Ascanio in Alba
K. 111
Festa teatrale in two acts
Libretto by Giuseppe Parini
Vocal Score based on the Urtext of the New Mozart Edition by Karl-Heinz Müller
German translation by Peter Brenner
BA 4504a
The Plot:
The piece is set in the idyllic landscape of Alba, where Venus gently rules. (Parte Prima, Scena I) Genies, graces and cupids sing and dance to celebrate the arrival of the goddess, who enters on an aerial chariot together with her son, Ascanio. Turning to Ascanio, she recalls with great pleasure the time she spent here with the young man's father, Aenaeas. The country and its people, she says, enjoy her special favor, and a magnificent city shall be built. But she is not always able to govern here, the goddess continues, and Aenaeas has already been called to heaven, a god among gods. She therefore wishes to confer the rulership upon her son Ascanio, thereby honoring a promise she had given four years earlier to her people, who are now longingly awaiting their new ruler. Ascanio humbly agrees with his mother, but asks about the nymph Silvia whom Venus has promised to him in marriage. Venus reassures him that he shall become Silvia's husband that very day. Yet Ascanio is concerned whether Silvia will be able to love him at all, never having seen him. Venus dispels his worries: for four years Cupid has been appearing in the nymph's dreams in the form of Ascanio, and Silvia's heart is aflame with passion for her dream-vision. Ascanio wants to go to her forthwith, but his mother restrains him: he shall see the nymph, but he must not disclose his identity; only in this way will he be able to form his own picture of her purity and virtue. Ascanio acquiesces, and Venus withdraws, accompanied by the singing of genies and graces.
(Scena II) Ascanio sings in sorrow of his mother's commandment, which for obvious reasons he does not quite understand, and longs to meet Silvia as soon as possible. (Scena III) He encounters a group of shepherds. One of them, Fauno, sings in praise of the goddess's kindness and concludes from the radiant face of the priest Aceste that a special occasion is in store for them. He accosts Ascanio, who, delighted at the veneration shown toward his mother, introduces himself as a stranger and an admirer of the lovely countryside.
(Scena IV) Shepherds and shepherdesses sing of the nymph Silvia, who approaches with Aceste. The priest, with continual interruptions from the singing of the shepherds, praises the goddess's kindness and announces the arrival of Ascanio before the sun sets. He further proclaims that a new city shall arise, with palaces and walls to protect the poor and to ward off enemies. As he tells Silvia of her impending marriage with Ascanio, she is deeply dismayed and informs Aceste of her love for the dream-vision. But Aceste is able to reassure her: the dream-vision that she is in love with is a creation of the goddess Venus to etch the image of Ascanio in her heart. Silvia is overjoyed, and Aceste invites the shepherds and shepherdesses to prepare the grand feast.
(Scena V) Ascanio is profoundly moved by the sight of Silvia and suffers all the more from his mother's commandment not to reveal his identity. Venus appears, and Ascanio urges her to revoke her commandment. But Venus wants to give Ascanio further proof of Silvia's virtue and asks him to be patient a bit longer. A new city - Alba - shall arise as a happy home for Ascanio and Silvia. Genies and graces again raise their voices in praise of the goddess.
(Dance between acts) Shepherds and shepherdesses are decorating the square with garlands. After an interruption from graces, accompanied by genies and heavenly nymphs, they return to their labors and transform the trees into columns and works of architecture, thereby initiating the construction of the new city.
(Parte seconda, Scena I) The sight of the setting sun fills Silvia with joyous anticipation of her marriage and with admiration for the emerging city. Shepherds and shepherdesses announce the arrival of Ascanio.
(Scena II) Ascanio, in search of Silvia, discovers his future bride. Silvia spies him in the same instant and immediately recognizes him to be the beloved vision of her dreams. Their first impulse is to fly toward each other, but each hesitates, Ascanio recalling his mother's commandment, Silvia mindful of her virtue.
(Scena III) Enter the shepherds. Fauno calls for Silvia and draws her attention to the buildings of the new city and to the wonders created by Venus. But he has been tarrying too long, he claims, and must hasten to the priest Aceste. He confides to Ascanio that the priest has chosen him as emissary to proclaim the happy marriage abroad. Silvia is prostrate, for Fauno's commission can only mean that the mysterious stranger is not Ascanio. Struck to the quick, she believes that she has been deceived.
(Scena IV) Ascanio observes Silvia lying lifeless in the arms of the nymphs. To ease her torments, he resolves to conceal himself. Silvia wants to rush after him, but recalls her virtue and decides to be faithful to the Ascanio whom she has purportedly never seen. Being a child of the gods, she feels that she owes this to the common weal. As Ascanio tries to approach her, she resolutely spurns him. The shepherdesses are left behind in confusion.
(Scena V) Only now does Ascanio realize the true worth of his future spouse and the full riches that shall become his lot.
(Scena VI) The shepherds long for the arrival of the new ruler. Aceste calms the distraught Silvia and beckons the shepherds to the altar to begin the celebrations. Silvia spies Ascanio and demands that he be removed from her sight. But Aceste leads her to the altar and announces the approach of Venus. The chorus and Silvia invoke the gods and implore them not to withhold the sight of the new ruler from them any longer. Venus appears, and Silvia, her eyes still averted from Ascanio, asks the goddess to present her bridegroom. Venus points to Ascanio - to Silvia's utter bewilderment, which quickly changes to joy. Venus unites the young couple and confers the rulership upon Ascanio, admonishing him to enforce her laws with moderation and to ensure the happiness of the mortals in his realm. The priest Aceste swears eternal fealty to the departing goddess: the people will honor her son as they do her, and the house of Aenaeas shall rule on earth. In a final chorus, genies, graces, shepherds and nymphs pay tribute to the goddess and her noble lineage.