La Wally

Σήμερα όπερα.
Η έξοχη La Wally, του Alfredo Catalani με τη Maria Callas. Μια από τις καλύτερες εκτελέσεις της...

Παραθέτω μερικά στοιχεία για το εξαιρετικό αυτό έργο στα αγγλικά.

Catalani was born into a family of musicians, paving the way for his own musical career and was even taught by Puccini's uncle. He has been regarded as the respresntation of Italian neo-Romanticism. His opera, La Wally, one of his greatest works, has elements of verismo and so he is also considered to be a forerunner of it.

A dramma lirico in four acts, the libretto to La Wally was produced by Luigi Illica who based it on Wilhelmine von Hillern's novel, Die Geyre-Wally (Vulture Wally, 1875). It first premiered on the 20th January 1892 in Milan at the Teatro alla Scala. It is set on the Tyrol around 1800.

Synopsis:

Act I

In the mountain village of Hochstoff in the Otz valley, the factor Gellner loves Wally, who is the daughter of the wealthy landowner Stromminger. He asks her father for her hand but she is already in love with the huntsman Hagenbach. Her father gives Wally two choices - either she marries the factor or she leaves his house. Wally leaves to go and live in the mountains.

Act II

In the village green of the village of Solden, Wally's father has died, leaving her rich. She arrives to a festival in the village. The factor Gellner persuades her that her love, Hagenbach, loves the tavern owner Afra. She visits Afra and insults her. Hagenbach, who knows nothing about wally's love for him, stands up for Afra and ridicules her. Despite this, he then falls in love with the standoffish girl. Wally then agrees to marry Gellner as long as he kills Hagenbach.

Act III

Both Wally and Hagenbach are both experiencing regret. Wally wants to warn her love about Gellner but a storm stops her from leaving the house to do so. Nothing prevents Hagenback, however, and he leaves to confess his love for Wally to ask forgiveness for his impertinent behaviour. Gellner attacks him as he makes his way to Waklly's house and is then thrown into a ravine. Wally rescues him and once more leaves for the mountains.

Act IV

On the Murzoll, Wally is living alone in the mountains, never wanting to return to her home village. Hagenbach makes his way to her and confesses his love. Just when it seems nothing can stop them from being happy, an avalanche throws him into an abyss. Wally, devastated, throws herself off the mountain after him.

Οι στίχοι του συγκεκριμένου μέρους, που είναι και το ωραιότερο του έργου μπορεί να αποδοθούν ελεύθερα στα ελληνικά ως εξής:

Λοιπόν; Θα πάω μακριά ως την ηχώ της καμπάνας, Εκεί, ανάμεσα στο λευκό χιόνι. Εκεί, ανάμεσα στα χρυσά σύννεφα, όπου η ελπίδα, η ελπίδα είναι λύπη, είναι λύπη, θλίψη είναι! Ω σπίτι της μητέρας μου, Η Wally φεύγει από σένα. Αρκετά μακριά από εσένα και ίσως, ποτέ δεν θα επιστρέψει, ούτε θα σε δει ξανά! Ποτέ ξανά, ποτέ ξανά! Θα πάω μόνη και μακριά, ως την ηχώ της καμπάνας, Εκεί, ανάμεσα στο λευκό χιόνι, θα πάω, θα πάω μόνη και μακριά! Εκεί στα χρυσά σύννεφα!