How strange!...No step in fear shall wander Miah Persson Glyndebourne 2010

The Rake's progress
Igor Stravinsky

How strange!...No step in fear shall wander...Could it then have been known?

Second Scene

(Outside Tom's home. It's getting dark.
Anne comes in)

Recitative

ANNE
How strange!
Although the heart for love dares everything,
the hand draws back and
finds no spring of courage.
London! alone!
seems all that it can say.
Oh heart, be stronger.
That which this coward hand
wishes beyond all bravery,
the touch of his,
may bring its daring to a close, unneeded,
and love be all your bounty.

Aria

No step in fear shall wander
nor in weakness delay.
Hear thou or not,
merciful heaven,
ease thou or not my way.
A love that is sworn,
sworn before thee can plunder hell of its prey!

Recitative

(It's getting dark. Some servants come in
with several presents)

What can this mean?
A ball? a journey? a dream?
How evil in the purple dark they seem!.
Loot from dead fingers!. Living mockery!.
I tremble, tremble with no reason.

(surprised)

Lights!

(Tom go out from his home)

'Tis he!

(Anne walks to Tom)

TOM
(Confused)
Anne! here!

ANNE
And Tom, such splendour!

TOM
Leave pretences, Anne. Ask me! accuse me!

ANNE
Tom, no.

TOM
Denounce me to the world and go.

ANNE
Tom, no!

TOM
Return to your home, forget in your senses
what, senseless, you pursue.

ANNE
Do you return?

TOM
I!

ANNE
Then how shall I go?

TOM
You must!

(Aside)

Oh wilful powers, pummel to dust
and drive into the void one thought: return!.

ANNE
(Aside)
Assist me, heaven, since love
I must to calm his raging heart,
his eyes that burn.

TOM
Listen to me, for I know London well.
Here virtue is a day coquette,
for what night hides,
it can forget.
And virtue is, till gallants talk,
and tell!.
Oh Anne!
That is the air we breathe.
Go home!
'Tis wisdom here to be afraid.

ANNE
How should I fear,
who have your aid
and all my love for you beside, dear Tom.

TOM
My aid? My aid!
London has done all that it can with me.
Unworthy am l, less than weak.
Go back!

ANNE
Let worthiness.
So you still love, reside in that.

TOM
Oh Anne!

(Baba appears)

BABA
(Exasperate)
My love, am I to remain in here forever?
You know that I am not in the habit
of stepping from my sedan unaided.
Nor shall I wait, unmoved, much longer!
Finish, if you please,
whatever business is detaining you with this person!

ANNE
(surprised)
Tom? What...?

TOM
My wife, Anne.

ANNE
Your wife?
I see. Then it is I who was unworthy.

(She's going away . Aside)

Trio
Could it then have been known?
When spring was love and love took all our ken.
That I and I alone and on the frozen ground
should see love dead?

TOM
(Aside)
It is done, it is done.
I turn away, yet should I turn again,
the arbour would be gone
upon that forsworn ground
the birds lie dead

BABA
Who is it pray, he prefers to me
on our wedding day?

TOM
Oh bury the heart there deeper
upon its only bridal bed.
And should it dreaming, ask when
shall I awaken once again I say: never.
We shall this wintry promise keep.
Obey thy exile, honour sleep...

ANNE
Oh promise the heart to winter
swear it bound, to nothing live and you shall wed.
But should you vow to love,
Oh then see that you shall not feel again never
lest you, you alone, your promise keep
walk the long aisle and walking, weep...

BABA
A family friend?
An ancient flame?
I'm quite perplexed.
And, more, I confess,
than a little vexed.
Enough is enough!
Baba is not used to be so abused.
Heavens above!
Will you permit me to sit
in this conveyance forever?

ANNE&TOM
... forever.

Anne Truelove.........Miah Persson
Baba the Turk.........Elena Manistina
Tom Rakewell........Toppi Lehtipuu

The Glyndebourne Chorus
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Vladimir Jurowski (conductor)

Glyndebourne 2010

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Anne's
• Aria
• and
• Trio
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[Sissi89go]

Well done, Leporello! ;)