The Jewish War: Second half of Book 4

[cahn]

Last week: Mass suicide (canonical), Constantinople (not present in canon), pro-surrender factions, the translation of "bandits/terrorists/troublemakers" (apparently "lestes" in Greek). Anyone familiar with the Talmud want to weigh in about the question of marrying a raped-by-a-Roman woman in Jewish society?

This week: Jerusalem continues to be torn apart by various factions. Simon son of Gioras makes his appearance. The Year of the Four Emperors happens, with Vespasian finally making his bid for emperor.

Next week: Half of book 5? To where? From selenak: until the tale of Kastor duping Titus has concluded: “…for they believed nothing but that their opponents had thrown themselves into the fire."

Comments

Re: La Clemenza di Tito

[zdenka]

:D

Yes! Tito is Titus!! There's even some discussion of Berenice, but it's in the secco recitative and it's easy to miss if you're there for the music. And the secco recitative usually gets cut down a lot.

Vitellia's first recitative at the very beginning of the opera, complaining to Sesto that he hasn't killed Tito yet:

S'aspetta forse che Tito a Berenice in faccia mia offra d'amor insano l'usurpato mio trono, e la sua mano?

"Are you waiting perhaps until Titus, mad with love, offers Berenice my usurped throne and his hand before my very eyes?"

And "He could at least have chosen a rival worthy of me from among the beauties of Rome!" But no, Titus has chosen a "barbarian" and an "exile." :D And then when Annio enters, he tells them that Titus has sent Berenice away, so Vitellia gains hope again and tells Sesto to wait on the assassination plot.

Then after Tito's entrance with the march and chorus, as soon as the chorus is gone, the first thing Sesto says to Titus:

SESTO
My lord, your beautiful princess--how were you able . . .

TITO
Ah, Sesto my friend, what a terrible moment! I wouldn't have believed . . . Enough; I was the victor; she left.

And then he goes on to say that he had to send away Berenice because the Romans were starting to think he would marry her. He'll fulfill their wishes by marrying a daughter of Rome. Since he can't marry for love, at least he'll marry for friendship. So he's going to marry: Sesto's sister Servilia! And that's how that plot point comes up. :D

There's also a reference to the historical eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, in a section of secco recitative that's often cut. But yeah, when you have time, re-listen to the opera with the knowledge that these characters are Titus and Berenice and the daughter of Vitellius . . . :D

I'll let you know about the ficlet! :) The lesbian opera singers are from The Count of Monte Cristo.