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Mercadante Giuramento (Il)

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Mercadante Giuramento (Il) GIURAMENTO (IL) Suoni giulivi e canti. Dramma per musica in tre atti (verso il palazzo) Vedi sparir, succedersi Libretto di Gaetano Rossi Festevoli danzanti. (tratto da “Angèlo, tyran de Padoue”, di Victor Hugo) Qui di piacer, di gioja Musica di Saverio Mercadante Tutto è sorriso, ardor. Prima rappresentazione: Milano, Teatro alla Scala, 11-3-1837 Tra vaghi incanti è questa ____________________ La reggia dell’amor. Personaggi, vocalità, (PRIMI INTERPRETI) Ad Elaìsa onor! Manfredo, conte di Siracusa, Regina della festa, baritono (GIOVANNI ORAZIO CARTAGENOVA) E dea di tutti i cor’... Bianca, di lui consorte, contralto (MARIETTA BRAMBILLA) Ad Elaìsa onor! (si disperdono) Elaìsa, dama straniera, soprano (SOFIA DALL’OCA SCHOBERLECHNER) Viscardo (sospirando alle ultime parole del coro) Viscardo di Benevento, tenore (FRANCESCO PEDRAZZI) La dea di tutti i cor! Brunoro, segretario del Conte, tenore (GIUSEPPE VASCHETTI) Ed ella il mio sol brama! Isaura, Dama di Bianca, soprano (ANGELA CAROLINA POCHINI) E, fido a un primo ardor, Cori: Gentiluomini, Cavalieri armati, Dignitarj, Dame, Damigelle, Artieri, Popolani, Pescatori, Popolo. Il mio non l’ama. Comparse: Cavalieri, Guardie, Scudieri e Domestici di Manfredo, (con trasporto) Bella, adorata incognita, un Maggiordomo, Paggi e Damigelle di Elaìsa. A me chi ti rapì? Il tuo Viscardo, misero! L’azione è in Siracusa nel Secolo XIV. Il virgolato – » « – si omette. Te cerca da quel dì. ____________________ Trovarti... rivederti ARGOMENTO - Manfredo, conte di Siracusa, amò, ed ottenne in isposa Un solo istante ancora. Bianca, figlia di Ruggiero, barone di Catania. Ella obbedì al comando paterno; Udir, io t’amo... dirtelo! ma in segreto ella amava un giovine Cavaliere straniero, che di lei non cono- Morte fia dolce allora. sceva che il nome, e al quale, dovendo repente seguire lo sposo a Siracusa, Privo di te, più vivere non potè dire nemmeno un addio. Virtuosa, rassegnata ella sofferiva l’indiffe- Non potrei omai così... (s’interna pei viali) renza, l’orgoglio, la gelosia del capriccioso consorte, e si confortava colle ri- (dal palazzo e da’ viali arrivano Gentiluomini e Dame) membranze del tetto paterno e del primo e innocente amor suo. Brunoro, Voci - Elaìsa! Elaìsa!... segretario e favorito di Manfredo, osò alzarsi fino a lei, amarla, chiederle Ov’è? si cerca... sparve. amore. Bianca lo respinse, minacciò; e Brunoro, fremente allontanossi per Forse aggirarsi gode alcun tempo. Corso era un lustro: una ricca, avvenente Dama di Francia sof- Sotto ignota divisa. fermava in Siracusa. Il di lei palazzo era convegno della più cospicua e galante Ecco Manfredo. gioventù: feste, conviti, e danze si succedevano. Elaìsa era l’amore di tutti, e Manfredo (osservando intorno) - E neppur qui Elaìsa! Manfredo n’era più che altri invaghito, e in tutto a lei s’affidava. Ella percor- Senza di lei che l’animava, or muta reva la Sicilia onde scoprire una giovine figlia di Capitano Aragonese, che a’ Langue la festa. Più non brilla un core. di lei prieghi e pianti aveva ottenuto dal padre la vita di quello di lei, che com- Sparirono con lei piaceri e amore. battea per l’Angioino. Nel nobile entusiasmo di sua riconoscenza, Elaìsa avea Coro - Forse amor la bella arresta giurato in suo cuore alla giovine fede e guiderdone, e donato un’effigie sacra Con felice adorator. in memoria, e per riconoscersi a un tempo. Ne’ di lei viaggi, Elaìsa, su gli Ap- Manfredo - (Fier sospetto, ohimè! si desta pennini, assalita da’ Fuoriusciti, venne salvata da Viscardo, profugo, unico su- Nel geloso ardente cor. perstite della proscritta famiglia de’ Duchi di Benevento: ella lo amò A lei tutti io già sacrai ardentemente. Viscardo era triste di non poter corrispondere al vivo affetto I più dolci affetti miei: d’Elaìsa, che, per sottrarlo alle insidie de’ nemici, a’ sospetti di Manfredo, di Tutti vôlti sono a lei lei fratello, morto credere lo faceva. Un primo amore, infelice, insuperabile, I miei voti, i miei sospir. sempre caro, si celava nel cuore di Viscardo. Ei baciava appunto un ritratto Tutto mio quel cor vorrei... dell’adorata sua donna in un viale remoto, allorchè Brunoro, che militato aveva sotto il Duca di Benevento, lo sorprese, e riconobbe Bianca in quel ritratto, e Per me solo... ed un rivale l’oggetto dell’amor di Viscardo. Meditò allora il perfido sua vendetta su Ora forse?... Idea fatale!... Bianca. Io rival potrei soffrir!... A tal epoca comincia l’azione. L’incontro di Viscardo con Bianca, il furor di Elaìsa me tradir! Elaìsa, guidata da Brunoro, che li sorprende, lo scoprimento dell’effigie, la ri- Ah! no, no. Sì reo sospetto conoscenza, la generosità, la fede al giuramento d’Elaìsa, i di lei virtuosi sforzi È un oltraggio al suo candor. onde salvar Bianca dalla morte destinata da Manfredo, che infedele la crede Mercè cara e tanto affetto per un foglio intercetto da Brunoro, l’eccesso d’amore e di fede di cui vittima Spero alfin dal suo bel cor.) soccombe, formano gli episodj. Coro (scorgendo Elaìsa) - Vien, regina della festa... L’argomento è tratto da un Dramma francese di Vittore Hugo, intitolato “An- Bella dea di tutti i cor!... (tutti le vanno incontro) gelo”. I cangiamenti di località, di nomi, di qualche carattere e situazione, SCENA 2ª - Elaìsa con Damigelle dai viali. si rendevano necessarj. La sollecitudine colla quale si dovette conformarlo Nell’istesso momento Viscardo. (Ella guarda Viscardo pel teatro musicale ottenga venia alle parole. GAETANO ROSSI con tenerezza che reprime, poi si volge a Manfredo) ____________________ Elaìsa - Oh mio... german!... (Che palpito!) ATTO PRIMO Manfredo (osservando) - (E quale ardor! Che sguardo!) SCENA 1ª - Palazzo d’Elaìsa, a sinistra, con scalinata. Brunoro (fissando Viscardo) - (Chi vedo mai! Viscardo!) L’atrio, e i superiori appartamenti si scorgono disposti Elaìsa (porgendogli la mano ch’ei bacia) - Manfredo!... a festa notturna. Viali alla destra. L’avanti della scena Viscardo (in contrasto) - (E in tante pene!...) presenta un padiglione. Nel fondo spiaggia del mare. Elaìsa!... Musica di danza dal palazzo. Banda sulle barche alla spiaggia. Elaìsa (con trasporto a Viscardo sommessamente) - (Mio bene!) Gentiluomini, Dame e Maschere che s’aggirano; Elaìsa, Viscardo, Manfredo Brunoro poi Viscardo, indi Manfredo e Brunoro. (Vicino a chi s’adora (È giunta, spero, l’ora Coro - Odi: ogni intorno echeggiano Dover frenarsi ognora! Che sospirai sinora. E non poter esprimere Celar le angoscie, il fremito » Giuliva m’unirò. Desiri, affetti, ardor! Di mio spregiato ardor!... » Brunoro (a Viscardo) - Brunoro, o Duca, Non v’è non v’è più barbaro Non v’è, non v’è più barbaro » V’attende fra’ viali. (s’allontana) Tormento nell’amor.) Tormento per un cor.) » Viscardo (scuotendosi) - Brunoro! Tu! Sì. Coro (osservando Manfredo) » Manfredo (agitato) - Che lessi! (Egli Elaìsa adora: » Elaìsa (che osservò Brunoro e Viscardo) - E quali E dee frenarsi ognora!... » Rapidi arcani detti! Non v’è, non v’è più barbaro » Manfredo (inquieto) - Chi mai fia? Tormento nell’amor.) » Elaìsa (avviandosi) - Seguansi. Manfredo (marcato) - Voi spariste Elaìsa!... » Manfredo (fremendo) - Qual mistero! Elaìsa - Un raggio di speranza » Ma tremino. (scorgendola) Elaìsa! Una gentil sembianza... » Elaìsa - Manfredo! Voi fremete! Ed improvvisa M’illusero su oggetto » Quale smania sì v’agita? Sospetti Diletto a questo cor. » Novelli ognor! Viscardo (colpito) - (Che ascolto!) » Manfredo - Nè mai Manfredo (con espressione ironica) - E questo » E più giusti e più fieri io ne provai. Oggetto sì diletto al vostro core?... » Elaìsa - Ma donde! Elaìsa (con affezione) - È una donna. » Manfredo (mostrando un foglio) - Ecco. Viscardo, Manfredo, Brunoro (sorpresi) - Che dite? » Elaìsa - Qual foglio! Elaìsa - Cui deggio un padre... e cerco ognora. Udite: » Manfredo - Terribile. Di superbo vincitore » Elaìsa - Lo scrisse?... Elaìsa a piè gemea, » Manfredo - Una furia che tutte, atroci, in seno E la vita gli chiedea, » Mi lanciò le sue serpi. Ogni riposo Fra i sospir, del genitor. » E gioja m’ha rapito. Del fier duce a giovin figlia » Elaìsa - E che!... Sulle ciglia trasse il pianto. » Manfredo (le porge il foglio) - Leggete. Pregò il padre, il baciò tanto » Elaìsa (legge) - Ciel! “Siete tradito.” Che la grazia le accordò. » Manfredo (marcato e fissandolo) - Son tradito. A quell’angelo Elaìsa » Elaìsa - E il traditore? La mercede in cor giurò. » Manfredo (con impeto) - Forse... e qual la traditrice? Tutti - Che bell’anima Elaìsa » Elaìsa (gli dà il foglio e per partire) - Conte... Addio. Giovinetta pur mostrò. » Manfredo - Deh!... m’ascoltate... Elaìsa - Sacra effigie protettrice » Per pietà!... Cieco d’amore Elaìsa in sen portava, » Perdonate a un infelice. E in memoria la donava » Deh! consiglio... deh! conforto Alla sua consolatrice... » All’amore... all’amistà. Il suo nome v’incideva: » Elaìsa - Fiero oltraggio è quel trasporto Sii felice, le diceva... » All’onore, all’amistà. Questa effigie ti protegga: » Manfredo - V’amo... e temo un altro amato: Forse un dì ti rivedrò. » (con forza) Da’ nemici sto accerchiato. Ma quell’angelo Elaìsa » S’arma già vêr me Agrigento... Da due lustri invan cercò. » Io pavento un tradimento... Tutti - Ed un angelo, Elaìsa, » Fra’ miei fidi... tra mie soglie... Siracusa in te trovò. » La mia moglie!... Coro - Or la danza si riprenda: » Elaìsa (sorpresa) - Vostra moglie! Gioja tutti i cor raccenda. » Lei cantava il Trovatore Elaìsa si festeggi: » Vago fiore di beltà. Quel bel nome all’aure echeggi: » Tutti esaltan del suo core E fra palpito soave » Il candore e la pietà. Trovi un’eco in ogni cor. » (marcato) Di geloso, ingiusto sposo Elaìsa!... Gioja!... Amor! » Danna ognun la crudeltà. Elaìsa, Viscardo, Manfredo - De’ mortali nume in terra, » Manfredo - M’arse un dì per essa il core: Vita e gioja, Amor, tu sei. » Mia divenne sua beltà. Nume in Cielo degli Dei... » Ma un sorriso mai d’amore... Perchè il Cielo è dove è Amor. » Un sospir per me non ha. Foco tuo gli affetti miei... » Ah! d’un primo affetto ascoso Spiro sei di questo cor..
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