Anch io dischiuso un giorno

Birgit Nilsson (17 May 1918 - 25 December 2005) was a celebrated Swedish dramatic soprano who specialized in operatic and symphonic works. Her voice was noted for its overwhelming force, bountiful reserves of power and the gleaming brilliance and clarity in the upper register. Nilsson made such strong imprints on many roles that they came to be known as the "Nilsson repertory". She sang the operas of Richard Strauss and made a specialty of Puccini's Turandot, but it was the music of Wagner that made her career; her command of his music was comparable to that of Kirsten Flagstad, who owned the Wagner repertory at the Metropolitan Opera during the years before World War II. Nilsson recorded all of her major roles. Partly because of her availability to play Brünnhilde, Decca Records undertook the expensive project of making the first studio recording of Wagner's four-opera Ring cycle, conducted by Solti and produced by John Culshaw. The effort took seven years, from 1958 to 1965. A film of the proceedings made her a familiar image for arts-conscious television viewers...

Lyrics & English Translation

Behold, the whirlwind of the Lord goeth forth: it shall fall upon the head of the wicked. (Jeremiah 30:23)

ABIGAIL
[entering hastily, with a parchment in her hand]
Happy chance I found you, oh fatal document! In his bosom
the King tried to hide you, in order to prove
my shame!... Abigail, issue of slaves!
Very well, let it be so! ... Daughter of Nabucco
such as the Assyrians take me to be,
what am I here? Worse than a slave! The throne
the King confides to the younger Fenena,
whilst he, among his soldiers, bends his mind
to exterminate Judaea! Me he sends from the battlefield here
to observe the lives of others! Oh, wretches all,
and even more deluded! Little do you know
the heart of Abigail!
Upon everyone you will see
my fury fall! Ah yes! Let Fenena fall ...
my pretended father ... the whole realm!
Upon me hurl thyself, oh fatal anger!

I, too, once opened
my heart to happiness!
Everything around me
I heard speak of holy love;
I wept at others' tears,
suffered at others' pain;
ah! to that lost enchantment
who will return me one day?
I wept at others' tears, etc.
[The High Priest of Baal, accompanied by soothsayers, now enters.]
Who comes here?

HIGH PRIEST
My eyes have witnessed
a terrible sight!

ABIGAIL
Oh! Of what do you speak?

HIGH PRIEST
Fenena is a wicked woman,
she is setting the Hebrews free!

ABIGAIL
Oh!

HIGH PRIEST
Who now can check
this accursed rabble?
Power awaits you ...

ABIGAIL
How's that?

HIGH PRIEST
All is prepared.

HIGH PRIEST, SOOTHSAYERS
We have already spread the rumour abroad
that the King has fallen in battle ...
The people call for you as queen
to save the Assyrian land.
Only a step... fortune is yours.
Be stout of heart!

ABIGAIL
I am with you! Go!
Oh, faithful subject, this woman
shall not yield to you in stalwart courage!

I now ascend the blood-stained seat
of the golden throne.
From that seat I shall be able
to take my revenge.
That the sceptre is mine by right
all peoples shall see! Ah!
Royal princesses will come hither
to beg favours of the humble slave.

HIGH PRIEST, SOOTHSAYERS
And the vengeance of Baal
will thunder alongside yours!
Yes, alongside yours!

ABIGAIL
I now ascend the blood-stained seat, etc.

HIGH PRIEST, SOOTHSAYERS
And the vengeance of Baal
will thunder alongside yours!

ABIGAIL
they will beg grace of the humble slave.


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I send my kind and warm regards,