Lo seguitai felice (Antonio Caldara)

This article is about the aria "Lo seguitai felice" by Antonio Caldara. For the aria written by Antonio Vivaldi using the same libretto, see Lo seguitai felice (Antonio Vivaldi).

L'olimpiade
opera seria by Antonio Caldara
Title page of the manuscript, 1733, Vienna
Translation	dt.: Olympisches Jahrfest
Librettist	Pietro Metastasio
Language	Italian
Premiere	August 30, 1733 (1733-08-30) Wien

"Lo seguitai felice" is an aria sung by the character Megacles (Italian: Megacle)(German: Megacles) in Antonio Caldara's L'olimpiade (Antonio Caldara). The libretto was created by Pietro Metastasio; Caldara's opera was the first time that his L'olimpiade was set to music.

The role of Megacle was sung by Felice Salimbeni, 21 at the time.

"Lo seguitai felice" appears on the following album:

Year	Album	Ensemble	Conductor
2010	Caldara in Vienna (Album)	Concerto Köln	Emmanuelle Haïm

Libretto

Lo seguitai felilce

(When Heaven assum'd a pleasing face)

from  L'olimpiade
Antonio Caldara (music),  Pietro Metastasio (words)

(Megacle)

‎

(Lasciar l'amico! Ah così vil non sono.) Lo seguitai felice Quand' era il ciel sereno Alle tempeste in seno Voglio seguirlo ancor Come dell'oro il fuoco Scopre le masse impure, Scoprono le sventure Dei falsi amici il cor.

Ha! leave my friend! Ohn no, such baseness never shall be mine! When Heaven assum'd a pleasing face, I follow'd him in smiling skies: Then let me still his footsteps trace, Though round us gathering storms arise. As in the furnace gold refin'd, Casts every dross impure away: So in adversity the mind Of constant friends will fath display. (Translation 1800)

(Leave a friend! So base I am not.) I followed him in his prosperity, when the skies were clear and shining, and will not leave him when storms begin to rise. As gold is tried by the furnace, and the baser metal is shown, so the hollow-hearted friend is known by adversity. (Translation 1875)

(Den Freund verlassen! Nein diese Verrähtlichkeit werde ich nicht begehen.) Nachdem bey heitrem Himmel Sein Freund mich kunte nennen ; Soll mich von ihm nicht trennen / noch Sturm / noch Gefahr. Und wie die Flamm des Feuers / Den Wert des Golds endecket Stellen die wahren Freunde Die Unglücks Zufäll dar. (Libretto Vienna, 1733))

(Ich solle meinen Freund verlassen? nein, so niederträchtig bin ich nicht.) Hab ich mich bey ihm befunden, Da der Himmel heiter war, So theil ich zu bösen Stunden, Auch mit ihme die Gefahr. Sturm und Unglück soll nicht können Mich von seinr Seite trennen. Wie das Feuer gleich entdecket, Wie ein Schlack im Golde stecket, So wird durch die Widrigkeiten, Die ein banges Herz bestreiten, Falsche Freundschaft offenbar. (Libretto Vienna, 1764))

Context

The Aria appears in ACT III, Scene III of Caldara's L'Olimpiade. Craufurd Tait Ramage contextualizes Metastasio's aria - the motive of the true friend sticking with his friend through difficult times - with other poetry of similar content, which most certainly was known to Metastasio as well. The most prominent here is probably Shakespeare's from Timon of Athens:

"I am not of that feather, to shake off
My friend, when he must need me. I do know him,
A gentleman that well deserves a help,
Which he shall have ; I'll pay the debt and free him."

Manuscripts and sheet music

Beginning of "Lo seguitai felice"

• Deutsches Libretto 1:

Olympisches Jahr-Fest. Welsch-gesungener vorgestellet. Von Antonio Caldara in Music verfasset

Verlag: Ghelen

Österreichische Nationalbibliothek

1733

Olympisches Jahr-Fest. Welsch-gesungener vorgestellet. Von Antonio Caldara in Music verfasset. Vienna: Gehlen, 1733.

• Deutsches Libretto 2:

Das olympische Jahrsfest, ein Singspiel, vorgestellet auf der privilegirten Schaubühne nächst der kaiserl. Burg im Jahr 1764. In das Deutsche übertragen von J. A. E. v. G.

Verlag: Ghelen

Österreichische Nationalbibliothek

1764

Das olympische Jahrsfest, ein Singspiel, vorgestellet auf der privilegirten Schaubühne nächst der kaiserl. Burg im Jahr 1764. In das Deutsche übertragen von J. A. E. v. G. Vienna: Gehlen, 1764.

• Italian Libretto:

"L'olimpiade, Vienna, van Ghelen, 1733". Progetto Metastasio. Retrieved October 1, 2023.

• Score:

Copyist Copyist of Vienna

Publisher Info. Manuscript, n.d.(ca.1733).

Misc. Notes Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna (A-Wn): Mus.Hs.17164

Contains ballets composed by Nicola Matteis Jr..

Work Title L'olimpiade

Composer Caldara, Antonio

I-Catalogue Number IAC 161

Movements/Sections 3 acts

Year/Date of Composition 1733

First Performance 1733-08-30 in Vienna, Teatro della Favorita

Librettist Pietro Metastasio (1698-1782)

Language Italian

Composer Time Period Baroque

Piece Style Baroque

Instrumentation 7 vocal soloists, mixed chorus (SATB), orchestra

External links

• "Booklet Caldara in Vienna" (PDF). Idagio. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved October 1, 2023.

• "Progetto Metastasio". Landing Page. Retrieved October 1, 2023.

• "L'olimpiade (Metastasio)". Wikiwand. Archived from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved October 1, 2023.