilfe!...) καθώς καταδιώκεται από ένα τερατόμορφο ερπετό και σώζεται από τρεις νεράιδες που έχουν σταλεί από τη Βασίλισσα της Νύχτας. Την ίδια στιγμή ο «κυνηγός πουλιών» Παπαγκένο αναγγέλλει την άφιξη του μέσω μίας εύθυμης άριας (μέρος 2ο, Der Vogelfänger bin ich, ja, stets lustig, heissa! Hopsassa...). Πείθει τον Ταμίνο πως εκείνος τον έσωσε από το ερπετό, αλλά οι τρεις νεράιδες τον τιμωρούν κλείνοντας το στόμα του με ένα χρυσό λουκέτο, ζητώντας επιπλέον από τον Ταμίνο να ελευθερώσει την κόρη της Βασίλισσας της Νύχτας, πριγκίπισσα Παμίνα, η οποία βρίσκεται φυλακισμένη στο κάστρο του μάγου Ζαράστρο. Όταν εκείνος αντικρίζει ένα πορτρέτο της πριγκίπισσας, την ερωτεύεται και αποφασίζει να αναλάβει τη διάσωσή της (μέρος 3ο, Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön...). Ακολουθεί η εμφάνιση της βασίλισσας (ρετσιτατίβο και άρια, μέρος 4ο, O zitt're nicht, mein lieber Sohn!...), η οποία εκλιπαρεί τον Ταμίνο να σώσει την κόρη της. Μετά την έξοδο της βασίλισσας, ο Παπαγκένο εισάγει το κουιντέτο της πρώτης πράξης (μέρος 5ο, Hm! Hm! Hm!...), ενώ οι νεράιδες αφαιρούν το λουκέτο, όταν υπόσχεται πως δεν θα πει ποτέ ξανά ψέμα. Στο κλείσιμο της σκηνής, ο Ταμίνο και ο συνοδός του Παπαγκένο εφοδιάζονται για την προστασία τους με ένα μαγικό αυλό και μαγικές καμπάνες αντίστοιχα. Η σκηνή μεταφέρεται σε ένα από τα διαμερίσματα του κάστρου τού Ζαράστρο όπου ο Μαυριτανός φύλακας του ναού βλέπει την αιχμάλωτη Παμίνα με ανήθικες διαθέσεις. Ο Παπαγκένο ανακαλύπτει την πριγκίπισσα τη στιγμή που ο δούλος Μονόστατος επιχειρεί να τη βιάσει (τρίο, μέρος 6ο, Du feines Taübschen, nur herein...). Τρομαγμένος, ο Μονόστατος εγκαταλείπει τη σκηνή και ο Παπαγκένο αποκαλύπτει στην πριγκίπισσα τον έρωτα του Ταμίνο προς το πρόσωπό της καθώς και την πρόθεσή του να τη σώσει. Τα δύο πρόσωπα εγκαταλείπουν τη σκηνή τραγουδώντας ένα ντουέτο που ενσωματώνει το ηθικό δίδαγμα του έργου (μέρος 7ο, Bei Maennern, welche Liebe fühlen...).
Στο κλείσιμο της πρώτης πράξης (μέρος 8ο, Zum Ziele führt dich diese Bahn...), το σκηνικό αλλάζει και αποκαλύπτεται ένα μικρό δάσος και τρεις ναοί, της Σοφίας, της Λογικής και της Φύσης. Η επόμενη σκηνή ακολουθεί την άφιξη του Ταμίνο στο κάστρο. Κατευθύνεται αρχικά στους ναούς της λογικής και της φύσης, ωστόσο μία φωνή του υπαγορεύει να οπισθοχωρήσει. Χτυπώντας την πόρτα του ναού της Σοφίας, αποκρίνεται μία φωνή που αποκαλύπτει στον Ταμίνο πως ο Ζαράστρο είναι αρχιερέας του Ναού του Ήλιου, της Ίσιδας και του Όσιρι. Ο Παπαγκένο και η Παμίνα, που έχουν στο μεταξύ δραπετεύσει από το κάστρο, αιχμαλωτίζονται από τον Μονόστατο και τους βοηθούς του αλλά οι καμπάνες του Παπαγκένο τους μαγεύουν και αρχίζουν να χορεύουν ασταμάτητα, καθοδηγώντας παράλληλα τον Ταμίνο προς το μέρος τους. Ξαφνικά ο ήχος τρομπετών αναγγέλλει την άφιξη του πρωθιερέα Ζαράστρο. Η Παμίνα του εξηγεί πως με τη φυγή της δεν επιθυμούσε να εγκαταλείψει το κάστρο του αλλά να προστατευτεί από τον Μονόστατο. Ο Ζαράστρο αποκρίνεται ως έντιμος και σοφός άνθρωπος, είναι συγκαταβατικός μαζί της, ωστόσο αρνείται να αφεθεί ελεύθερη εξαιτίας της αρνητικής επιρροής τής μητέρας της. Την ίδια στιγμή εμφανίζεται ο Μονόστατος με αιχμάλωτο τον Ταμίνο, ο οποίος συναντάται για πρώτη φορά με την πριγκίπισσα Παμίνα. Ο Ζαράστρο διατάζει την τιμωρία του Μονόστατου και την είσοδο των δύο νέων στο ναό για να εξαγνιστούν.

Δεύτερη πράξη

Η αρχή της δεύτερης πράξης διαδραματίζεται σε ένα δάσος με ασημένιους φοίνικες. Ο Ζαράστρο, μαζί με τους ιερείς, κάνει επίκληση στις θεότητες να βοηθήσουν τους νέους να περάσουν επιτυχώς τις διαδικασίες μύησής τους, οι οποίες περιλαμβάνουν τις δοκιμασίες της σιωπής, της φωτιάς και του νερού (άρια και χορωδία, μέρος 10ο, O Isis und Osiris, schenket...). Στη δεύτερη σκηνή, ο Ταμίνο μαζί με τον τρομαγμένο Παπαγκένο βρίσκονται σε ένα σκοτεινό δωμάτιο του ναού. Προειδοποιούνται από τους δύο ιερείς πως πρέπει να προσέχουν ορισμένα μειονεκτήματα των γυναικών και αποχωρούν (μέρος 11ο, Bewahret euch vor Weibertücken...). Ξαφνικά εμφανίζονται οι τρεις νεράιδες που τους ενημερώνουν ότι η βασίλισσα θα τους σώσει από τη δύσκολη θέση στην οποία βρίσκονται (κουιντέτο, μέρος 12ο, Wie? wie? wie? Ihr an diesem Schreckensort?...). Ο Παπαγκένο πείθεται, αλλά ο Ταμίνο τον σωπαίνει. Τελικά οι γυναίκες αποτυγχάνουν στους σκοπούς τους και εξαφανίζονται ενώ ξεσπούν κεραυνοί. Ο Μονόστατος επιχειρεί εκ νέου να βιάσει την κοιμώμενη Παμίνα, ενώ παράλληλα αναρωτιέται αν ένας μαύρος δούλος έχει δικαίωμα να αποζητά τις χαρές της ζωής (άρια, μέρος 13ο, Alles fühlt der Liebe Freuden...). Στη σκηνή εμφανίζεται η Βασίλισσα της Νύχτας η οποία σε διάλογο με την Παμίνα αποκαλύπτει τα κίνητρά της, προστάζοντας την κόρη της να σκοτώσει τον Ζαράστρο με ένα μαχαίρι που της παραδίδει, τραγουδώντας μία από τις δυσκολότερες άριες του λυρικού ρεπερτορίου (μέρος 14ο, Der Hölle Rache...). Μετά την αποχώρησή της, ο Μονόστατος αποσπά το μαχαίρι και αρχίζει να εκβιάζει την Παμίνα, απειλώντας πως θα μαρτυρήσει στον Ζαράστρο όσα είδε, αν εκείνη δεν του παραδοθεί. Την ίδια στιγμή, εμφανίζεται ο αρχιερέας, ο οποίος διώχνει τον δούλο και δίνει πίσω στην Παμίνα το μαχαίρι, δηλώνοντας πως γνωρίζει όλη την αλήθεια και πως σύντομα η εκείνη θα βρίσκεται με τον αγαπημένο της και η μητέρας της στο κάστρο της, αφού η εκδίκηση δεν έχει θέση στο ναό παρά μόνο η αγάπη (μέρος 15ο, In diesen heil'gen Hallen...). Σε μία από τις αίθουσες του ναού, ο Παπαγκένο συνεχίζει να φλυαρεί, παρά τον όρκο της σιωπής που έδωσε. Όταν ζητά λίγο νερό, εμφανίζεται μπροστά τους μία άσχημη ηλικιωμένη γυναίκα, πρόθυμη να ικανοποιήσει την επιθυμία του. Στο διάλογό της με τον Παπαγκένο, πριν εξαφανιστεί ξαφνικά, αποκαλύπτει πως είναι 18 ετών και πως ο αγαπημένος της ονομάζεται Παπαγκένο. Τα τρία πνεύματα εμφανίζονται να αιωρούνται στη σκηνή και επιστρέφουν στους δύο άνδρες το μαγικό αυλό και τις καμπάνες, τραγουδώντας ένα τρίο. Ο Ταμίνο παίζει τον μαγικό αυλό και τον ήχο του ακολουθεί η Παμίνα, η οποία προσπαθεί να μιλήσει στον πρίγκηπα. Εκείνος δεν αποκρίνεται, στις ερωτήσεις της, τηρώντας τον όρκο σιωπής του, γεγονός που απελπίζει την Παμίνα, η οποία τραγουδά μία θλιμμένη άρια.

Στη συνέχεια το σκηνικό μεταφέρεται στο θόλο μίας πυραμίδας, όπου ο αφηγητής και ορισμένοι ιερείς τραγουδούν ένα χορωδιακό για τον εορτασμό τη μύησης του Ταμίνο, ο οποίος τοποθετείται μπροστά στο Ζαράστρο. Εκείνος προστάζει την άφιξη της Παμίνα, η οποία κάνει νέες ερωτήσεις τις οποίες φροντίζει να απαντήσει ο Ζαράστρο (τρίο, μέρος 19ο, Soll ich dich, Teurer, nicht mehr seh'n?...). Η ηλικιωμένη γυναίκα εμφανίζεται εκ νέου μπροστά στον Παπαγκένο και του ζητά να παντρευτούν. Όταν εκείνος απαντά καταφατικά, εκείνη μεταμορφώνεται σε μία όμορφη κοπέλα, ωστόσο οι ιερείς δεν του επιτρέπουν να την αγγίξει, διότι δεν τήρησε τον όρκο σιωπής. Ενώ το σκηνικό μας μεταφέρει στην τοποθεσία δύο βουνών, η Παμίνα, μαζί με τον αγαπημένο της, ετοιμάζονται να περάσουν τις δοκιμασίες της φωτιάς και του νερού. Το κατορθώνουν με τη βοήθεια του μαγικού αυλού που τους προστατεύει και στη συνέχεια, έχοντας ολοκληρωθεί η διαδικασία μύησή τους, φθάνουν στην πύλη του ναού της Ίσιδας όπου γίνονται δεκτοί με εύθυμες φωνές (χορωδία, Triumph! Triumph! Du edles Paar!...). O Παπαγκένο μονολογεί για την ατυχία του και απελπισμένος σκέφτεται να αυτοκτονήσει, αλλά την ίδια στιγμή τα τρία πνεύματα τού θυμίζουν τις καμπάνες. Οι μαγικές ιδιότητές τους φέρνουν πίσω την Παπαγκένα και οι δύο ερωτευμένοι φεύγουν μαζί τραγουδώντας ένα εύθυμο ντουέτο (Papageno! Papagena!). Στο κλείσιμο της δεύτερης πράξης, οι δυνάμεις του κακού, ο Μονόστατος, η Βασίλισσα της Νύχτας και οι τρεις συνοδοί της, προσπαθούν να φτάσουν στο ναό, κρατώντας μαύρους δαυλούς. Ξαφνικά, εκτυφλωτικές δέσμες φωτός διαχέονται μέσα στο σκοτάδι, με αποτέλεσμα να χάσουν τις δυνάμεις τους και να χαθούν στα έγκατα της γης. Στην τελευταία σκηνή, που εκτυλίσσεται στο Ναό του Ήλιου, παρουσιάζονται ο Ζαράστρο, η Παμίνα και ο Ταμίνο με ιερατικά άμφια, οι ιερείς και τα τρία πνεύματα. Ο Ζαράστρο τραγουδά πως «οι ακτίνες του ήλιου έδιωξαν τη νύχτα και τις δυνάμεις του κακού» για να ακολουθήσει ο χορός των ιερέων που επαινεί τους μυημένους.

Περισσότερα:
el.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ο_Μαγικός_Αυλός

Buy :
http://www.amazon.com/Mozart-Die-Zauberflote-Magic-Flute/dp/B000EGFV2C
http://www.deutschegrammophon.com/special/?ID=abbado-zauberfloete

Mozart - The Magic Flute

Playbill for the premiere performance of the Magic Flute

 Divine and wondrous spirit of Eternity,
Thine herald of the Muses,
Whose harmonies have glorified the Creator,
 and preserved our sacred rights
 as Man: truly, honestly and dearly;
Give us thy sacred offering!

The Magic Flute (German: Die Zauberflöte, K. 620) 

is an opera in two acts composed in 1791 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. The work is in the form of a Singspiel, a popular form that included both singing and spoken dialogue.

Premiere and reception :

The opera was premiered in Vienna on 30 September 1791, at the suburban Freihaus-Theater auf der Wieden.Mozart conducted the orchestra, Schikaneder himself played Papageno, while the role of the Queen of the Night was sung by Mozart's sister-in-law Josepha Hofer.
On the reception of the opera, Mozart scholar Maynard Solomon writes:
Although there were no reviews of the first performances, it was immediately evident that Mozart and Schikaneder had achieved a great success, the opera drawing immense crowds and reaching hundreds of performances during the 1790s.
The success of The Magic Flute lifted the spirits of its composer, who had fallen ill while in Prague a few weeks before. Solomon continues:
Mozart's delight is reflected in his last three letters, written to Constanze, who with her sister Sophie was spending the second week of October in Baden. "I have this moment returned from the opera, which was as full as ever", he wrote on 7 October, listing the numbers that had to be encored. "But what always gives me the most pleasure is the silent approval! You can see how this opera is becoming more and more esteemed." … He went to hear his opera almost every night, taking along [friends and] relatives.
The opera celebrated its 100th performance in November 1792. Mozart did not have the pleasure of witnessing this milestone, having died of his illness on 5 December 1791.
Since its premiere, The Magic Flute has always been one of the most beloved works in the operatic repertoire, and is presently the most frequently performed opera world wide.

Background :

The Magic Flute is noted for its prominent Masonic elements; Schikaneder and Mozart were Masons and lodge brothers (see: Mozart and Freemasonry). The opera is also influenced by Enlightenment philosophy, and can be regarded as an allegory advocating enlightened absolutism. The Queen of the Night represents a dangerous form of obscurantism or, according to some, the anti-Masonic Empress Maria Theresa. Her antagonist Sarastro symbolises the enlightened sovereign who rules according to principles based on reason, wisdom, and nature. The story itself portrays the education of mankind, progressing from chaos through religious superstition to rationalistic enlightenment, by means of trial (Tamino) and error (Papageno), ultimately to make "the Earth a heavenly kingdom, and mortals like the gods". ("Dann ist die Erd' ein Himmelreich, und Sterbliche den Göttern gleich." This couplet is sung in the finales to both acts.)
The opera was the culmination of a period of increasing involvement by Mozart with Schikaneder's theatrical troupe, which since 1789 had been the resident company at the Theater auf der Wieden. Mozart was a close friend of one of the singer-composers of the troupe, tenor Benedikt Schack (the first Tamino), and had contributed to the compositions of the troupe, which were often collaboratively written. Mozart's participation increased with his contributions to the 1790 collaborative opera Der Stein der Weisen (The Philosopher's Stone), including the duet ("Nun liebes Weibchen", K. 625/592a) and perhaps other passages. Like The Magic Flute, Der Stein der Weisen was a fairy-tale opera and can be considered a kind of precursor; it employed much the same cast in similar roles.
Mozart evidently wrote keeping in mind the skills of the singers intended for the premiere, which included both virtuosi and ordinary comic actors, asked to sing for the occasion. Thus, the vocal lines for Papageno and Monostatos are often stated first in the strings so the singer can find his pitch, and are frequently doubled by instruments. In contrast, Mozart's sister-in-law Josepha Hofer, who premiered the role of the Queen of the Night, evidently needed little such help: this role is famous for its difficulty. In ensembles, Mozart skillfully combined voices of different ability levels.
A particularly demanding aria is the Queen of the Night's "Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen" ("The vengeance of Hell boils in my heart"), which reaches a high F6 (see Scientific pitch notation), rare in opera. At the low end, the part of Sarastro includes a conspicuous F in a few locations.
On 28 December 1791, 3½ weeks after Mozart's death, his widow Constanze offered to send a manuscript score of The Magic Flute to the electoral court in Bonn. Nikolaus Simrock published this text in the first full-score edition (Bonn, 1814), claiming that it was "in accordance with Mozart's own wishes" (Allgemeine musikalische Zeitung, 13 September 1815)

Synopsis :

Act 1

Scene 1

After the Overture, we are introduced to Tamino, a handsome prince who is lost in a distant land and is being pursued by a serpent (quartet: "Zu Hilfe! Zu Hilfe!"). He faints from fatigue and three ladies, attendants of the Queen of the Night, appear and kill the serpent. They find the unconscious prince extremely attractive, and each tries to convince the other two to leave, in order to be alone with him. After arguing, they decide that it is best that they all leave together.

Tamino recovers, and Papageno enters, arrayed entirely in the plumage of birds. He sings of his job as a bird catcher and the fact that he is longing for a wife, or, at least, a girlfriend (aria: "Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja"). Papageno tells Tamino that he, Papageno, strangled the serpent with his bare hands. At this moment, the three ladies appear and punish his lie by placing a padlock over his mouth. They tell Tamino that they were responsible for saving him, and show to the prince a portrait of a young maiden, Pamina, with whom he falls instantly in love (aria: "Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön" / "This image is enchantingly lovely").

The Queen of the Night now appears. She tells Tamino that the girl in the portrait, Pamina, is her daughter, who has been captured by her enemy, Sarastro. She demands that Tamino go to Sarastro's temple and rescue Pamina, promising that he can marry Pamina in return. (Recitative and aria: "O zittre nicht, mein lieber Sohn" / "Oh, tremble not, my dear son! You are innocent, wise, pious".) After the Queen leaves, the ladies give Tamino a magic flute that can change men's hearts, remove the padlock from Papageno, and present him with a chime of bells to protect him. Papageno is ordered to accompany Tamino on his rescue-mission, and together they set forth. (Quintet: "Hm hm hm hm".) The ladies introduce three child-spirits, who will guide Tamino and Papageno to Sarastro's temple.

Scene 2: A room in Sarastro's palace

Pamina is dragged in by Sarastro's moorish slave Monostatos. (Trio: "Du feines Täubchen, nur herein!".) Papageno, sent ahead by Tamino to help find Pamina, enters. Monostatos and Papageno are each terrified by the other's strange appearance and both flee the stage. But Papageno soon returns and announces to Pamina that her mother has sent Tamino to her aid. Pamina rejoices to hear that Tamino is in love with her, and then offers sympathy and hope to Papageno, who longs for a wife to love. Together they sing an ode to love (duet: "Bei Männern welche Liebe fühlen"), then depart.

Scene 3: Grove and entrance to the temples

The three child-spirits lead Tamino to Sarastro's temple, promising that if he remains faithful and steadfast, he will succeed in rescuing Pamina. As Tamino reaches the temple, he is denied entrance at two of its three gates, by invisible voices singing "Go back!". But when he tries the third gate, an old priest appears and gradually convinces him that Sarastro is benevolent, not evil, and that women's opinions should not be taken seriously. After the priest leaves him, Tamino plays his magic flute in hopes of summoning Pamina and Papageno. The tones summon a group of magically tamed beasts, which listen in rapture to Tamino's music. Then Tamino hears Papageno's pipes, which Papageno, offstage, is blowing in response to the sound of Tamino's flute. Ecstatic at the thought of meeting Pamina, Tamino hurries off.

Papageno appears with Pamina, following the distant sound of Tamino's flute. The two are suddenly captured by Monostatos and his slaves. Papageno then works an enchantment on the slaves using his magic bells, and they dance, mesmerised by the music of the bells, off the stage.

Papageno now hears the approach of Sarastro and his large retinue. He is frightened and asks Pamina what they should say. She answers that they must tell the truth. Sarastro and his followers enter.

Overcome by Sarastro's majesty, Pamina falls at his feet and confesses that she was trying to escape because Monostatos had demanded her love. Sarastro receives her kindly and tells her that he will not force her inclinations, but cannot give her freedom nor return her to her mother, because she must be guided by a man.

Monostatos then enters with Tamino captive. The two lovers see one another for the first time and instantly embrace, causing indignation among Sarastro's followers. Monostatos tries to point the finger of blame at Tamino. Sarastro, however, punishes Monostatos for his lustful intentions toward Pamina, and leads Tamino and Papageno into the temple of ordeal. The Brotherhood send them off in a glorious chorus.

Act 2

Scene 4: A grove of palms

The council of priests of Isis and Osiris, headed by Sarastro, enters to the sound of a solemn march. They determine that Tamino and Pamina shall be married, and that Tamino will succeed Sarastro as leader, if he succeeds in passing the priests' trials. Sarastro explains that the Queen of the Night has attempted to bewilder the people with superstition and groundless fears. He then sings a prayer to the gods Isis and Osiris, asking them to protect Tamino and Pamina and to take them into their heavenly dwelling place should they die in the course of their trials (Aria: "O Isis und Osiris").

Scene 5: The courtyard of the temple of Ordeal

Tamino and Papageno are led into the temple. A priest cautions Tamino that this is his last chance to turn back, but Tamino boldly promises that he will undergo every trial to win his Pamina. Papageno declines the trials at first, saying that he doesn't care much about wisdom or enlightenment, and only wants food, wine, and a pretty woman. The priest tells Papageno that Sarastro may have a woman for him if he undergoes the trials, and that she is called Papagena. Reluctantly, Papageno agrees to undergo the trials.

The first test requires that Tamino and Papageno remain silent while being tempted and threatened by women. (Short duet by two priests: "Bewahret euch von Weibertücken") The three ladies appear, and tempt them to speak. (Quintet: "Wie, wie, wie") Papageno cannot resist answering the ladies, but Tamino remains aloof, speaking only to Papageno, and then only to tell him to be quiet. Seeing that Tamino will not speak to them, the ladies withdraw in confusion.

One priest congratulates Tamino for successfully passing the first test. Another priest scolds Papageno for his weakness, and tells him that he will never know the enlightened bliss of the gods. Papageno replies that there are a great many people in the world like himself, unenlightened but happy, and asks why he must undergo tests if Sarastro already has a woman selected for him. The priest says that it is the only way.

Scene 6: A garden, Pamina asleep

Monostatos approaches and gazes upon Pamina with rapture. (Aria: "Alles fühlt der Liebe Freuden") He is about to kiss her sleeping face, when the Queen of the Night appears and frightens him away. She wakes Pamina and gives her a dagger, ordering her to kill Sarastro with it. (Aria: "Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen" / "Hell's vengeance boileth in mine heart"). After she leaves, Monostatos returns and tries to force Pamina's love by threatening to reveal the murder-plot, but Sarastro enters and drives him off. Sarastro forgives and comforts Pamina (Aria: "In diesen heil'gen Hallen").

Scene 7: A hall in the temple of Ordeal

Tamino and Papageno must again suffer the test of silence, a more difficult variation this time: An old woman enters and offers Papageno a drink of water. Although it is forbidden, he engages her in conversation and asks her how old she is. She replies that she is eighteen years and two minutes old. Papageno bursts into laughter and teases her that she must have a boyfriend. She replies that she does and that his name is Papageno. Then she disappears without telling him her name. Pamina enters and tries to speak with Tamino. Since Tamino silently refuses to answer, Pamina believes he no longer loves her. (Aria: "Ach, ich fühl's, es ist verschwunden") She leaves in despair.

Scene 8: The pyramids

The Priests of the Temple celebrate Tamino's successes so far, and predict that he will succeed and become worthy of their order (Chorus: "O Isis und Osiris"). Sarastro separates Pamina and Tamino. (Trio: Sarastro, Pamina, Tamino – "Soll ich dich, Teurer, nicht mehr sehn?") They exit and Papageno enters. Papageno plays his magic bells and sings a ditty about his desire for a wife. (Aria, Papageno: "Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen"). The elderly woman reappears and demands that he pledge engagement to her, warning that if he doesn't, he will remain alone forever. Reluctantly, Papageno promises to love her faithfully. She immediately transforms into the young and pretty Papagena. As Papageno rushes to embrace her, however, the priests drive her away with thunder and lightning.

Scene 9: An open country

The three child-spirits see Pamina attempting to commit suicide because she believes Tamino has abandoned her. They restrain her and take away her dagger, promising that she will see him soon. (Quartet: "Bald prangt, den Morgen zu verkünden").

Scene 10: A hall or room with two doors: one leading to a chamber of trial by water and the other to a cavern of fire.

Two men in armour lead Tamino onstage. They recite, in unison, one of the formal creeds of the goddess Isis, promising enlightenment to those who successfully overcome the fear of death ("Der, welcher wandert diese Strasse voll Beschwerden"). This recitation takes the musical form of a Baroque chorale prelude, to the tune of Martin Luther's hymn Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein (Oh God, look down from heaven). Tamino declares he is ready to be tested, but Pamina, offstage, calls for him to wait for her. The men in armour assure Tamino that the trial by silence is over and he is free to speak with her. She enters, and exchanges loving words with Tamino ("Tamino mein, o welch ein Glück!"). United in harmony, they enter the trial-caverns together. Protected by the music of the magic flute, they pass unscathed through fire and water. Offstage, the priests hail their triumph.

Papageno, having given up hope of winning Papagena, tries to hang himself (Aria/Quartet: "Papagena! Papagena! Papagena!"), but at the last minute the three child-spirits appear and remind him that he should use his magic bells to summon her, instead. Papagena reenters, and the happy couple is united, stuttering at first in astonishment (Duet: "Pa … pa … pa ...").

The traitorous Monostatos appears with the Queen of the Night and her ladies, plotting to destroy the temple ("Nur stille, stille"), but they are magically cast out into eternal night.

The scene now changes to the entrance of the chief temple, where Sarastro bids the young lovers welcome and unites them. The final chorus sings the praises of Tamino and Pamina in enduring their trials and gives thanks to the gods.

The opera may sometimes be divided into three acts in which case, the third act typically begins with scene 8. Even in the two-act version, the scenes in Act 2 are sometimes rearranged, with the Sarastro-Tamino-Pamina trio occurring earlier and Sarastro's prayer occurring later.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Magic_Flute

Aida (1953) with Greek Subtitles

 

Surging brilliantly beyond the confines of the stage - its glorious arias sung by the great operatic voices of our age - its powerful drama portrayed by a brilliant cast... AIDA is THE film event of the decade!

Director: Clemente Fracassi
Writers: Clemente Fracassi (screenplay) & Antonio Ghislanzoni (based on the libretto by)

Cast :
Sophia Loren - Aida
Lois Maxwell - Amneris
Luciano della Maria - Redames
Enrico Formichi - Pharaoh
Afro Polli - Amonsaro
Antonio Cassinelli - Ramfis

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045483/

 

Sophia Loren, complete with blackface and an Afro, came to international acclaim in this fairly literal version of the Giuseppe Verdi opera. Loren (with singing dubbed by Renata Tebaldi) portrays the title character, an Ethiopian slave owned by Amneris (Lois Maxwell), the daughter of the Egyptian king. Aida's romantic heart is her weakness, as she must choose between loyalty to her conquered race and romance with Radames (Luciano della Marra), an officer of the Egyptian army. Director Clemente Fracassi gets a bit carried away with epic splendor and the opulent color format, but fans of Loren and opera novices should find the film rewarding. Despite Loren's lauded performance, the role of Aida was originally intended for Gina Lollobrigida. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi

Link :
http://anonym.to/?http://www.megaupload.com/?d=VIU7BXZN
Thanks to   tainies4free.blogspot.com

    Sophia Loren (she is so beautiful!)