ESTER

Uvertira

Dona Israelita

2a. Recitativo della Donna Israelita (37 str.)

Waves be silent,
Waves be silent,
Waves be silent,
Winds softly roll,
Hush, let peace fill Ester’s soul
Waves be silent…

2b. Aria della Dona Israelita

Guardian Angels, around her stay
Preserve and keep her safe all day
Guardian Angels, around her stay

Ester

3a. Recitativo d Ester (58. str)

O celestial Lord, King of the Kings
the earth trembles at Thy gaze (Tvoj pogled)
muzika
An offering to Thee I bring
muzika
From my lips everlasting praise
3b. Aria
Wherefore doth my heart desire
A golden crown and silk attire
Why? Why?
Earthly kings and fine facade
Count nought in the eyes of God
Wherefore doth my heart desire
A golden crown and silk attire
Earthly kings and fine facade
Count nought in the eyes of God
Earthly kings and fine façade

1
Haman

4a. Recitativo (Harbona/Haman)

‘Tis not greater to spare
than destroy?

Say no more; all speech forego

Jewish blood this day shall flow
Haman has spoken, send the decree
For who has won such favor as me
In the eyes of the Persian king?
Harken – there is no retreating
All the Jews will be consumed
And to death – are doomed.

4b. Aria d’ Haman

Pluck root, branch from the land
The Rock of Israel – need I fear?
Smite every Hebrew at my command
So His Name (u’shmo…) we’ll cease to hear
Pluck root, branch from the land
….
(108 str)
Men and women, young and old
Strike and kill their very soul
(da capo)
Pluck root (skraćeno!!!)

Hor

Haman speaks; it must be so

My naked sword – smite the foe!
Haman speaks; it must be so
My naked sword – smite the foe!
instrumental
Haman speaks; it must be so
(altro coro)
The Rock of Israel – need I fear?
Smite every Hebrew at my command
The Rock of Israel – need I fear?
(Tutti) vi/de u notama
Pluck root, branch from the land

Dona Israelita

2
 6a. Donna Israelita / Recitativo
Rejoice Zion, as in days of yore
The Holy Land I will restore
Lord, from the straits we cried
Thou listen’d; our souls revived
akord
Why weep and moan and fear discord
We hope and trust in Thee, O Lord

6b. Aria
Awaken, harp; sing out, O lyre
Give praise to the Lord in song
God will smooth our every path
And shelter us from every wrong
And shelter us from every wrong
(b deo)
Awaken, harp; sing out, O lyre
Give praise to the Lord in song
…. vi/de

Hor

Sing unto God, O all creation

Heavens raise up their voice
Sing unto God, O all creation
In whom we forever rejoice
Sing unto God, O all creation (a mol)
solo
Heavens raise up their voice
prokomponovano da capo plus skok na 172str i kraj

Mordocai

8a. Recitativo /Mordocai

I fear for my people’s daughter
I rage of the coming slaughter
Haman gnashes his teeth
The decree is signed and sealed
Every Jew must now be killed

8c. Aria di Mordocai

Jordan, Jordan calm thy flow
Wilst still make gardens grow?
And green hills and sward?
Shall thy mount’ns still rejoice

3
 Hilltops sing with joyful voice
‘Tis good to sing unto the Lord?
Jordan, Jordan calm thy flow
Wilst still make gardens grow?
And green hills and sward?
Jordan, Jordan calm thy flow
Wilst still make gardens grow?
And green hills and sward?( cadenza)
Shall thy mount’ns still rejoice
Hilltops sing with joyful voice
‘Tis good to sing unto the Lord?

Hor

10. Coro a tre voci

Lawless villains may presume
They shall ne’er meet their doom
But Justice won’t fail to avenge
Time has come to take revenge!

Ester & Mordocai

11. Recitativo (Ester and Mordocai) 231 str

Ester: Why sits anger upon thy brow?
Why is thy heart forlorn
And moreo’er, thy garments torn,
Covered in ash and sack cloth?
O beloved friend, please speak
Let not this matter be concealed
To Ester all must be revealed!

Mordocai: My fear of Haman I cannot allay

And every Jew – he’ll
Send to death in a single day.
Go to the king, plead unto him!

Ester: Why should I die, I’m unsummoned

Mordocai: Appeal to thy king he may relent

Trust the Lord, He will prevent
The Jewish people are your own
For them you ascended the throne

12. Aria di Mordocai

Be now brave, thou shan’t fail
Upon his pity thou shalt prevail Ꜿ

4
 God is thy refuge, as is known (drugacije su note ovde, verovatno skok na 248)
Upon his pity thou shalt prevail
God is thy refuge, as is known
(e mol): Thy people do thou now forsake?
Then let death thee overtake
‘Tis better than to keep a throne
da capo od 248 str do 257-fine
Be now brave, thou shan’t fail

Ester

13a. Recitativo d’ Ester

My soul is balanced on a sword
I kneel to pray before the Lord
13b. Aria d’ Ester
Let Thy people see Thy face
Hast Thou forgot Thy grace?
Open up Thine eyes to see
(dur) Keep them from this cruelty.
If it’s blood that must atone
Then take my life alone.
Keep them from this cruelty.
Then take my life alone.
Let Thy people see Thy face
Hast Thou forgot Thy grace?
.. kraceno! skokovi

Ester & Ahasveros

14a. Recitativo

Ahasveros: Who dares approach me unsummoned

Death to he who disobeys
Whosoever be the knave.
Ha! ‘Tis Ester there!
Law condemns but love will spare
Ester: My spirit sinks, alas! I faint.
Ahasveros: Awake, Ester, what is thy plight
See, thou art placed on my right
Thou of all women I love tenfold
To thee I extend my scepter gold
Awake and live! No harm to thee
Not for my queen such a decree

15. Aria di Ahasveros

Lovely Queen, why doest thou cry (korona)

5
 There is nought for you to fear
AhaI see thee with a loving eye –
My anger’s gone, my dear!
Lovely Queen, why….
B deo (a mol):
Let your heart be full at rest-
Ask and I shall grant thy request.

16a. Recitativo d’ Ester

Please it the King and his wishes
To taste his handmaiden’s bread
Then I wish that he might be led
To come with Haman
sup from my own royal dishes.

16b. Duetto di Ester and Ahasveros

Ester: There I’ll give you all my love
Ahasveros: There can never be enough!
Ester: The king ‘ll have his treasure
Ahasveros: Today we’ll sate love together
Ester: I’ll give you all my love (duet)
There can never be enough!...paralelno

Dona Isrealita

17. Recitativo
On face aglow no anger vies
To her chamber he nimbly flies
Quickly was his wrath dispelled
And his stormy anger quelled.

Ester & Ahasveros

21. Duetto d’ Ester and Ahasveros

Ahasveros: Ester what request hav you still

Your every wish I shall fulfill
Ester: O merciful king, deliver my soul
Save my desperate kin from Sheol

22. Ester/Ahasveros – Recitativo

Ester: O reverse this cruel decree
Death can never profit thee
Recall t’mind that dreadful plot
Evil traitors against you rose
It was Mordocai who did expose!

6
 Why, then, was this deed forgot?
Ashasveros: ‘Tis true from those knaves
Mordocai my throne did save
Tell me Queen, who pursues
A righteous man who saved m’life
Ester: A wicked man-This Haman!
Ashasveros: By m’name I swear he won’t evade
These gallows – he did install
And this trap which he has made
On Haman’s head instead’ll fall

Finale
Ester, Ahasveros, Haman, Dona Israelita, Mordocai, Hor

27. Aria d’ Aman

Broken power, shattered might
I’m suddenly fallen from heights
Broken power, shattered might
I’m suddenly fallen from heights
Allegro:
Nor refuge here in times of pain
Nor refuge here in times of pain
Andantino:
My glory gone and hopes dashed
He who’s deaf to the oppressed
Shall himself call out in vain.
Shall himself call out in vain.

25a. Recitativo d’Ahasveros

Guards, seize this Haman
Tie him to the tree and hang him
But give due honor to Mordocai
Seat him on a royal steed
akord
Thru’out city proclaim on hi’
By virtue of his brave deed
The King still lives!

25b. Aria d’Ahasavros

Wealth and riches shall he deserve
For as my viceroy he shall serve
On his head a crown will gleam
For he is high in my esteem
Amid nations he’ll win acclaim
Incense they’ll offer in his name

7
 28. CORO FINALE
Ester: From wrath God brings salvation
From wrath God brings salvation
Donna della Israelita:
The Jews sing forth in exultation
The Jews sing forth in exultation

basso solo (ovde peva Ahasveros tenor):

Sound the trumpets’ mighty blast
tenore solo: (ovde peva Mordocai):
To the Lord thy faith hold fast!

CORO Tutti (e soli)

The earth and Heavens in accord
Give thanks unto the mighty Lord
Give thanks unto the mighty Lord

HALELUYA!