Erismena
Erismena is an opera in a prologue and three acts by Francesco Cavalli. It was designated as a dramma per musica. The Italian libretto was by Aurelio Aureli, the only work by this writer for Cavalli.
Erismena is the first full-length opera known to have been translated into English and may have been first performed in England in 1674.
Performance history
It was first performed in Venice at the Teatro Sant 'Apollinare on 30 December 1655 with further performances between that date and 28 February 1656. Cavalli revised the work in 1670. Both versions have survived as well as one with an English translation, also dated to the 17th century.
Roles
Recordings
Pier Francesco Cavalli: L'Erismena - Oakland Symphony Orchestra - 'Sung in English
Podcasts:
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by Republic Of Wolves
Oarsman
by: Republic Of WolvesI woke up sweating on the moaning mount of olives
My black dove penance weighing down my feather feet
Woven into my skin, the covenants I'd broken
My granite heart will not forget what it once was.
A coffer full of your love
I couldn't bear it.
I don't believe I ever had a choice
When the sun came up and my eyes were struck
I don't believe I could've changed my mind
In the dead end heat of that withered beach
With my grave stone teeth and your seven shades of grief
We were unleavened earth before the first unsettled word fell
They drew the devil's iris in between your brows
Accursed breath that left our bodies when the day broke
Who built that weary wooden cabinet for your faith?
All these doors I see
mean nothing to me.
I don't believe I ever had a choice
When we lost our sight to the teething night
I don't believe I could've changed my mind
When the seeds were sown and then left alone
How could I have known I was never on my own?
Oh God, I feel like every saintly fire was my fault.
That I got crossed off of the wall
and my fingers all bloodied and torn
and it's just a lie,
a poor excuse for all the fumes
that I spit out back when I was young,
and god damn the truth,
I was unused,
an empty glass,
an oarsman and no one knew my name.
Knew my name
I am not welcome here
I am not welcome in this house I built.
I am not welcome here
I am not welcome in this house I built.
I am not welcome here