Hector Berlioz - Benvenuto Cellini - "Justice a nous, seigneur et maitre" (Gregory Kunde, Laurent Naouri, Jean-Francois Lapointe, Renaud Delaigue, Patrizia Ciofi & Joyce DiDonato)

Cellini's final meeting with the Pope in the company of Teresa, her father, Fieramosca and Ascanio is set by Berlioz in a veritable musical torrent of a sextet. It actually is longer than my upload could suggest as it includes an opening quintet for all, except the Pope, who then appears in a sustained arioso the end of which gives way to the sextet I am presenting here. Actually, the description "sextet" can be only vaguely attributed to the ensemble which is much more a scene with several concentrated passages. And, though certainly unusual in some respects, this idiom fits the situation perfectly: Fieramosca and Balducci, Teresa's father, present the Pope with their complaints to Cellini. Very creatively their phrases are set in an echo patter, where Fieramosca follows Balducci's statements. The Pope (his accompaniment is distinctively sacral in character, perhaps too much so :)) is, of course, completely baffled by this and ask to show the culprit of the disturbance. But the Pope seems more preoccupied with the creation of the statue which, Cellini has too admit, is not finished. This news is repeated by all the other protagonists. The Pope, furious from all of Cellini's actions, proclaims that the statue is to be finished by another. Cellini, in an agitated arioso, protests this wholeheartedly, while the Pope orders his guards too capture the artist who quickly jumps to the statue and promises to break it. A shocked concentrato is given to give all the protagonists a chance to express their feelings. The following section is given completely to a dialogue between the Pope and the artist with the latter demanding three things: a complete pardon, an approval of his marriage with Teresa and additional time to finish the work. This exchange is doted by phrases from Balducci and Fieramosca, on one hand, and Teresa with Ascanio, on the other. The next part is given to a striking concentrato involving all and which could well be given more room, had Berlioz pursued an aim to replicate the tradition. The Pope answers Cellini's demands in a dramatic arioso promising that the sculptor will be hanged, if he fails his to complete his task. The word "pendu" is then repeated to superb comic effect, even if the situation is tragic. The following short section is unusual but effective: while the sopranos and the basses sing a shocked doted phrase, Cellini is given a flowing line, sarcastically thanking the Pope for his "mercy". The stretta is ideally confused, bringing the piece to a well-deserved explosive ending. Hope you'll enjoy :)!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Hector
• Berlioz
• classical
• Benvenuto
• Cellini
• coloratura