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The Mapleson Cylinders - Program Notes

Libretti

Verdi: AIDA [Includes RealAudio Selections]

Band 7

Band 7

Act I, Scene 2: Temple Scene excerpt : "[Nu]me, custode e vindice"..."Noi t'invochiam!"

Marguerite Marilly (s), Priestess

Emilio De Marchi (t), Radamès

Marcel Journet (bs), Ramfis

Metropolitan Opera Chorus & Orchestra--

Luigi Mancinelli

January 31, 1903

[Slip: "Temple Cho. Act I Aida Jan. 31, 1903"; possibly Glackens 12, misdated "Jan 30 1903"--but that says "Clear Temple cho. no soloists," and in this De Marchi is quite clearly audible. Perhaps it should be identified with Glackens 122, described as "Aida--concerted number close of Act one not Two."]

In the temple, Ramfis invests Radamès with the sacred armor.

[original] Simultaneous singing begins

RAMFIS and PRIESTS
[Nu]me, custode ed vindice,
di questa sacra terra,
la mano tua distendi
sovra, sovra l'egizio suol!

RADAMÈS
Proteggi tu,
proteggi tu, difendi
d'Egitto il sacro, il sacro suol! Simultaneous singing ends

PRIESTESSES
Possente, possente Fthà,

RADAMÈS, RAMFIS, PRIESTS
Possente Fthà,

PRIESTESSES
del mondo creator,

RADAMÈS, RAMFIS, PRIESTS
spirto fecondator,

RADAMÈS, echoed by RAMFIS
tu che dal nulla
hai tratto il mondo,
noi t'invochiamo!

RAMFIS and PRIESTS
tu che dal nulla
hai tratto l'onde,
la terra, il cielo,

RADAMÈS, RAMFIS, PRIESTS
noi t'invochiamo!
tu che dal nulla
hai tratto il mondo,
noi t'invochiamo!

PRIESTESSES
Spirto animator,

RADAMÈS, RAMFIS, PRIESTS
noi t'invochiam!

PRIESTESSES
spirto fecondator,

RADAMÈS, RAMFIS, PRIESTS
noi t'invochiam!

PRIESTESSES
immenso Fthà,

RADAMÈS, RAMFIS, PRIESTS
noi t'ïnvochiam!

[translation] Simultaneous singing begins

RAMFIS and PRIESTS
O God, guardian and judge/avenger,
of this sacred land,
stretch out Thy hand
over, over Egyptian soil!

RADAMÈS
Protect Thou,
protect Thou, defend Thou
the sacred soil of Egypt! Simultaneous singing ends

PRIESTESSES
Almighty, almighty Phtha,

RADAMÈS, RAMFIS, PRIESTS
Almighty Phtha,

PRIESTESSES
creator of the world.

RADAMÈS, RAMFIS, PRIESTS
fructifying spirit.

RADAMÈS, echoed by RAMFIS
Thou who from nothing
has made the world,
we call upon Thee!

RAMFIS and PRIESTS
Thou who from nothing
has made the waters,
the earth, the sky,

RADAMÈS RAMFIS, PRIESTS
we call upon Thee!
Thou who from nothing
has made the world,
we call upon Thee!

PRIESTESSES
Animating spirit,

RADAMÈS, RAMFIS, PRIESTS
we call upon Thee!

PRIESTESSES
fructifying spirit,

RADAMÈS, RAMFIS, PRIESTS
we call upon Thee!

PRIESTESSES
Great Phtha,

RADAMÈS, RAMFIS, PRIESTS
we call upon Thee!