DAILY DOSE of BEETHOVEN (July 29, 2020)
On June 26, we wrote a post about Beethoven’s only opera, “Fidelio”, and it’s reflection of a real life hero, the American Revolutionary and Political Prisoner, Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette.
Today’s post continues that topic and discusses the level of consciousness in “Fidelio”. The arias that Beethoven composes for the main characters in Fidelio reveal their different levels of consciousness, not through mysticism, but in their sense of who they are in the world—a different type of spiritual identity.
1. Leonore and Florestan are leaders, with what we might term a world-historical identity. They did what is right for humanity because it needs to be done. For Example, Florestan sings that even though he is imprisoned unjustly, it is sweet comfort to him that he had done his duty, by telling a truth that needed to be said..
No-one told him that was his duty. His sense of responsibility towards mankind led him there. No-one told Leonore that she had to risk her life, and enter the prison to save her husband. They are both courageous souls willing to stake their lives for love—both of each other and humanity.
We published their respective arias on June 26th and April 16th. These arias have something in common. They are each in three sections: an agitated recitative, a slow beautiful aria, and a resolved allegro.
Confronting such evil and danger is terrifying, and each of them, in their recitative, has to organize their mind, to rise above fear.
In her aria, Leonore sings calmy of hope, of arriving at love. Florestan takes comfort in having done his duty.
In the allegro, Leonore becomes totally resolved to act. She is amazing! She sings "Ich wanke nicht. -"I will not waver". (Think of
Adrienne Lafayette's “In this my decision is firm, and nothing in the world can bring me from it”). Leonore ends by taking the word
Gattenliebe (married love) into the stratosphere. Florestan regains his strength and is uplifted by the image of an angel, in the form of his wife Leonore, coming to deliver him to freedom's heavenly realm. In both of these arias, we see an amazing transformation in an individual's mindset.
2. Rocco and his daughter Marzelline have a very different type of aria. They are not bad people. They are basically good, but they are
"little people" who just want to get ahead and stay out of trouble.Their arias do not develop and change like those of Florestan and Leonore. Thus, the arias are stophic, repeating the same music for each verse.
In this video, Rocco's aria begins at 1:05. In the scene we have Rocco, his daughter Marzelline on the right, and Lenore/Fidelio in the middle. Rocco believes they will get married, and is giving them what he thinks is good advice. Notice how excited he gets as he contemplates getting his hands on some gold.
ROCCO
Hat man nicht auch Gold beineben,
Kann man nicht ganz glücklich sein;
Traurig schleppt sich fort das Leben,
Mancher Kummer stellt sich ein.
Doch wenns in der Tasche fein klingelt und rollt,
Da hält man das Schicksal gefangen,
Und Macht und Liebe verschafft dir das Gold
Und stillet das kühnste Verlangen.
Das Glück dient wie ein Knecht für Sold,
Es ist ein schönes Ding, das Gold.
Wenn sich nichts mit nichts verbindet,
Ist und bleibt die Summe klein;
Wer bei Tisch nur Liebe findet,
Wird nach Tische hungrig sein.
Drum lächle der Zufall euch gnädig und hold
Und segne und lenk euer Streben;
Das Liebchen im Arme, im Beutel das Gold,
So mögt ihr viel Jahre durchleben.
Das Glück dient wie ein Knecht für Sold,
Es ist ein mächtig Ding, das Gold.
English Translation:
ROCCO
Unless there is gold to live on,
You will never be entirely happy ;
Sadly life will carry on,
Many a sorrow will set in.
But if in your pockets it tinkles and rolls,
The you will have fate at your mercy,
And gold will provide you with power and love,
And calm your boldest desires.
You can pay for luck to be on your side,
It is a wonderful thing, this gold.
If nothing and nothing is put together,
The total is, and will be small;
If you find only love at table,
You'll be hungry afterwards.
So may fortune prove to you gracious and kind
And bless and guide your striving;
Your beloved at your side, and gold in your purse,
For many a year you may live thus.
You can pay for luck to be on your side,
It is a mighty thing, this gold.
Marzelline's aria is also strophic. Her highest concern in finding a cabin in the countryside with Fidelio. You can see a difference between the two sets of characters in how they approach ideas. For Florestan, doing his duty means doing what is right, even if he is alone, and even if he makes powerful enemies. The prison warden, Pizarro, tells Rocco to muder Florestan, and says it is his duty. Rocco, who is not a murderer, protests. Pizarro then says, OK, I will kill him, you bury him. Rocco thinks about it, and reasons that it does fall within his prescribed duties. He thinks about how to
survive, not change the world.
3. Pizzaro has a third type of aria. This man is evil, and hate-filled. ( His name may be based on Prime Minister William Pitt of England, who had ordered the massacre of a workman’s rally. The Lafayettes both complained about his role in their letters.) For him, joy is the opportunity to kill Florestan, and get his revenge. His aria never gets above rage, is always ugly, and is very forgettable (see if you can remember, or sing any of it later.)
The video below includes the English translation. Hans Sotin captures the villain well!