Il Grand'Inquisitor! (Don Carlo)

Verdi's Don Carlo.
Herbert Von karajan, Salzburger Osterfestspiele 1986.
Filippo - Ferruccio Furlanetto
Inquisitor - Matti Salminen
Lerma - Horst Nitsche

COUNT DI LERMA
The Grand Inquisitor!

INQUISITOR
Am I in the King's presence?

FILIPPO
Yes; I sent you, father!
I am in doubt.
Carlo is filling my heart with bitter sadness;
The Infante is rebelling against me,
He has taken up arms against his father.

INQUISITOR
What mode of punishment do you choose?

FILIPPO
Extreme measures.

INQUISITOR
Let me know them!

FILIPPO
Let him escape or let the axe...

INQUISITOR
Well?

FILIPPO
If I send my son to death will your hand absolve me?

INQUISITOR
The peace of the Empire is worth a rebel's life.

FILIPPO
Can I, a Christian, sacrifice my son for the world?

INQUISITOR
To redeem us God sacrificed His.

FILIPPO
But can you put into force such a stringent law?

INQUISITOR
Everywhere it will have force, as it had it on Calvary.

FILIPPO
Can nature and love be silenced in me?

INQUISITOR
Everything must be silenced in order to exalt the faith.

FILIPPO
Very well!

INQUISITOR
Has the King nothing further to ask me?

FILIPPO
No.

INQUISITOR
Then it is I who will speak to you, Sire,
On Spanish soil, heresy has never prevailed, but there is one who wishes to undermine the divine edifice.
He is the King's friend, his constant companion, the demon of temptation who spurs him on to ruin. Carlo's treason, which has enraged you so, in comparison with his, seems a futile sport. And I, the inquisitor, I who have often raised my powerful hand against the vile hordes of miscreant for the great men here below, forgetful of my faith allow to go uncurbed a dangerous rebel... and the King!

FILIPPO
To help pass sorry days, in which I live, at my Court I have sought in vain what I long for. A man! A loyal heart! Then I found him!

INQUISITOR
Why a man? Why, then, have you the title of king, Sire, if a lesser man be your equal?

FILIPPO
No more, priest!

INQUISITOR
The ideas of the innovators have tainted your mind! You wish to break with your feeble hand the sacred yoke extending over the Roman Catholic globe! Return to your duty: The Church can offer to the man who has no hope, who repents, complete forgiveness: I demand of you the noble Posa.

FILIPPO
No, never!

INQUISITOR
O King, if I were not with you in the royal palace this very day, I swear to God, tomorrow you would be before the Grand Inquisitor at the Supreme Court.

FILIPPO
Friar, I have suffered your harsh words too long!

INQUISITOR
Why then evoke the shade of Samuel?
I have already given two kings to your mighty realm!
Madman, do you want to destroy the work of years?
Why am I here? What does King want of me?

FILIPPO
Father, let there be peace between us again.

INQUISITOR
Peace?

FILIPPO
You must forget what has passed here.

INQUISITOR
Perhaps!

FILIPPO
So the throne must always bow to the altar!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Verdi
• Don
• Carlo
• Il
• Grand'Inquisitor!
• Ferruccio
• Furlanetto
• Herbert
• Von
• karajan
• Salzburger
• Osterfestspiele
• Matti
• Salminen

[francesco9958]

Great performance. Anyway, Ferruccio Furlanetto here is still young. He became even better as he grew up...

[Talpa86gaia]

True, true... But it's always interesting to compare an artist's present vocal form with his (or her) former abilities, don't you find?

[srr10]

Matti is incredible- absolutely terrifying.....

[asisecanta]

Salminenn ROCKS

[hightenor123]

I remember talking to Simon Estes, who was a wonderful Phillipo a role he sang often, and he said that only Salminen could put the fear of god of him, like having a bomb exploding next to him.

[grandeopera]

Bravi- Matti is awesome, a truly intimidating Inquisitor! Ferrucio is even better today as his voice has matured into the role of the complex Philip II.



[grandeopera]

Bravi- Matti is awesome, a truly intimidating Inquisitor! Ferrucio is even better today as his voice has matured into the role of the complex Philip II.