Calling All Opera Lovers

March 8, 2015, The Euclid Symphony Orchestra presents a concert of Great Overtures. Fun and entertainment for the whole Family.

Euclid Symphony Orchestra, your favorite local community orchestra with deep roots in Euclid, presents a thrilling back-to-back production of works from legendary Beethoven to majestic Verdi. Calling all opera-lovers. We are specializing this time in famous overtures, namely, Beethoven’s Egmont, the Nabucco Overture, Gluck’s Iphigenia in Aulis, and even the ravishing overture by Schubert, Fierrabras. Each overture is different, and has its own unique, story. We encourage you to come and listen.

Here is a bit of the back-story or plot-line of each overture. Iphigenia in Aulis tells the tumultuous story of the remarkable, yet mythological heroic figure, Agamemnon, father of Iphigenia, the title character of this overture. The story also involves the legendary mythological figures Achilles (yes, the guy your heel is named after), the King of Thessale, Patrocle(s), Calchas, high priest of the temple of Diana, Arcas, captain of Agamemnon’s bodyguard, various Greek back-drops (choruses of priestesses of Diana, etc) and military figures. This story takes place at Aulis, on the eve of a battle with Troy whose purpose is to avenge the abduction of “the Lovely Helen.”

Diana takes revenge on Agamemnon whom she accuses of having once killed one of her stags. The high drama of the story involves her demand that Agamemnon sacrifice his daughter Iphigenia in retribution for his sin. To make a long (and twisted very complicated story) short, the called-for sacrifice of Iphigenia to Diana is eventually decided to be unnecessary, as sympathy for the innocent daughter and her parents, and Achilles’ clout, preclude it. A happy ending is the result for all.

Egmont Overture we study the life and times of 16th-century nobleman, the Count of Egmont. Composed during the Napoleonic Wars, this opera was written by a Beethoven enraged at the actions of whom he saw as an arrogant Napoleon who usurped his power without listening to the voice of the people. As a result, Beethoven used reverse psychology on Napoleon to diminish this leader whom he saw as corrupt, and to highlight a noble character for once the selfless Count of Egmont. In style, this overture is similar to that of the Fifth Symphony, is one of the last works of Beethoven’s Middle Period, and is as famous as the Corolian Overture.

As for the Nabucco Overture, we have the case of an ancient Babylonian King, Nabucco was his name(same thing as Nebuchadnezzar), Ismaele, nephew of King Sedecia of Jerusalem, a character named Zaccaria, who is the High Priest of the Hebrews, Fenena, Daughter of Nabucco, Anna, Zaccaria’s sister, various military personnel, Hebrews, Levites, courtiers, dignitaries, and other members of the hierarchy of the Babylonian court, including priests, and a chorus, of course *(no pun intended).

The play takes place in the Temple of Solomon, a big figure of his day. The Hebrews pray for relief from the siege of the Babylonian army. Their High-Priest Zaccaria is holding a hostage, to try the morale of the Babylonians. Fenena, as fate would have it, is in love with a Hebrew (she of course is Nebuchadnezzar’s daughter).A jealous Abigaille, shamefully the sister of Fenena, vies with her sister for the love of Ismael, the Hebrew. In disguise, Abigaille traipses into the temple with a band of soldiers dressed as Hebrews to meet with Ismael (and save her sister, though for selfish reasons). She offers to Ismael a chance to do the hostage-release the easy way (she petitions her father, with no questions asked), or the hard way (she gets her sister accused of treason). Unfortunately, Ismael does not feel the same way and he spurns the smitten Abigaille.

In the end, the hard way wins out and Ismael refuses to stick up for his side, which gets his temple sacked by Nabucco’s men. Nabucco is struck in the head by lightening, leading to false rumors that he is dead, but he really only goes mad. Nabucco crowns himself King, but declares that he is not only king, but “above God!” Once the lightening seizes him, Abigail steals the crown from him and declares herself Queen of Babylon. Once queen, she finagles the death warrants for her own sister, Fenena, and the rest of the Hebrews. Finally, in the last part, Abigaille has arrested her own father, Nabucco *(who has revealed the actual origins of his “daughter,” only the daughter of a slave girl) arrives just in time to save his beloved daughter, and heiress to the throne, Fenena. All preparations are underway to execute Fenena in the hanging gardens, but her doting Father stops the deadly procession. The idol Baal, before whom all executions must take place, is destroyed. A temple is to be built to Jehovah, in thanks and for forgiveness. Abigail dies, graciously asking in turn for forgiveness from Fenena and the Hebrews.

Fierrabras, another passionate, dramatic, and fiery operatic story, this stars King Karl (a Frenchman), of Frankenreich, during the Crusades. A classic tale of love’s expectations, Karl’s daughter, Emma, is the apple of the eye of Knight Eginhard, who hopes through his valor to show that he merits the hand of Emma in marriage. However, as operas always require a twist, Fierrabras, who is a Moor, and also imprisoned by King Karl, loves Emma as well, and will not relinquish his fight for her hand. His sister, “Florinda,” loves Roland, one of King Karl’s knights. To further complicated matters, Karl (the Frank) sends off his trusted knight, Roland, to send a message to the Moors: Convert to Christianity, or all Hell will break loose (in other words, merciless, “War”). Karl’s knights are defeated and held captive by Moorish (Spanish) prince Boland.

In vain, the damsel in distress of this picture, Ms. Florinda, begs for her father’s clemency (to change his mind). In vain are her pretty hopes, however, as the circumstances are looking pretty dim for the (Frankish) prisoners. At the last minute, of course, Fierrabras, the Moorish knight, arrives, to save the day. He has converted to Christianity and has been released. Thus, peace is established in the East and in the West: Roland and Florinda marry, a West-Ostlicher union, and Eginhard espouses Emma. It is Fierrabras, the hero, who decides to ride off into the fading sunset, solo, letting bygones be bygones, rescinding his claim to Emma. All in all, peace reigns supreme in the kingdom.