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Programme Notes
George Frideric
Handel (1685–1759)
Svegliatevi nel core
(from Giulio Cesare)
Back to Egypt to finish, and the
suffering but ever-determined
Sesto. Whereas ‘L’angue offeso mai
riposa’ had shown the
inexperienced but fast-maturing
youth in a moment of clear-eyed
anticipation of revenge (though in
fact his second attempt to kill
Ptolemy failed almost as weakly as
the first), his first aria in the opera,
‘Svegliatevi nel core’, shows him in
a more desperately impotent state
of rage immediately after
witnessing his father’s death. Yet
his depth of his feeling, and thus
perhaps his ultimate success, are
hinted at in the aria’s central
section in which he calls on his
father’s shade to offer him strength
for the task ahead.
Svegliatevi nel core, Sesto’s aria from Giulio Cesare
Vani sono i lamenti;
è tempo, o Sesto, ormai
di vendicar il padre;
si svegli alla vendetta
l’anima neghittosa,
che offesa da un tiranno invan riposa.
Svegliatevi nel core,
furie d’un alma offesa,
a far d’un traditor
aspra vendetta!
L’ombra del genitore
accorre a mia difesa,
e dice: a te il rigor,
Figlio si aspetta.
Vain are the laments, o Sesto,
Now, the time has come to avenge the father
Awaken to vengeance, the futile soul,
that offended by a tryant, in vain rests.
Translated by Vincenzo Elia
Awaken in my heart
The wrath of an offended soul
So I may wreak upon a traitor
My bitter vengeance!
The ghost of my father
Hastens to my defense
Saying, “From you, my son
Ferocity is expected”
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