Laio e Crisippo: melodramma in due atti

Speranza "Laius & Chrysippus: An Opera in Two Acts". Music by Sam Belich. Libretto by Sam H. Shirakawa & Sam Belich Atto I Scena I "It is early morning and Giocasta lies restlessly upon her bed asleep." "Giocasta is haunted by dreams of her son’s death and awakes with a scream. "Giocasta is frustrated with Laio, a husband in name only for twenty years, and blames his protégé, Crisippo [tenor], for all her misfortune." "Tiresia enters and comforts Giocasta". Scena 2: "In a park with athletic fields, pavilions and baths, beneath the afternoon sun, a group of men of all ages and vocations (soldiers, politicians, merchants, students) are either relaxing in the baths or engaged in various athletic events: archery, gymnastics, foot racing, gambling etc." "Tiresias is surrounded by a group of men, Crisippo among them." "They are students of philosophy and he is their tutor." "As they vanish into a pavilion, a fanfare announces the arrival Laio, king of Tebe." "Laio enters with a group of soldiers who appear to be involved in a friendly quarrel." "Several of the soldiers undress and begin to wrestle." "The others gather to watch and place wagers." "When one of them is defeated, another one takes his place, and challenges the victor." "Laio is restless." "Laio appears to be looking for someone." "Tiresia enters with Crisippo." "Laio goes to them." "Laio challenges Crisippo." "Although Crisippo is not interested, he eventually gives in to Laio’s insisting." "Laio and Crisippo fight." "The others quickly take sides and soon a brawl ensues." "Crisippo almost succeeds in defeating Laio, but at the last moment is defeated himself." "Everyone collapses, exhausted. Tiresia confronts Laio. He is opposed to Laio's making Crisippo heir to the throne of Tebe." "Laio loves Crisippo and does not want to lose him." "Crisippo returns his love but yearns to discover the world that Tiresia's teachings have opened to him." "In a rage, Laio threatens the seer and Crisippo, humiliated, runs away." Scene 3: "A secluded part of the forest with many trees and lush vegetation overgrowing the ruins of a forgotten temple. Crisippo enters and sits on the bank of a small stream, it is twilight. Laio enters from the temple. Crisippo is angered by Laio's behavior and threatens to leave Tebe." "Laio, overcome with fear, begs him not to go today." "A bewildered Crisippo has never seen fear in Laio and questions him about it." "As if in a dream, Laio reveals to Crisippo the event that haunts him: twenty-two years ago today he murdered his only child." "The gods had cursed Laius from birth: if ever he should father a child, that very child would slay him and wed its mother. But Laius was fearless. He loved and wed Jocasta, who bore them a son. But doubt corroded their joy and after two years Laius took the child, nailed it to a tree by one foot and left it to perish. Laius went mad. He shunned Jocasta and all women forever. He foreswore love and sated himself in a frenzy of homosexual promiscuity. When he took Chrysippus hostage it was to keep King Pelops in line. But as the months turned to years Chrysippus became the son that Laius had lost; he became the love that the gods had sought to deny him. Laius asks him to stay and be his heir. Chrysippus tells Laius how much he loves him but begs Laius to send him away. He knows that he hasn’t the strength to leave on his own and that this love could bring disaster to Laius’ kingdom. He turns to go but they are overcome by their emotions. Jocasta enters unseen by the two men. Chrysippus vows that “today will be his last day in Thebes”. They make love, oblivious to all. Jocasta repeats his words. Her maniacal laughter gives way to tears of hopelessness and then to sublime satisfaction. At first repulsed by their lovemaking, she is gradually drawn into it and even excited by it. Finally, triumphant in her resolve, she runs out." Act 2 Scene 1: "Later that night in a secret chamber, Jocasta meets with Atrius and Thyestes. She convinces them that it would be in their best interests to murder Chrysippus. Atrius is eager to kill Chrysippus, his father’s favorite, albeit bastard, son. But Thyestes balks at the thought of murdering his half-brother. Jocasta taunts him, calls him a coward and then seduces him. He yearns to have her and she agrees to be his but first he must kill Chrysippus and then Laius. They agree to kill him this very night and to disguise the murder as a hunting accident. Jocasta leaves. The brothers question their motives and agree that theirs is the best course for all concerned." Scene 2: "Laius’ apartments in the palace. He is asleep in the bedroom which opens onto a large terrace within a garden. Chrysippus stands, like a statue, on the terrace and stares into the darkness. A small oil lamp, burning in the bedroom, and a torch, at the entrance to the bedroom on the terrace, are the only sources of illumination. It is early morning. Jocasta enters onto the terrace by way of a staircase from the garden and extinguishes the torch. Throughout the scene, Chrysippus remains rigid, as if in a trance. She encourages him to slay the sphinx alone, so that he may prove his manhood to Laius and the populace. He agrees, but her behavior makes him suspicious. She pretends to leave but actually conceals herself behind a curtain. Chrysippus resolves to sacrifice himself for Laius and leaves. Jocasta, alone with the sleeping Laius, recalls more pleasant times and realizes the depth of her love for him. Se enters his bed and lies beside him. She kisses him and he awakens. They try to communicate but each misinterprets the other’s motives. She accuses him of never loving her or their child. He denies her accusations and attempts to rape her, but is impotent and powerless before her. She taunts him with a dream in which their dead child, now a man, returns and makes love to her. In a trance she hears the screams of a man. She torments Laius with a vivid description of the victim’s torture. He begs her to identify him. When she exclaims that it is Chrysippus, Laius curses her and rushes out to find him." Scene 3: "The same as Act 1, scene 3, morning. Laius enters, followed by servants. He is distraught, his clothing in disarray. He stops to drink at the stream and discovers the bloodied body of Chrysippus. He sends the servants for help. Believing that Chrysippus is dead, Laius contemplates suicide. However, Chrysippus calls out to him and Laius rushes to his side. At first, Laius believes that he was attacked by a wild beast, but he soon realizes that cannot be the case and begs Chrysippus to reveal the identity of his assailant. Chrysippus believes no good would come from retribution. He drifts in and out of reality. Laius continues to badger him until Chrysippus, unable to resist Laius’ pleas any longer, whispers the names “Atrius, Thyestes” and dies. Tiresias enters with servants. Laius wants to know if Jocasta had anything to do with the murder, but Tiresias refuses to answer. Laius will have to seek the Oracle at Delphi for his answer. He leaves. Tiresias foresees all that will come to pass: Laius murdered by a young man; Greece plagued by war, cruelty and famine; and then Jocasta enters, brilliantly gowned. Laius’ murderer approaches Jocasta and stands directly behind her. She removes a jeweled brooch from her gown and raises it above her head. He takes the brooch and blinds himself with it and they embrace. Laius and Chrysippus appear, riding in a chariot of gold. Reunited in death, they traverse the heavenly sky." Source: http://www.theeglantine.com/Laius/LauisandChrysippus.html