Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi, Nabucco’s Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves

admin — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 11:44:11 +0000

Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi (October 9 or 10, 1813 – January 27, 1901) was an Italian Romantic composer, mainly of opera. He was one of the most influential composers of the 19th century. His works are frequently performed in opera houses throughout the world and, transcending the boundaries of the genre, some of his themes have long since taken root in popular culture – such as “La donna è mobile” from Rigoletto, “Va, pensiero” (The Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves) from Nabucco, “Libiamo ne’ lieti calici” (The Drinking Song) from La traviata and Triumphal March from Aida. Although his work was sometimes criticized for using a generally diatonic rather than a chromatic musical idiom and having a tendency toward melodrama, Verdi’s masterworks dominate the standard repertoire a century and a half after their composition.

It is quite difficult to choose only a masterpiece. But I think the most popular piece is La donna è mobile from Rigoletto, but today I have chosen Nabucco’s “Va, pensiero, sull’ali dorate” just because today a friend prefer to listen this.

Nabucco (short for Nabucodonosor, English Nebuchadnezzar) is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Temistocle Solera, based on the Biblical story and the 1836 play by Auguste Anicet-Bourgeois and Francis Cornue. It is Verdi’s third opera and the one which is considered to have permanently established his reputation as a composer.

Nabucco follows the plight of the Jews as they are assaulted, conquered, and subsequently exiled from their homeland by the Babylonian King Nabucco (in English, Nebuchadnezzar).

Its first performance took place on 9 March 1842 at the Teatro alla Scala, Milan under the original name of Nabucodonosor. The definitive name of Nabucco for the opera (and its protagonist) was first used at a performance at the San Giacomo Theatre of Corfu, in September, 1844.

Traducción:

Vuela pensamiento con alas doradas
pósate sobre las praderas y montañas
donde derrama su fragancia
el suave aire de nuestra tierra natal
saluda a las riberas del Jordán
y las torres estremecidas de Sión
Ay, mi patria hermosa y perdida
Oh, recuerdo tan querido y lleno de desesperación

Arpa dorada de los profetas
¿por qué cuelgas silenciosa de los sauces?
Aviva nuestros recuerdos queridos
y háblanos del tiempo que fue
Canta en dulces lamentos
el destino de Jerusalén
o te inspire el Señor una fortaleza
para soportar nuestros sufrimientos

Translation

Fly, thought, on wings of gold,
go settle upon the slopes and the hills
where the sweet airs of our
native soil smell soft and mild!
Greet the banks of the river Jordan
and Zion’s tumbled towers.
Oh, my country, so lovely and lost!
Oh remembrance so dear yet unhappy!

Golden harp of the prophetic wise men,
why hang so silently from the willows?
Rekindle the memories in our hearts,
tell us about the times gone by!
Remembering the fate of Jerusalem
play us a sad lament
or else be inspired by the Lord
to fortify us to endure our suffering

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Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi, Nabucco’s Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves