L'"Edipo"

Speranza Enesco Atto I In the royal palace of Tebe, the people celebrate the birth of the son of King Laio and Queen Giocasta. Just as Laio and Giocasta, at the High Priest's request, are to name the child, the old and blind prophet Tiresia interrupts the festivities. Tiresia reproaches Laio for having disobeyed Apollo's injunction to bear no descendants, and tells of the gods' punishment for this transgression: one day, the child will murder his father and marry his mother. The appalled Laio summons a shepherd and commands him to abandon the infant in the mountains so that it will die. Atto II Scena I: It is twenty years later, and the child has survived and been named "Edipo" (swollen feet), and lives in Corinto as the child of King Polibo and Queen Merope. At the palace, Edipo has dark visions, and declines to participate in the city games and revelry. He has visited the Oracle at Delfi, which told him his fate, that he will kill his father and marry his mother. He thinks that Polibo and Merope are his biological parents, and thus wants to flee the palace to confound the prophecy. Merope sends her counselor, Forbe, to Edipus, who will not reveal the cause of his concern. He does say that he was once called a foundling. It turns out that Merope's own child had died at birth, and someone replaced that child with Edipo, whom the Shepherd had not the heart to abandon to the elements. Edipus becomes more intent on leaving Corinto, and then reveals the Delphic prophecy to Merope, who is aghast. Alone, Edipo determines to leave Corinto. Scena II At a crossroads, the shepherd who spared Edipo from death tends his herd under a storm. Oedipus appears, and cannot decide which road to travel. He even thinks of returning to Corinto, since for three nights now his frightening dreams have not haunted him. A lightning flash stops him in his path, and he thinks that the gods have set up a trap, and curses the gods. Just then, Laio and two traveling companions arrive on a chariot and demands the right of way from Edipo, whom he insults and strikes. In self-defence, Edipo kills Laio and the companions. When the storm breaks, Edipo flees. The shepherd has witnessed these events. Scena III: Outside Tebe, the Sfinge, a monster in the form of a winged lioness with a woman's head, harasses the Theban citizens, killing everyone who cannot answer her riddle. Edipo offers to challenge her to save the city. The watchman tells him he who defeats the Sfinge will become the King of Tebe and can marry the recently widowed queen, Giocasta. Edipo wakes the Sfinge and answers its riddle successfully, which causes the Sfinge to collapse into death, but not before saying: "The future will tell thee whether the dying Sfinge weeps in her defeat or laughs in her victory!" Tebe and its citizens hail Oedipus as their liberator and new king, and offer him Giocasta in marriage. Atto III Twenty years have passed and during that time, Tebe has enjoyed peace and prosperity with Edipo as king. However, Tebe now suffers from a plague epidemic. Creonte, brother of Giocasta, has gone to Delfi to consult the Oracle. Creonte returns with the message that the plague will end only after the murderer of Laio has been exposed and punished. The murderer now resides in the city, and will be exiled if he reveals himself willingly, but if not, will be cursed and left to the wrath of the gods. Creonte has summoned both Tiresia and the old shepherd to the city. Tiresia says nothing initially, but when Edipo begins to sound accusatory toward Tiresia, Tiresia points to Edipo himself. Edipo is suspicious that Creonte wants to usurp him, and dismisses Tiresia and Creonte from his sight. Meanwhile, Giocasta tries to comfort Edipo, and tells of the circumstances of the killing of Laio, which disturbs Edipo. The shepherd confirms Giocasta's story. From Corino, Forbe then arrives to ask Edipo to succeed Polibo, and then reveals that Polibo and Merope were his adoptive parents, not his biological parents. Edipo now understands the whole truth, and flees into the palace, realizing that the gods' punishment and prophecy came true after all. Giocasta is horrified at the truth, and commits suicide. Edipo then emerges, covered in blood, as he has gouged out his eyes in shame and in expiation. Creonte then sentences Edipo to exile, and Edipo accepts the punishment as the only way to save the city. However, Antigona, Edipo's favourite daughter, chooses to accompany her father and be his guide. Atto IV After years of wandering, Edipo and Antigona have arrived at a flowery grove at Colono, near Athens, where Teseo rules with the protection of the Eumenides. Antigona describes the grove to Edipo, who foresees that he will peacefully die there. Creonte then suddenly arrives to tell the news that Tebe is again under threat, and offers Edipo the throne back. Edipo refuses, to which Creonte takes Antigona hostage. Teseo and the Athenians arrive and free Antigona from Creonte. The Athenians drive Creonte away and welcome Edipo into their city. Finally, however, Edipo takes his leave of everyone, even Antigona, and settles in the spot where he will die.