Il sogno di Scipione (Metastasio)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Work data
Title: Il sogno di Scipione
Title page of the libretto from 1770 (music by Andrea Bernasconi)

Title page of the libretto from 1770
(music by Andrea Bernasconi)

Shape: Azione teatrale
Original language: Italian
Music: First setting by Luca Antonio Predieri
Libretto : Pietro Metastasio
Literary source: Cicero : Somnium Scipionis
Premiere: October 1, 1735 or
October 6, 1743
Place of premiere: Vienna
Place and time of the action: Africa in the Numidian Empire of Massinissa , around 149 BC Chr.
people
  • Scipione , Roman general
  • La Costanza , Allegory of Persistence
  • La Fortuna , allegory of happiness
  • Publio , adoptive grandfather Scipiones
  • Emilio , father of Scipiones
  • Choir of Heroes

Il sogno di Scipione (German: "The dream of Scipio") is a libretto for an azione teatrale in one act by Pietro Metastasio . It was written with the setting by Luca Antonio Predieri on October 1, 1735 for the birthday of Emperor Charles VI. in Vienna. It is uncertain whether this performance actually took place. It was performed in Vienna on October 6, 1743.

action

The plot is based on motifs from Cicero's Somnium Scipionis from the sixth book of his work De re publica .

«A pochi può essere ignoto Publio Cornelio Scipione, il distruttor di Cartagine. Fu egli nipote per adozione dell 'altro, che l' avea resa tributaria di Roma, (e che noi, a distinzione del nostro chiameremo semper col solo prenome di Publio,) ed era figliuolo di quell 'Emilio, da cui Perseo, il Re di Macedonia, fu già condotto in trionfo. Unì il nostro Eroe così mirabilmente in sè stesso le virtù del 'avo e del padre, che il più eloquente romano full perpetuarne la memoria nel celebre sogno da lui felicemente inventato; e il quale ha servito di scorta al presente drammatico componimento. Cic. in somn. Scip. ex lib. de Repub. VI. "

“ Publio Cornelio Scipione , the destroyer of Carthage , is unknown to only a few . He was the adopted grandson of the other who had made it tributary to Rome (and whom we will always call by his first name Publius to distinguish it from ours), and already the son of Emilio , of Perseo , king of Macedonia triumphantly captured. Our hero so admirably united the virtues of his grandfather and his father that the most eloquent Roman wanted to preserve the memory in the famous dream of his happy invention; and this served as the basis of the current drama. Cic. in somn. Scip. ex lib. de Repub. VI. "

- Pietro Metastasio : Foreword from the libretto

The Roman general Scipione is in Africa in the Numidian residence of Massinissa and has fallen asleep. In the dream he is asked by the two allegories of constancy (La Costanza) and happiness (La Fortuna) to choose one of them as a companion on his life path. Scipione is initially undecided. The allegories give him questions - he can ask Costanza as much as he wants, but Fortuna insists on short questions because she needs constant changes. First Scipione learns that he is no longer in Africa, but in the Temple of Heaven. Costanza explains to him the creation of heavenly harmony through the harmony of the different opposing spheres. It cannot be perceived on earth because it exceeds the human senses. Their explanations are interrupted by the impatient Fortuna, who finally wants to hear Scipione's decision. Scipione first wants to learn something about the inhabitants of this realm. To explain this, his adoptive grandfather Publio appears with a choir of heroes. Scipione initially suspects to see the dead again, but Publio declares that he did not actually die. May his immortal soul live on in these eternal abodes as a reward for his services to the common good. Scipione's father Emilio has also entered, but was not immediately recognized by him. When Scipione is surprised that Emilio does not seem to share his joy at seeing them again, the latter explains to him that joy does not follow sorrow here, as it is on earth, but is higher. He shows him the earth, which can only be seen as a small point from the sky. From up here, laugh at the foolish people who get excited about trivial reasons. Scipione is impressed by what has been seen and wishes to be able to stay here. His tasks on earth are not yet fulfilled. Publio informs him that after his successes in the Iberian campaign he must finally destroy Carthage . Some resistance has to be overcome (→ Third Punic War ). Scipione agrees to obey the will of fate. Now Costanza urges him to make his choice and to choose one of the two paths of life. Fortuna recommends that he choose luck. It is she who rules over every evil, distributes joys and sorrows, lets empires arise, destroy and rebuild. However, Costanza replies that constancy is superior to happiness. In time, its horrors are evened out. Scipione is convinced and chooses Costanza. He rejects Fortuna's gifts without fear of her anger. Fortuna is outraged and threatens terrible harm. Fog and storms appear immediately - but Scipione stands firm. Finally the celestial phenomenon disappears and Scipione finds himself on earth again. He chooses to accept the signs and be true to permanence.

After completion of the actual work, a short homage cantata follows, in which “License” praises Scipione's decision and declares that it should be equated with the person to be worshiped - in the original version this is “Carlo” (Emperor Charles VI ), in Mozart's version "Girolamo" (Archbishop Hieronymus von Colloredo ). A choir ends the piece.

history

Il sogno di Scipione was like Il palladio conservato on October 1, 1735, the birthday of Emperor Charles VI. written. In contrast to the latter, however, it was not performed by the archduchesses themselves, but by professional singers. It is doubtful whether the performance actually took place on that day. In both works, the actual action does not take place on stage, but is described in the conversations between the characters. In Il sogno di Scipione , Metastasio falls back on the then popular scheme of arguments between deities, which he had already used in La contesa de 'numi . However, the competition here is made livelier by the appearance of Scipione's father and adoptive grandfather. Both works are also closely related to the military setbacks of Charles VI. in Italy during the War of the Polish Succession , which led to the loss of Naples and Sicily, among other things. These losses were provisionally fixed two days after the birthday celebration in the Preliminary Peace of October 3 . While the textbook for Il palladio conservato only suggests the connection ("azione teatrale allusiva alle vicende di quel tempo"), it is specifically mentioned in Il sogno di Scipione ("azione teatrale allusiva alle sfortunate campagne delle armi austriache in Italia"). Accordingly, allusions to these events are often found in the text. Since the final outcome of these arguments was still uncertain at the time of the performance (the war was not officially ended until November 18, 1738 in the Peace of Vienna), the plot is kept optimistic. The celestial harmony that is imperceptible on earth and that arises through the interaction of opposing forces is a symbol that the discord (the military defeats) will ultimately come together to form harmony (victory) when viewed from a distance. The military order that Scipione receives in his dream is a clear reference to Charles VI, who should not be discouraged by the setbacks. Metastasio avoids celebrating hypothetical victories or downplaying the importance of Italian losses.

The best-known setting of this libretto comes from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (→ Il sogno di Scipione ). He wrote it at the age of fifteen for the secondary school (the 50th anniversary of the priesthood) of Salzburg Prince Archbishop Sigismund von Schrattenbach . However, since he died earlier, parts of it were performed on May 1, 1772 to introduce his successor Hieronymus von Colloredo .

Settings

The following composers set this libretto to music:

year composer premiere Performance location Remarks
1735 Luca Antonio Predieri October 1, 1735, Hofburg , dance hall Vienna possibly not performed until October 6, 1743 in Vienna
1744 Giovanni Porta End of 1744, Salvatortheater Munich “Festival” Scipio's dream
1746 Christoph Nichelmann March 27, 1746, Royal Court Opera or "Comödiensaal auf dem Schlosse" Berlin “Drammatico componimento” in two acts
1750s Cinque 1750s
1752 Gregorio Sciroli 1752 Naples Assignment uncertain
1753 Josep Mir i Llussa 1753 Madrid
1755 Giuseppe Sarti 1755 Copenhagen
1755 Andrea Bernasconi July 6, 1755

Nymphenburg “Pastorelle” Il trionfo della costanza ;
Libretto edited by Paolo Honory ;
for the wedding of Margrave Ludwig Georg of Baden-Baden with Maria Josepha of Bavaria
1758 Johann Adolph Hasse October 7, 1758, Royal Polish Opera House Warsaw “Azione teatrale” for the birthday of August III.
only the first part is preserved
1763 Giuseppe Bonno March 13, 1763 Vienna
1764 Francesco Antonio Uttini 1764 Stockholm "Dramatic serenade"
1765 Hieronymus Mango 1765, court of Raymund Anton von Strasoldo Eichstatt Serenata
1768 Luciano Xavier Santos 1768, Palazzo Queluz Lisbon "Dramma per musica"
1771 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
→ Il sogno di Scipione 		May 1, 1772, Prince-Bishop's Palace Salzburg "Azione teatrale", KV 126;
for the introduction of the new Archbishop Hieronymus von Colloredo ; originally planned for the secondary of the Salzburg Prince Archbishop Sigismund von Schrattenbach ;
probably only partially listed
unknown Nicola Conforto unknown "Serenata" in two acts
1991 Judith Weir 1991 Scipio's Dream , film opera on the 200th anniversary of Mozart's death

Recordings and performances in recent times

Web links

Commons : Il sogno di Scipione  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Digital copies

  1. ^ Libretto as digitized version. In: Opere di Pietro Metastasio, Volume 16, G. Foglierini, 1811.
  2. ^ Libretto (Italian) of the Serenata by Andrea Bernasconi, Munich around 1770 as digitized version at the Munich Digitization Center .
  3. ↑ Score of the first part of the Serenata by Johann Adolph Hasse, around 1758 as digitized version and sheet music for the International Music Score Library Project .
  4. ↑ Score of the azione teatrale by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Leipzig 1880 as digitized version in the International Music Score Library Project .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f Don Neville:  Metastasio [Trapassi], Pietro (Antonio Domenico Bonaventura). In: Grove Music Online (English; subscription required).
  2. ↑ a b c Metastasio, Pietro in Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart , p. 50861 ff (cf. MGG vol. 9, p. 229 ff.) Bärenreiter-Verlag 1986 ( digital library volume 60).
  3. ^ A b c Jacques Joly: Les fêtes théâtrales de Métastase à la cour de Vienne, 1731–1767. Pu Blaise Pascal, 1978, ISBN 978-2845160194 , p. 173 ff. ( Online at Google Books)
  4. ^ Jacques Joly: Les fêtes théâtrales de Métastase à la cour de Vienne, 1731–1767. Pu Blaise Pascal, 1978, ISBN 978-2845160194 , pp. 165 f.
  5. ↑ a b Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Il sogno di Scipione / Scipio's dream on zazzerino.info , accessed on March 10, 2015.
  6. ^ Il sogno di Scipione (Luca Antonio Predieri) in the Corago information system of the University of Bologna , accessed on March 8, 2015.
  7. ^ Il sogno di Scipione (Luca Antonio Predieri) at Opening Night! Opera & Oratorio Premieres , Stanford University, accessed March 8, 2015.
  8. ↑ The dream of Scipio (Giovanni Porta) at opening night! Opera & Oratorio Premieres , Stanford University, accessed March 8, 2015.
  9. ↑ List of the stage works by Giovanni Porta based on the MGG at Operone, accessed on March 8, 2015.
  10. ↑ Il sogno di Scipione (Christoph Nichelmann) in the Corago information system of the University of Bologna , accessed on March 8, 2015.
  11. ↑ Il sogno di Scipione (Christoph Nickelmann) at Opening Night! Opera & Oratorio Premieres , Stanford University, accessed March 8, 2015.
  12. ^ Rainer Theobald: Noverre's Beginnings in Berlin in Tanzwissenschaft , No. 4. , last accessed on October 31, 2018.
  13. ↑ a b c Cicerone, Metastasio, Mozart: il Sogno di Scipione on rivistazetesis.it , accessed on March 8, 2015.
  14. ^ Il trionfo della costanza (Andrea Bernasconi) in the Corago information system of the University of Bologna , accessed on March 8, 2015.
  15. ^ List of stage works by Andrea Bernasconi based on the MGG at Operone, accessed on October 1, 2014.
  16. ^ Daniela Sadgorski: Andrea Bernasconi and the opera at the Munich Kurfürstenhof 1753-1772. Herbert Utz Verlag, 2010, ISBN 9783831640003 , p. 65 f ( online at Google Books ).
  17. ^ Il sogno di Scipione (Johann Adolf Hasse) in the Corago information system of the University of Bologna , accessed on March 8, 2015.
  18. ^ Il sogno di Scipione (Johann Adolf Hasse) at Opening Night! Opera & Oratorio Premieres , Stanford University, accessed March 8, 2015.
  19. ↑ Alina Żórawska-Witkowska: Endimione. A Warsaw Serenata by Hasse? , accessed April 15, 2018.
  20. ^ Dataset on the Serenata by Johann Adolph Hasse in the Répertoire International des Sources Musicales , accessed on December 28, 2018.
  21. ↑ Patricia Howard: The Modern Castrato: Gaetano Guadagni and the Coming of a New Operatic Age. Oxford University Press, 2014, ISBN 9780199365210 , p. 103 ( online at Google Books ).
  22. ↑ Il sogno di Scipione (Francesco Antonio Uttini) at Opening Night! Opera & Oratorio Premieres , Stanford University, accessed March 8, 2015.
  23. ^ List of the stage works by Francesco Antonio Uttini based on the MGG at Operone, accessed on September 29, 2014.
  24. ^ List of the stage works by Hieronymus Mango based on the MGG at Operone, accessed on October 14, 2014.
  25. ^ Il sogno di Scipione (Luciano Xavier Santos) in the Corago information system of the University of Bologna , accessed on March 8, 2015.
  26. ^ Il sogno di Scipione (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart) in the Corago information system of the University of Bologna , accessed on March 8, 2015.
  27. ↑ Work data on Il sogno di Scipione by Mozart based on the MGG with discography at Operone, accessed on March 8, 2015.
  28. ↑ Plot and libretto of Il sogno di Scipione (Metastasio) at Opera-Guide target page due to URL change currently not available
  29. ^ Il sogno di Scipione (Nicola Conforto) at Opening Night! Opera & Oratorio Premieres , Stanford University, accessed March 8, 2015.
  30. ^ List of stage works by Nicola Conforto based on the MGG at Operone, accessed on October 2, 2014.
  31. ↑ Not Mozart: Scipio's Dream ( Memento from February 22, 2016 in the Internet Archive ), accessed on February 22, 2016.
  32. ↑ Professor Judith Weir. Biography at Cardiff University ( September 23, 2015 memento on the Internet Archive ), accessed March 8, 2015.
  33. ↑ Activities 2005–2001 on the website of the Johann Adolph Hasse Society Munich, accessed on September 19, 2018.
  34. ↑ Program of September 7, 2018 in the MDR Mediathek , accessed on September 19, 2018.