Alto Giove

Polifem
Polifem
by Nicola Antonio Porpora
	First page of a collection of arias from Porporas "Polifemo"
Full title	Polifemo
English	Polypheme (Modern English: Polyphemus)
Libretto	Paolo Antonio Rolli
Language	Italian
Based on	Metamorphoses by Ovid
Published	before or around c.1785
Premiere
Date	February 1, 1735
Location	King's Theatre

"Alto Giove", sung by the character Acis (Italian: Aci) in Nicola Antonio Porpora's "Polifemo", has been brought to great popularity by the motion picture Farinelli^[2], where the protagonist prominently sings it. The poignant thanks to his creator for the gift of immortality that comes at the ultimate price resonated 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 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.^[1]

"Alto Giove" It 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^[1]


Great Jupiter, 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.^[3] 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.^[3]

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.")^[4]

Background

Translator's Commentary: It is 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 Giove'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"Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag ^[2] }}

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.

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named IMSLP
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 "International Movie Database". Farinelli. Archived from the original on October 1, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021. }}
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named FR
↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Libretto

[IMSLP-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named IMSLP

[IMDB-2] 2.0 ^2.1 "International Movie Database". Farinelli. Archived from the original on October 1, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021. }}

[FR-3] 3.0 ^3.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named FR

[Libretto-4] Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Libretto

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