Intorno all’idol mio

CESTI

Orontea - 1656

Context

Orontea is an opera in a prologue and three acts by the Italian composer Antonio CESTI
with a libretto by Giacinto Andrea CICOGNINI (revised by Giovanni Filippo Apolloni). The
first performance took place in Innsbruck on 19 February 1656. Orontea was one of the
most popular Italian operas of the 17th century.

“Intorno all’idol mio” is the scena 18 dell’atto secondo.

Orontea, regina d’Egitto, has sworn never to fall in love to preserve her independence and
pride. She refused the hand of many princes and kings.

But, one day, she falls in love with a little painter of no lignage or wealth (that we know of in
the beginning of the opera), Alidoro. She is determined to keep this as her most painful
secret, until she fears the rivalry of another woman in his heart, Silandra, a courtesan.

She bursts into rage. Alidoro faints. While he is unconscious, she sings this aria and leaves
him a letter confessing her feelings. After some peripeties, they will discover that Alidoro is a
long lost prince and will marry.
 Intorno all'idol mio spirate In’torno (-orno) al:’lidol ‘mio spi’rate Around my beloved,
pur, spirate, pur breathe, please
breathe, soft and
Aure soavi e grate. ‘Aure so’avi e ‘grate gracious winds.

E nelle guance elette
baciatelo per me,
cortesi aurette!
E ‘nel:le (articulato) ‘gwantʃe e’lɛt :te And on the blessed
(passato remoto ?)
cheek,
Ba’tʃatelo per me Kiss him for me,
Kor’tezi (-esi) aur’ette (diminutivo) Courteous little winds !

Al ‘mio bɛn (before n), ke ri’pɔsa (non To the help of my

aggettivo)
Al mio ben, che riposa beloved, who shall rest
Su ’lali ‘del:la (articulato) ‘kwjɛte on the wing of peace,
Su l'ali della quiete, diphtongue) come, gracious dreams.

Grati sogni assistete. ‘Grati ‘soɲ:ɲi (-ogno/a/i) as:si’stete And my concealed love
(indicativo o imperativo)

E il mio racchiuso ardore Reveal for me,

E il ‘mio rak:’kjuzo ar’dore (-ore)
Svelategli per me, O veil of love !
Zve’lateʎi per me
o larve d'amore!
O (!) ‘larve da’more

Grammar

Verbi

Intornare
Spirare
Eleggere
Baciare
Riposare
Assistere
Svellatere

Sostantivi

l’idol
l’aura
la guancia
l’ardore
il bene
l’ala
la quiete
il sogno
la larva
l’amore

Aggettivi

soave
grata
cortese
racchiuso