Boston Early Music Festival 2011

''Niobe, Regina di Tebe''

Music by Agostino Steffani (1653 1728)
Libretto by Luigi Orlandi, after Ovid's Metamorphoses
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Niobe, Queen of Thebes . . . . . . . .Amanda Forsythe
Anfione, King of Thebes . . . . . . . ..Philippe Jaroussky
Clearte, a Theban Prince . . . . . . . .Kevin D. Skelton
Manto, a Theban Maiden,daughter of Tiresia . . . . .Yulia Van Doren
Tiberino, son of the King of Alba . . .Colin Balzer
Tiresia, a Soothsayer,and Priest of Latona . . . . .Charles Robert Stephens
Creonte, son of the King of Thessaly . . . . . . . . . .Matthew White
Poliferno, Prince of Attica, Magician . . . . . . . . . .Jesse Blumberg
Nerea, Nurse of Niobe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . José Lemos
&
Boston Early Music Festival Orchestra
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Atto II,scena IV

Anfione:
Ascendo alle stelle,
Ma gl'Astri, ch'adoro,
Ha il Ciel d'un bel sen.
Mie care Facelle
Mi struggo, mi moro
Al vostro balen.
* * * * *
I ascend to the stars,
But the Stars I adore
Heaven places in that beautiful face.
My dear Lights,
I am consumed, I die
From your lightning.
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libretto
Translation by Ellen Hargis
photo credit André Costantini