DAILY DOSE of BEETHOVEN (August 11, 2020)
We left off yesterday by comparing the “recitative” and “aria” of Jesus in the “Christ on the Mount of Olives”, with that of Florestan in “Fidelio”. Jesus' aria ended with him repeatedly pleading to have the cup of Gethsemane taken away from him.
In part 2 of Christ on the Mount of Olives, a Seraph (Seraphs are the angels closest to God) and the choir join in singing His praises.
Part 3 opens with Jesus demanding of the Seraph:
Jesus:
“Verkündet, Seraph, mir dein Mund Erbarmen meines ew’gen Vaters?
Nimmt er des Todes Schrecknisse von mir?
“Seraph, does your mouth proclaim to me the mercy of my eternal Father?
Does he take the horrors of death from me?”
The Seraph proclaims something else, in a dramatic manner:
Seraph:
“So spricht Jehovah: Eh’ nicht erfüllet ist das heilige Geheimniss der Versöhnung, so lange bleibt das menschliche Geschlecht verworfen und beraubt des ew’gen Lebens.
“Thus says Jehovah: If the sacred mystery of reconciliation is not fulfilled, the human race remains rejected and deprived of eternal life.”
A beautiful duet begins with Jesus singing:
“So ruhe denn mit ganzer Schwere, auf mir, mein Vater, dein Gericht. Giess’ uber mich den Strom der Leiden, nur zürne Adams Kindern night.
“So rest with all your weight on me, my father, your judgment. Pour the torrent of suffering over me, only do not be angry with Adam's children.”
The Seraph responds.
“Erschuttert sch’ich den Erhab’nen, in Todesleiden eingehüllt. Ich bebe, und mich selbst umwehen die Grabesschauer, die er fühlt.
“Shocked, I see the exalted one, wrapped in death sufferings. I tremble, as the grave's chills that he feels blow around me.”
They then sing in harmony:
“Gross sind die Qual, die Angst, die Schrecken, die Gottes Hand auf ihn ergiesst: doch grösser ist noch seine Liebe, mit der sein Herz die Welt umschliesst!
“Great are the agony, the fear, the horrors that God's hand pours on him/me: yet greater, greater by far is my/ his love, with which his/my heart surrounds the world!
This excellent video includes the text and translation:
Jesus accepts the idea of accepting God's will over his own, but it is not out of resignation, or submission to authority, but love.
This duet is in the key of Ab major, and can be compared to the part of Florestan's aria that begins with the words:
“In des Lebens Frühlingstagen.” (In the springtime of my life.)
We have reposted Florestan's aria today. The relevant section can be found between 3:21 and 5:42. Florestan repeats the phrase " Meine Pflicht" (my duty) at 5:24, which we hear echoed as Jesus (and the angel) repeat "Mein Liebe" (my love) in the duet at 3:18.
For Beethoven, duty and love of mankind are not two different things.
Florestan's Recitative and Aria: