CDLXXXVb. MOZART, Wolfgang Amadeus: Il Re Pastore, K. 208 (Part Two)

CDLXXXVb. MOZART, Wolfgang Amadeus (1756-1791)

Il Re Pastore, K. 208 (1775) (Part Two)
Kresimir Spicer, Alessandro
Annette Dasch, Aminta
Marlis Petersen, Elisa
Arpiné Rahdjian, Tamiri
Andreas Karasiak, Agenore
Balthasar-Neumann-Ensemble
Thomas Hengelbrock, cond.
(2:02:12)

1777, unknown painter

Act Two

16. Divertimento, K. 131: Adagio

17. (Elisa, Agenore) Recitative: Questa del campo greco
18. (Elisa) Aria: Barbaro! Oh Dio!

Elisa comes to find Aminta, who is in consultation with Alexander in the tent. Agenore turns her away, intimating that Aminta is now king of Sidon and the duties of a king take precedence over those of love. Elisa protests against this but Agenore is not to be moved and asks her to go. Elisa reminds Agenore not to forget his beloved Tamiri and calls him a heartless barbarian.



 

19. (Aminta, Agenore) Recitative: La bella Elisa
20. (Alexander, Agenore) Recitative: La gloria mia

Aminta, who steps out of the tent, also resists Agenore's admonitions to put his duty of king above his love for Elisa. As Alexander comes to the two of them, Aminta indicates to him that he does not feel himself called to be a ruler. Alexander retorts, however, that heaven enlightens all those whom it has ordained to rule.

Alexander lets Agenore into his plan to consolidate Aminta's position by a marriage with Tamiri. Without realizing how deeply this is upsetting his friend Agenore, Alexander sings of the joy of making people happy by victories and wise policies.

21. (Alexander) Aria: Se vincendo vi rendo felici


 

22. (Aminta, Agenore) Recitative: Oimè! Declina il sol
23. (Aminta) Rondeaux: L'ameró saró costante

Aminta has retreated into solitude. Agenore thinks Aminta's vexation is because as king he would not be able to ally himself with a shepherdess. Aminta, on the contrary, is determined to give Alexander back the crown as it means less to him than his love for Elisa.

24. (Elisa, Agenore, Tamiri) Recitative: Ma senti, Agenore
25. (Tamiri) Aria: Se tu di me fai dono

Elisa asks Agenore, who is pining for Tamiri, whether Aminta and Tamiri will really marry and whether her lover will abandon her. Agenore, who still does not grasp the situation correctly, confirms that Aminta is obeying Alexander's wishes. Elisa, thinking she has been deserted, is ready for death, and Agenore too is resigned and resolves to part from Tamiri. Having meanwhile been told of Alexander's plan for her marriage, Tamiri demands of Agenore that he attend her wedding. Agenore calls Tamiri cruel, which causes Tamiri to ask which of them is the crueler.



 

26. (Agenore) Recitative: Misero cor!
27. (Agenore) Aria: Sol può dir come si trova

Agenore, torn between love and duty, bemoans his fate.

28. (Alexander) Aria: Voi che fausti ognor donate

Alexander prays to the gods for blessing and for his desires to be fulfilled.

29. (Alexander, Tamiri, Agenore, Elisa, Aminta) Recitative: Olà! Che più si tarda?
30. (Elisa, Tamiri, Aminta, Agenore, Alexander) Chorus: Viva, viva l'invitto duce

Tamiri throws herself at Alexander's feet and asks him whether she should value the rank of queen above her happiness with Agenore. Elisa accuses Alexander of treating her unjustly if he robs her of the heart of Aminta, whom she has loved since childhood, and begs him to help her. The shepherd Aminta returns the royal robes to Alexander: another must reign at Tamiri's side, but he cannot give up Elisa's love. Alexander realizes that lovers must not be parted and brings the two couples together. The shepherd becomes king and Alexander is praised for his wise decision.

Mozart ends the opera with the quintet in glorious harmony, and with the expected orchestral bang.