Sposa, non mi conosci

/// under construction! https://www.google.de/books/edition/Merope_An_opera_as_perform_d_at_the_Roya/oXAs8I-fQNIC?hl=de&gbpv=1 Scene IV [...]

(EPITIDE Argìa. Merope, oh Cieli Ah per l'ultima volta --- MEROPE Ancor t’arresti? EPITIDE Il tuo sposo son io. ARGIA Più non ti ascolto. EPITIDE Io sono il figlio tuo. MEROPE Tu me l’ai tolto. EPITIDE)

Argia, Merope, Heav'ns! this last time ... MEROPE What, dost thou yet stay here? EPITIDE I am thy son. MEROPE I'm deaf. EPITIDE And am I to my spouse unknown? [to Argia. Will not my mother lend an ear? [to Merope, Say, oh ye gods, what have I done, Deserves a torture thus severe! I once was object of thy love; Thou plac'd thy hopes in me thy son. [to Mer. Speak; but thou dost faithless prove. [to Arg. Believe; but thou art cruel grown. [to Mer. What will ye both, than, let me die, Ye gods, I find I can't prevail : And now I feel my constancy, And former courage both do fail.

Sposa non mi conosci? [ad Arg] Madre tu non mi ascolti. [a Mer.] (Cieli che feci mai!) E pur sono il tuo Cor, [ad Arg. Il tuo figlio, il tuo amor [a Mer. La tua speranza.

Parla, ma sei infedel Credi, ma sei sei crudel Morir mi lascerai? Oh dio! manca il valor E la costanza S.59

	   Parla... Ma sei infedel. (Ad Argia)
	Credi... Ma sei crudel. (A Merope)

1405 O dio! Scampo non ho, non ho consiglio.

Scena IV: English https://www.google.de/books/edition/Merope_An_opera_as_perform_d_at_the_Roya/oXAs8I-fQNIC?hl=de&gbpv=1

{{short descriptionaria from the oratorio La morte d'Abel by Antonio Caldara

Merope (Apostolo Zeno)
by Geminiano Giacomelli
Librettist	Apostolo Zeno
Language	Italian
Premiere	April 8, 1732 (1732-04-08) Vienna

The aria appeared in the following concert programs:

Year	Concert program	With	Ensemble	Conductor
2021	Stabat mater – Caldara & Pergolesi	Céline Scheen	L'Arpeggiata	Christina Pluhar
2014	Stabat mater dolorosa	Valer Sabadus	L'Arpeggiata	Christina Pluhar

See the respective program page for a list of possible recordings.

So far, no studio recording has been made. "Sposa, non mi conosci" is an aria sung by the character Epitide La morte d'Abel by Antonio Caldara. The full name of the libretto is La morte d’Abel figura di quella del nostro Redentore (Abel’s Death as a Symbol for That of Our Saviour. The author of the libretto is Pietro Metastasio.

Caldara's version was the very first – around 40 different compositions setting Metastasio's libretto to music were to follow.

Context

True to the topic of the oratorio, parallels between Abel and Jesus are drawn. For reference:

John 10:11-18:
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
[...]
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Libretto

Quel buon Pastor son io

(That good shepherd am I)

from  La morte d'Abel
Antonio Caldara (music),  Pietro Metastasio (words)

(Abel)

‎

Quel buon Pastor son io, Che tanto il Gregge apprezza Che per la sua salvezza Offre se stesso ancor. Conosco ad una ad una Le mie dilette agnelle E riconoscon quelle Il tenero Pastor.

That good shepherd am I, Who loves his flock so much That for its salvation He lays down his life. I know each and every one Of my beloved lambs And they recognize their loving shepherd.

Manuscripts and sheet music

Beginning of "Quel buon pastor son io"

• ca. 1732, Misc. Notes Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna (A-Wn): Mus.Hs.18202>

"La Morte d'Abel, original manuscript". IMSLP. Retrieved September 16, 2021.

References

External links