And now a Christmas story...

(Ακολουθεί post-σετ πανωσέντονο, κατωσέντονο, κουβερλί και μαξιλαροθήκες - αν τηλεφωνήσετε στα επόμενα 90 λεπτά, δώρο ασορτί πορτατίφ για το κομοδίνο)

Σήμερα λοιπόν, το μενού περιλαμβάνει σύγχρονη όπερα. (μη στραβομουτσουνιάζεις, σε βλέπω...) Λόγω λοιπόν του ιδιόμορφου της κατάστασης, νομίζω οτι πρέπει να αρχίσω με τα κατάλληλα tips, a.k.a. "οδηγίες προς ναυτιλωμένους".

Το βιντεάκι που ακολουθεί έχει διάρκεια 55 λεπτών, οπότε πριν να κάνετε "κλικ" στο play, καλό θα είναι να έχετε Χριστουγεννιάτικη διάθεση, χρόνο, και την ησυχία σας. Επίσης, αν είστε ευσυγκίνητοι, (Apsoy, για σένα το λέω) πάρτε και χαρτομάντιλα. Μέχρι κι εγώ μπήκα σε mood με δαύτο. Επίσης θα προσπαθήσω να κάνω την ακρόαση όσο πιο ανώδυνη γίνεται, οπότε διαβάστε και τι έχει να σας πει ο dante πριν αρχίσετε να μασουλάτε το pop-corn...

So, here we go:

"Ο Αμάλ και οι νυχτερινοί επισκέπτες"
του Gian Carlo Menotti.

Κεφάλαιο Πρώτο:
"Τι είναι τούτο ρε dante...;"

Μια φορά κι έναν καιρό, μισό αιώνα και κάτι πριν από μας, το κανάλι NBC ζήτησε από τον συνθέτη και λιμπρετίστα Gian Carlo Menotti (7 Ιουλίου 1911 - 1 Φεβρουαρίου 2007) να συνθέσει μια Χριστουγεννιάτικη όπερα για το εορταστικό του πρόγραμμα. Ο Menotti, εμπνευσμένος από τον πίνακα του Hieronymus Bosch "The Adoration af the Magi" , έγραψε αυτό το μικρό διαμαντάκι, διάρκειας 45 λεπτών. Η όπερα ανέβηκε την παραμονή των Χριστουγέννων του 1951 σε στούντιο του NBC και μεταδόθηκε ζωντανά. Μέχρι το 1966 είχε πάντα μια θέση στο εορταστικό πρόγραμμα. Πλέον θεωρήται από τα "κλασσικά" Χριστουγεννιάτικα έργα, και μετρά εκατοντάδες παραγωγές κάθε χρόνο.

Αν σας ενδιαφέρει ο πίνακας του Bosch, είναι αυτός εδώ. Βρίσκεται στη Νέα Υόρκη, στο Metropolitan Musem of Art. Δυστυχώς δεν μπόρεσα να βρω κάτι πιο ευδιάκριτο. Σε περίπτωση που ψάξετε, θα πέσετε και πάνω στο "The Epiphany" , καθότι αναφέρεται κι αυτό ως "The Adoration of the Magi", οπότε προσοχή. Αν κάποιος βρει κανένα link της προκοπής, ευπρόσδεκτο. (Προσωπικά ποντάρω στον Wrong Guy, που το κατέχει το θέμα με τα καλλιτεχνικά... Αν περάσει καμιά βόλτα από δω, παίζει να μαστε τυχεροί... ) Επίσης μπορείτε να πάρετε μια γεύση κι απ' το βίντεο. Ο πίνακας είναι το πρώτο πλάνο...

Κεφάλαιο Δεύτερο:
"Εεεε...;"

"Έξινος". Αυτή η όπερα λοιπόν, διηγήται την ιστορία του Αμάλ, ενός κουτσού πιτσιρίκου, με φαντασία αρκετά μεγάλη για να τον βάζει σε μπελάδες, που μένει με τη μητέρα του κάπου κοντά στη Βηθλεέμ... Και ένα όμορφο βράδυ, τρεις περίεργοι, χρυσοφορεμένοι τύποι, τους χτυπάνε την πόρτα... "τακ... τακ..." ( η συνέχεια επί της οθόνης... )

Κεφάλαιο Τρίτο:
"Και πώς να καταλάβω τι λένε ρε έξυπνε...;"

Επειδή λοιπόν ο dante φροντίζει για σας, ακολουθεί και όλο το κείμενο της όπερας, η οποία είναι γραμμένη σε απλά και όμορφα Αγγλικά. Μου έβγαλε λίγο την πίστη είναι η αλήθεια, γιατί δεν το έβρισκα πουθενά, πλην μερικών αποσπασμάτων δεξιά κι αριστερά, οπότε χρησιμοποίησα την πατροπαράδωτη μέθοδο των ακουστικών... Μεταξύ μας, δεν υπήρχε περίπτωση να χάσω τη μάχη, είχα άσσο στο μανίκι μου...

Κεφάλαιο Τέταρτο:
"Καλά, πώς σου 'ρθε τώρα αυτό...;"

Θυμάστε που λέγαμε για "μερικές εκατοντάδες παραγωγές κάθε χρόνο"...; Ε, μία από αυτές ήταν τον Δεκέμβριο του 2003 στη Θεσσαλονίκη. Θυμάστε που λεγαμε και για έναν άσσο στο μανίκι...; Ε, κάααααπου εκεί μέσα ήταν χωμένος κι ο dante. Και όσο χάλια κι αν είναι η μνήμη του, όταν ακούς κάτι καμιά εκατοστή φορές, το μαθαίνεις νεράκι και σου μένει για χρόνια... Anyway, για όποιον ενδιαφέρεται, η σελίδα της παράστασης βρίσκεται στο αρχείο της όπερας Θεσσαλονίκης εδώ πέρα.

Κεφάλαιο Πέμπτο:
"Anything else I should know...?"

Το βιντεο ξεκινάει με μια εισαγωγή από τον ίδιο τον Menotti γύρω στα τεσσεράμιση λεπτά. Η μουσική που ακούγεται στους τίτλους αρχής είναι στην ουσία η εισαγωγή της όπερας. Επίσης λατρεύω το κουαρτέτο των τριών μάγων με τη μητέρα του Αμάλ στο 25:40 , και πεθαίνω για το μονόλογο της μητέρας στο 37:55... Και στο 36:15 μπορείτε να αναστενάξετε με την ησυχία σας... Pay attention και περιμένω σχόλια...

Άρχεται ο τυφλοσούρτης:
(tip: ανοίξτε δύο παράθυρα, για να έχετε στο ένα το βίντο και δίπλα το λιμπρέτο. Η ποιότητα του ήχου δε βοηθάει ιδιαίτερα, όσο καλά και να είναι τα Αγγλικά σας.)

"Amahl and the night visitors"
by Gian Carlo Menotti

Mother
Amahl… Amahl…

Amahl
Oooh…

Mother
Time to go to bed…

Amahl
Coming.

Mother
Amahl…

Amahl
Coming…

Mother
How long must I shout to make you obey?

Amahl
I’m sorry mother.

Mother
Hurry in, it’s time to go to bed.


Amahl
But mother let me stay a little longer.

Mother
The wind is cold.

Amahl
But my cloak is warm, let me stay a little longer.

Mother
The night is dark.

Amahl
But the sky is light let me stay a little longer.

Mother
The time is late.

Amahl
But the moon hasn’t risen yet, let me stay a little…

Mother
There won’t be any moon tonight,
but there will be a weeping child very soon
if he doesn’t hurry up and obey his mother

Amahl
Oh, very well.


Mother
What was keeping you outside?

Amahl
Oh mother, you should go out and see.
There has never been such a sky.
Damp clouds have shined it and soft winds have swept it.
As if to make it ready for a king’s ball.
All its lanterns are lit, all its torches are burning.
And its dark floor is shining like crystal

Hanging over our roof,
there is a star as large as a window,
and the star has a tail,
and it moves across the sky like a chariot on fire

Mother
Oh Amahl when will you stop telling lies?
All day long you wonder about in a dream.
Here we are with nothing to eat,
not a stick of wood on the fire,
not a drop of oil in the jug,
and all you do is to worry you mother
with fairytales
Oh Amahl, have you forgotten your promise?
Never, never to lie to your mother again.

Amahl
Mother, darling, I’m not lying,
please do believe me, please do believe me.
Come outside and let me show you,
see for yourself, see for yourself.

Mother
Stop bothering me, why should I believe you?
You come with a new one every day.

First it was a leopard with a woman’s head.
Then it was a tree branch that shrieked and bled.
Then it was a fish as big as a boat
with whiskers like a cat
and wings like a bat
and horns like a goat
And now it is a star as large as a window…
Or was it a carriage…?
And if that weren’t enough,
the star has a tail and the tail is on fire.

Amahl
But there is a star, and it has a tail…
This long…
Well… maybe only this long, but it’s there.

Mother
Amahl!

Amahl
Cross my heart and hope to die.

Mother
Poor amahl, hunger has gone to your head.
Dear god, what is a poor widow to do?
When her cupboards and pockets
are empty and everything sold…
Unless we go begging,
how shall we live through tomorrow?
My little son… a beggar.

Amahl
Don’t cry mother dear, don’t worry for me,
if we must go begging, a good beggar I’ll be.
I know sweet tunes to set people dancing.
We’ll walk and walk from village to town.
You dressed as a gypsy and I as a clown.
We’ll walk and walk from village to town.
At noon we shall eat roast goose and sweet almonds,
at night we shall sleep with the sheep and the stars.
I’ll play my pipes, you’ll sing and you’ll shout.
The windows will open and people lean out.
The king will ride by and hear your loud voice
and throw us some gold to stop all the noise.
At noon we shall eat roast goose and sweet almonds,
at night we shall sleep with the sheep and the stars.

Mother
My dreamer goodnight, you’re wasting the light. Kiss me goodnight.

Amahl and Mother
Goodnight


The Three Kings
From far away we come and farther we must go.
How far, how far, my crystal star?
The shepherd dreams inside the fold.
Cold are the sands by the silent sea.
Frozen the incense in our frozen hands, heavy the gold.
How far, how far, my crystal star?
By silent-sunken lakes the antelope leaps.
In paper-painted oasis the drunken gypsy weeps.
The hungry lion wanders, the cobra sleeps.
How far, how far, my crystal star?


Mother
Amahl…

Amahl
Yes mother…

Mother
… go and see who’s knocking at the door.

Amahl
Mother, mother, mother come and see,
I want to be sure that you see what I see.

Mother
What is the matter with you now,
what is all this fuss about? Who is it then?

Amahl
Mother, outside the door… there is…
there is a king with a crown.

Mother
What shall I do with this boy, what shall I do, what shall I do?
If you don’t learn to tell the truth, I’ll have to spank you.
Go back and see who it is, and ask them what they want.

Amahl
Mother, mother, mother come and see,
I want to be sure that you see what I see.

Mother
What is the matter with you now,
what is all this fuss about?

Amahl
Mother, I didn’t tell the truth before.

Mother
That’s a good boy.

Amahl
There is not a king outside.

Mother
I should say not.

Amahl
There are two kings.

Mother
What shall I do with this boy, what shall I do, what shall I do?
Hurry back and see who it is, and don’t you dare make up tales.

Amahl
Mother, mother, mother come with me.
If I tell you the truth, I know you won’t believe me.

Mother
Try it for a change.

Amahl
But you won’t believe me.

Mother
I’ll believe you if you tell the truth.

Amahl
Sure enough, there are not two kings outside.

Mother
That is surprising.

Amahl
The kings are three and one of them is black.

Mother
Oh, what shall I do with this boy?
If you were stronger, I’d like to whip you.

Amahl
I knew it.

Mother
I’m going to the door myself and then young man you’ll have to reckon with me.



The Three Kings
Good evening, good evening.

Amahl
What did I tell you?

Mother
(to amahl:)Sh!
(to the three kings:)Noble sires…

Balthazar
May we rest a while in your house and warm ourselves by your fireplace?

Mother
I am a poor widow. A cold fireplace
and a bed of straw is all I have to offer you.
To these you are welcome.

Kaspar
What did she say?

Balthazar
That we are welcome.

Kaspar
Oh thank you, thank you, thank you…

The Three Kings
Oh thank you.

Mother
Come in, come in.


Melchior
It is nice here.

Mother
I shall go and gather wood for the fire. I’ve nothing in the house.

Melchior
We can only stay a little while. We must not lose sight of our star.

Mother
Your star?

Amahl
What did I tell you?

Mother
Sh!

Melchior
We still have a long way to go.

Mother
I shall be right back, and, Amahl, don’t be a nuisance.

Amahl
(to his mother:) No mother.


(to Balthazar:) Are you a real king?

Balthazar
Yes.

Amahl
Have you regal blood?

Balthazar
Yes.

Amahl
Can I see it?

Balthazar
It is just like yours.

Amahl
What’s the use of having it then?

Balthazar
No use.

Amahl
Where is your home?

Balthazar
I live in a black marble palace
full of black panthers and white doves.
And you little boy, what do you do?

Amahl
I was a shepherd, I had a flock of sheep.
But my mother sold them, sold them,
now there are no sheep left.
I had a black goat who gave me warm sweet milk
But she died of old age, old age,
now there is no goat left.
But mother says that now we shall both go
begging from door to door…
Won’t it be fun?

Balthazar
It has its points…

Amahl
Are you a real king too?

Kaspar
Eh?

Amahl
Are you a real king too?

Kaspar
(to Amahl:)Oh, truly, truly, truly, yes, I am a real king.
(to Balthazar:)Am I not?

Balthazar
Yes, kaspar.

Amahl
What is that?

Kaspar
Eh?

Amahl
What is that?

Kaspar
A parrot.

Amahl
Does it talk?

Kaspar
Eh?

Amahl
Does it talk?

Kaspar
How do I know?

Amahl
Does it bite?

Kaspar
Eh?

Amahl
Does it bite?

Kaspar
Yes.

Amahl
And what is this?

Kaspar
This is my box, this is my box, I never travel without my box.
In the first drawer I keep my magic stones.
One carnelian against all evil and envy,
One moonstone to make you sleep,
One red coral to heal your wounds,
One lapis lazuli against quartern fever,
One small jasper to help you find water,
One small topaz to soothe your eyes,
One red ruby to protect you from lightning.

This is my box, this is my box, I never travel without my box.
In the second drawer I keep all my beads.
Oh, how I love to play with beads, all kinds of beads…

This is my box, this is my box, I never travel without my box.
In the third drawer, in the third drawer…
Oh little boy, oh little boy…
In the third drawer I keep…
Licorice, licorice, black sweet licorice, black sweet licorice.
Have some.



Mother
Amahl, I told you not to be a nuisance.

Amahl
But it isn’t my fault, they kept asking me questions.

Mother
I want you to go and call the other shepherds.
Tell them about our visitors and ask them to bring
whatever they have in the house,
as we have nothing to offer them. Hurry on.

Amahl
Yes mother.



Mother
All these beautiful things, and all that gold…

Melchior
These are the gifts to the child.

Mother
The child? Which child?

Melchior
We don’t know, but the star will guide us to him.

Mother
But perhaps I know him, what does he look like?



Melchior
Have you seen a child the color of wheat, the color of dawn?
His eyes are mild, his hands are those of a king as king he was born.
Incense, myrrh and gold we bring to his side,
and the eastern star is our guide.

Mother
Yes I know a child the color of wheat, the color of dawn
His eyes are mild, his hands are those of a king as king he was born.
But no one will bring him incense or gold,
though sick and poor and hungry and cold.
He’s my child, my son, my darling, my own.

Balthazar and Melchior
Have you seen a child the color of earth, the color of thorn?
His eyes are sad, his hands are those of the poor, as poor he was born.
Incense, myrrh and gold we bring to his side
And the eastern star is our guide.

Mother
Yes I know a child the color of earth, the color of thorn.
His eyes are sad, his hands are those of the poor as poor he was born.
But no one will bring him incense or gold,
though sick and poor and hungry and cold.
He’s my child, my son, my darling, my own.

Melchior
The child we seek holds the seas and the winds on his palm.

Balthazar and Kaspar
…all the winds on his palm.

Kaspar
The child we seek has the moon and the sun at his feet

Melchior
…and the sun at his feet.

Balthazar
Before him the eagle is gentle the lion is meek

The Three Kings
Choirs of angels hover over his roof and sing him to sleep.
He’s warmed by breath, he’s fed by mother who is both virgin and queen.
Incense, myrrh and gold we bring to his side,
and the eastern star is our guide.

Mother
The child I know on his palm holds my heart.
The child I know at his feet has my life.
He’s my child, my son, my darling, my own, and his name is Amahl.



The Shepherds
Shepherds! Shepherdesses!
Who’s calling, who’s calling?
Oh! Oh!

Mother
The shepherds are coming.

Melchior
Wake up kaspar.

The Shepherds
Emily, Emily, Michael, Bartholomew,
How are your children and how are your sheep?
Dorothy, Dorothy, Peter, Evangeline,
Give me your hand, came along with me.

All the children have mumps,
All the flocks are asleep,
We are going with Amahl,
bringing gifts to the kings.

Benjamin, Benjamin, Lucas, Elizabeth,
How are your children and how are your sheep?
Carolyn, Carolyn, Matthew, Veronica,
Give me your hand come along with me.

Brrrr! How cold is the night.
Brrr! How icy the wind.
Hold me very, very, very tight.
Oh, how warm is your cloak.

Katherine, Katherine, Christopher, Babila,
How are your children and how are your sheep?
Josephine, Josephine, Angela, Jeremy,
Come along with me.

Oh look.
Oh look

Mother
Come in, come in, what are you afraid of?
Don’t be bashful, silly girl.
Don’t be bashful silly boy.
They won’t eat you.
Show what you brought them.

The Shepherds
Go on… Go on… Go on…
Go on… No! You go on…

Olives and quinces, apples and raisins,
Nutmeg and myrtle, medlars and chestnuts,
This is all we shepherds can offer you.

The Three Kings
Thank you, thank you, thank you kindly.
Thank you, thank you, thank you kindly, too.

The Shepherds
Citrons and lemons, musk and pomegranates,
Goat cheese and walnuts, figs and cucumbers,
This is all we shepherds can offer you.

The Three Kings
Thank you, thank you, thank you kindly.
Thank you, thank you, thank you kindly, too.

The Shepherds
Hazelnuts and chamomile, mignonettes and laurel,
Honeycombs and cinnamon, thyme, mint and garlic.
This is all we shepherds can offer you.

The Three Kings
Thank you, thank you, thank you kindly.
Thank you, thank you, thank you kindly, too.

The Shepherds
Take them, eat them, you are welcome,
take them eat them, you are welcome, too.

Mother
Now won’t you dance for them?

The Shepherds
Don’t be bashful, silly girl.
Don’t be bashful silly boy.
They won’t eat you.



Balthazar
Thank you good friends for your dances and your gifts.
But now we must bid you good night.
We have little time for sleep and a long journey ahead.

The Shepherds
Gook night my good kings, good night and farewell.
The pale stars foretell that dawn is in sight.
Gook night my good kings, good night and farewell.
The night wind foretells that day will be bright.

All
Good night.


Amahl
Excuse me sir, amongst your magic stones, is there…
Is there one that could cure a crippled boy?

Kaspar
Eh?

Amahl
Nevermind… good night.

The Shepherds
Good night, good night, the dawn is in sight.
Good night, farewell, good night.


Mother
All that gold…
All that gold…
I wonder if rich people know
what to do with their gold?
Do they know how a child could be fed?
Do rich people know?
Do they know that a house can be kept
warm all day with burning logs?
Do rich people know?
Do they know how to roast sweet corn by the fire?
Do they know?
Do they know how to fill a courtyard with cloves?
Do they know? Do they know?
Do they know how to milk a clover-fed goat?
Do they know?
Do they know how to spice hot wine in cold winter nights?
Do they know? Do they know?
All that gold…
All that gold…
Oh, what I could do for my child with that gold…
Why should it all go to a child they don’t even know?
They are asleep… Do I dare?
If I take some they’ll never miss it…
For my child…
For my child…
For my child…



The Page
Thief! Thief!

Balthazar and Melchior
What is it, what is it?

The Page
I’ve seen her steel some of the gold
She’s a thief, don’t let her go.
She’s stolen some of the gold.

The Three Kings
Shame! Shame!

The Page
Give it back or I’ll tear it out of you.

The Three Kings and The Page
Give it back! Give it back!

Amahl
Don’t you dare! Don’t you dare!
Don’t you dare ugly man hurt my mother!
Don’t you dare ugly man hurt my mother!
I’ll smash in your face! I’ll knock out your teeth.
Don’t you dare! Don’t you dare!
Don’t you dare ugly man hurt my mother!

Oh, mister king, don’t let him hurt my mother.
My mother is good, she cannot do anything wrong.
I’m the one who lies, I’m the one who steals.

Don’t you dare! Don’t you dare!
Don’t you dare ugly man hurt my mother!
Don’t you dare ugly man hurt my mother!
I’ll break all your bones! I’ll bash in your head!
Don’t you dare! Don’t you dare!
Don’t you dare ugly man hurt my mother!
Don’t you dare! Don’t you dare! Don’t you dare…



Melchior
Oh woman, you may keep the gold.
The child we seek doesn’t need our gold.
On love, on love alone he will build his kingdom.
His pierced hand will hold no scepter.
His haloed head will wear no crown.
His might will not be built on your toil.
Swifter that lightning,
He will soon walk among us.
He will bring us new life and receive our death.
And the keys to his city belong to the poor.
Let us leave my friends.

Mother
Oh no, wait. Take back your gold.
For such a king I’ve waited all my life.
And if I weren’t so poor,
I would send a gift of my own to such a child.

Amahl
But, mother, let me send him my crutch.
Who knows, he may need one, and this I made myself.

Mother
But, that, you can’t, you can’t.

Amahl
I walk mother… I walk mother…

Balthazar
He walks

Melchior
He walks

Kaspar
He walks

The Mother
He walks… He walks…

The Mother and The Three Kings
He walks… He walks…

The Three Kings
It is a sign from the Holly Child.
We must give praise to the new born king.
We must praise him.
This is a sign from God.

Amahl
Look mother, I can dance, I can jump, I can run.

The Three Kings
Truly he can dance, he can jump, he can run.
Ha , ha, ha, ha…

Mother
Please my darling, be careful now.
You must take care not to hurt yourself.

The Three Kings
Oh, good woman, you must not be afraid.
For he is loved by the son of God.

Balthazar
Oh, blessed child, may I touch you?

Melchior
Oh, blessed child, may I touch you?

Kaspar
Oh, blessed child, may I touch you?

The Page
Oh, blessed child, may I touch you?

Amahl
Well, I don’t know if I’m going to let you touch me.

Mother
Amahl!

Amahl
Oh, all right, but just once.

Look mother, I can fight, I can work, I can play.
Oh mother, let me go with the kings.
I want to take the crutch to the child myself.

The Three Kings
Yes, good woman, let him come with us.
We’ll take good care of him,
we’ll bring him back on a camel’s back.

Mother
Do you really want to go?

Amahl
Yes mother.

Mother
Are you sure, sure, sure?

Amahl
I’m sure.

Mother
Yes, I think you should go,
and bring thanks to the child yourself.

Amahl
Are you sure, sure, sure?

Mother
Go on, get ready.

Kaspar
What did she say?

Balthazar
She said he can go.

Kaspar
Oh lovely, lovely, lo…

Balthazar
Kaspar!

Mother
What to do with your crutch?

Amahl
You can tie it to my back.

Mother
Don’t forget to hear your hat.

Amahl
I shall always hear my hat.

Mother
So, my darling, goodbye.

Amahl
So, my darling, goodbye.

Amahl and Mother
I shall miss you very much… very much.

Mother
Wash your ears.

Amahl
Yes, I promise.

Mother
Don’t tell lies.

Amahl
No, I promise.

Amahl and Mother
I shall miss you very much.

Amahl
Feed my bird.

Mother
Yes, I promise.

Amahl
Watch the cat.

Mother
Yes, I promise.

Amahl and Mother
I shall miss you very much.



The Shepherds
Shepherds, arise.

Melchior
Let’s go then.

The Shepherds
Come, oh shepherds, come outside.
All the stars have left the sky.
Oh sweet dawn, oh dawn of peace.


THE END


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