FULL The Song of the Ladder (John Barber) Prato 2023 Mauro Borgioni, Antonio Giovannini, Gabriella Sborgi
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Information on the Performance
- Work Title: The Song of the Ladder
- Composer: Barber John
- Libretto: Hazel Gould Libretto Text, Libretto Index
- Venue & Opera Company: Chiesa di San Domenico, Prato, Italy, Teatro Metastasio di Prato, Scuola di Musica “Giuseppe Verdi”
- Recorded: May 27, 2023
- Type: Staged Opera Live
- Singers: Mauro Borgioni, Antonio Giovannini, Gabriella Sborgi, Federico Sacchi, Giacomo Nanni, Sophie Gallagher
- Conductor: Jonathan Webb
- Orchestra: Camerata strumentale «Città di Prato», Orchestra Prato Sinfonietta
- Chorus: Coro Giovanile della Scuola di Musica Verdi. Tribù di Isaac. Coro Euphonios Popolo. Coro «Città di Prato», Coro Euphonios pecorelle. Coro dell'IC Nord
- Chorus Master: Cristina Gori, Mayumi Kuroki, Elia Orlando, Rossella Targetti
Information about the Recording
- Published by: RAI
- Date Published: 2024
- Format: Streaming
- Quality Video: 4 Audio:4
- Subtitles: nosubs
- Video Recording from: RAIPLAY FULL VIDEO
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE
A lyrical fable inspired by the story of Jacob’s Ladder, from the Book of Genesis.
Jacob, the second born twin, grew up in the shadow of his firstborn brother. The mother, Rebekah, favors Jacob, while the father, Isaac, favors the eldest, Esau.
Isaac promises Esau his inheritance, riches, and, above all, his blessing. Jacob, angry and confused about how to gain his dying father’s love, decides to trick him into offering his blessing. Jacob is disappointed when he discovers that the blessing is nothing more than a song, to him, worthless. When his deception is discovered, he is banished and Esau vows to kill him if he ever returns home.
During his first night in the wild wilderness, Jacob dreams of angels descending a great ladder from Heaven. They tell him to listen to their song, to leave behind his anger and his need to assert himself through cheating and lying. The angels encourage him to listen to his “little voice” and become humble, but Jacob refuses.
Next, Jacob, on a pasture, meets a beautiful shepherdess, Rachel. It’s love at first sight between the two, but Rachel wants Jacob to prove himself before promising himself to him. Believing that he is not worthy, as he is, of his love, Jacob ignores the precepts of the angels and devises a deception to appear as a man of talent. Rachel discovers his lies and, enraged, chases him away.
Tired and hungry, Jacob comes across a nearby town, where the market day is. He steals food from a street vendor and is chased by the townspeople. Again, he hears the singing of the angels, who beg him to be humble, to tell the truth, that he is hungry and weak; but Jacob believes that he would only be mocked and punished. On the contrary, therefore, he lies and passes himself off as a powerful king in disguise. The city falls at his feet, until an old woman recognizes him as Esau’s brother, who is sent for.
Remembering his brother’s vow of revenge, Jacob tries to find a way to escape. Rachel, Esau and their mother Rebecca arrive. For the third time he is visited by angels and, finally, heeds their message: he must be sincere and honest about his weaknesses and schemes. Jacob asks the town, Rachel, and his brother to feed him, love him, and forgive him. Seeing that he is sincere, they agree.
They all sing about the power of listening to the small voice of our hearts.