The final duet from the opera "L'incoronazione di Poppea", which was either written or compiled by Claudio Monteverdi. Emperor Nero and his mistress Poppea sing a love duet at the end of an opera filled with intrigue, bloodshed, deception, jealousy, plotting and scheming, love lost, love found, etc., etc. (Opera plots didn't change much in 300 years or so.)
Well, "Paradise and Hell". I was was hunting around yootoob earlier this week, and found this Chiacona, which carries a dialog between a citizen of Paradise and 2 from Hell. This is Holy Week, for Christians, so somehow it seems appropriate.
So, a chiacona -- or a chaconne or a ciaconne; different spelling depending which country you lived in -- is a set of variations on a harmonic progression or a set of variations on recurring theme in the bass. In this case, it's both. If you listen carefully, you'll hear the bass theme repeated over and over -- 6 times in each verse. And you'll hear it 9 times in the first 30 seconds, before anyone starts singing.
"Paradiso" is sung by counter-tenor Philippe Jaroussky. "Inferno" is sung by the pair of bass-baritones. Notice how the voice of Paradiso is accompanied only by the plucked strings: the 2 theorbos and the lute. There's a lovely, transparent, gentle sound, and Jaroussky's voice simply floats along above the band. When Inferno is singing, the orchestration fills out: the harpsichord, hammered dulcimer and drum are added, so there's a thicker, heavier, more complex sound: the voices seem to be embedded within the band. It's a wonderful affect created by use of the instruments.
The band is "Arpeggiata", led by the Christina Pluhar. (She's the red-headed theorbo player with the big smile.) Lyrics were copied from scores, found here.
Paradiso:
O che bel stare è stare in Paradiso Dove si vive sempre in fest'e riso Vedendosi di Dio svelato il viso O che bel stare è star in Paradiso. O che bel stare è star in Paradiso.
O how lovely to be in Paradise, where we live in constant laughter and merriment, under the eye of God; how lovely to be in Paradise.
Inferno:
Ohimè che orribil star qui nell'inferno Ove si vive in pianto e foco eterno Senza veder mai Dio in sempiterno Ahi, ahi, che orribil star giù nell'inferno. Ahi, ahi, che orribil star giù nell'inferno.
Alas, how horrible it is to be in Hell! where we live in tears and everlasting fire, without ever seeing God; ay! how horrible to be in Hell.
Paradiso:
Là non vi regna giel, vento, calore, Che il tempo è temperato a tutte l'hore Pioggia non v'è, tempesta, nè baleno, Che il Ciel là sempre si vede sereno. Che il Ciel là sempre si vede sereno.
Here there is never cold, wind or heat, but always temperate weather, nor is there rain, storm or lightning, for Heaven is always calm; how lovely to be in Paradise.
Inferno:
Il fuoco e 'l ghiaccio là, o che stupore Le brine, le tempeste, e il sommo ardore Stanno in un loco tute l'intemperie Si radunan laggiù, o che miserie. Si radunan laggiù, o che miserie.
The fire and ice here, o great wonder! the brine, the storms, and the great burning all in one place, gathered here below; how horrible to be in Hell.
Paradiso:
Havrai insomma là quanto vorrai E quanto non vorrai non haverai E questo è quanto, o Musa, posso dire Però fa pausa il canto e fin l'ardire. Però fa pausa il canto e fin l'ardire.
Words cannot describe the pleasing sound that every instrument makes up there, our citterns and sweet organs join with the shepherds' pipes: how lovely to be in Paradise.
Inferno:
Quel ch'aborrisce qua, là tutto havrai Quel te diletta e piace mai havrai E pieno d'ogni male tu sarai Disperato d'uscirne mai, mai, mai! Disperato d'uscirne mai, mai, mai!
The noise of chains and cauldrons, of swords and knives and hatchets, sound in infernal concert down there, which strikes horrendous fear into your heart; ay! how horrible to be in Hell.
Paradiso:
O che bel stare è star in Paradiso Dove si vive sempr'in fest'e riso Vedendosi di Dio svelato il viso O che bel stare é stare in Paradiso. O che bel stare é stare in Paradiso.
O how lovely to be in Paradise, where we live in constant laughter and merriment, under the eye of God; how lovely to be in Paradise.
