Händel: Lucrezia, HWV 145 (2/3) - Hunt

Lucrezia, HWV 145,
also known as O numi eterni

Italian cantata for soprano and basso continuo

Text: Anonymous

Music: Georg Friedrich Händel (1685-1759)

Composed: Florence or Venice, 1706?

Copied for marquis Ruspoli on 31 August 1709
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Video part 2
Recitativo: Ma voi forse nel cielo
Aria: Il suol che preme
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Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, mezzo-soprano

Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment,
conducted by Harry Bicket

Musicians:
Margriet Tindemans, bass viol
Stephen Stubbs, lute, guitar
Phoebe Carrai, cello
Harry Bicket, chamber organ, harpsichord

Recorded on 18-21 March 2004
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Recitativo

Ma voi forse nel cielo
per castigo maggior del mio delitto,
state oziosi, o provocati numi!
Se son sorde le stelle,
se non mi odon le sfere,
a voi, tremende deità dell'abisso,
mi volgo, a voi s'aspetta
del tradito onor mio far la vendetta.

Aria

Il suol che preme, l'aura che spira
l'empio Romano, s'apra, s'infetti!

Se il passo move, se il guardo gira,
incontri larve, ruine aspetti!
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Translation (by Ellen T. Harris):

Recitativo

Perharps in order to mete out in heaven
greater punishment for my injury,
you remain idle, O provoqued gods!
If the stars are unheeding,
if the spheres are deaf to my pleas,
to you, fearful gods of the abyss,
I turn, and wait for you
to avenge my betrayed honour.

Aria

May the ground beneath his feet open up,
and the air the evil Roman breathes grow foul!

Wherever his step leads him, or his eyes turn,
may he meet ghosts, and expect destruction!
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Eser.