Alto Giove

Polifemo
opera seria by Nicola Porpora
English title page of the revised version of Nicola Porpora's opera Polifemo
Translation	Polyphemus
Librettist	Paolo Rolli
Language	Italian
Based on	Metamorphoses by Ovid
Premiere	February 1, 1735 (1735-02-01) King's Theatre

"Alto Giove", sung by the character Acis (Italian: Aci) in Nicola Porpora's "Polifemo", has been brought to great popularity by the motion picture Farinelli, where the protagonist prominently sings it. The poignant thanks to his creator for the gift of immortality that comes at the ultimate price summarized the theme of the movie perfectly and also resonated with the audiences.

"Alto Giove" is a showpiece of Porpora's artistry as much as it is of his pupil's, Farinelli. The beautiful lyrical composition shows Porpora's deep musicality – and his trust in Farinelli's ability to captivate the audience in the absence of vocal stunts.

"Alto Giove" appears on the following album:

Year	Album	Ensemble	Conductor
2013	Farinelli – Porpora Arias	Venice Baroque Orchestra	Andrea Marcon

Libretto

Alto Giove

(Mighty Jove)

from  Polifemo
Nicolo Antonio Porpora (music),  Paolo Antonio Rolli (words)

(Aci)

‎

Alto Giove è tua grazia è tuo vanto Il gran dono di vita immortale Che il tuo Cenno sovrano mi fà Ma il rendermi poi quella Già sospirata tanto Diva amorose e bella è un dono senza uguale come la tua beltà

Mighty Jove, by your grace and your merit, your sovereign gesture bestows upon me the gift of immortal life. But to finally return to me the one for whom I have already sighed so much, lovely and beautiful goddess, is a nonpareil gift, like your beauty.

Großer Jupiter, durch deine Gnade und deinen Verdienst verleiht mir deine hoheitliche Geste das Geschenk unsterblichen Lebens. Aber mir sodann die Eine zurückzugeben Um die ich schon so viel geseufzt habe, liebevolle und schöne Göttin, ist ein Geschenk so unvergleichlich wie deine Schönheit.

Context

The Aria opens Act III, Scene 5. The stage direction reads: "S'apre la rupe: vedesi la sorgente d'un fiume. Aci, nume del medesimo, appoggiato sull'urna e detti." ("The cliff opens: we see the source of a river. Aci, deity of the same, leaning on the urn, and the former.")

Background

Translator's Commentary: It seems likely that the character Acis (Italian: Aci) does not address the same person in part A as he does in part B, for several reasons.

For one, the libretto itself suggests it; to praise to Jove's beauty seems an unlikely thing to do. Second: The libretto exists in two versions, likely mirroring two sets of performances. One does have "Alto Giove" as well as "Nell'attendere", the other does not. As it seems unlikely that Porpora would cut two hit-pieces from the opera and replace "Alto Giove" with a duet, the theory that the shorter libretto is the later one is disputable..

However, even the libretto where an "Alto Giove" exists does not list the B-Part. In the collection of music titled The Favourite Songs in the Opera call'd Polypheme by Sigr. Porpora printed for the devoted audience later, the B-Part seems originally to be missing; it is literally glued on.

B-Part of "Alto Giove"

Musically, the B-part with its triple-meter does not very fit very well with the A-part and is slightly higher in tessitura which also suggests it was added as an afterthought with the sole purpose to serve as an excuse for the da capo.

Conclusion: "Diva amorosa e bella" might be a fond address. As Acis pleads that Galatea may be restored to him (which excludes her), this leaves one other character, Nerea, who is only existent in the version of the libretto which contains "Alto Giove" – (or a different goddess altogether who might have appeared beside Jove). What supports the theory of it being Nerea is that the latter appears in the preceding scene, and that, responding to Galatea's plea to Jove to restore Acis to her, she ushers in the new scene (and Acis's aria) with "T'ascoltò Giove, ed annuì co 'l ciglio." ("Jove heard you and nodded.") (FR, 2021)

Manuscripts and sheet music

• A selection of Arias from Polifemo
  

Royal College of Music (Public Domain)

Misc. Notes RCM Library item D1424/4

OCLC 22913312

The Favourite Songs in the Opera call'd Polypheme by Sigr. Porpora. London: John Walsh, c.1735.

• Libretto at Libretti d'Opera Italiani

"Polifemo" (PDF). Libretti d'Opera Italiani. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 1, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.

• Score

Porpora, Nicola (1686-1768), Polifemo

Title on source: Polifemo, Poesia del Sigr. Paolo Rolli, Musica Del Sigr. Nicolò Porpora. Londra 1735.

Material: score (3 vol.): 80, 69, 78f.

Manuscript copy: 1735 (1735); 22,5 x 28,5 cm

Library (siglum) shelfmark: London, The British Library (GB-Lbl) R.M.23.a.7-9.

RISM ID no.: 800190005

External links

• "Farinelli". Internationaler Filmdienst. Archived from the original on October 1, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
• "Farinelli". International Movie Database (IMDB). Archived from the original on October 1, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.