Vivaldi – Juditha Triumphans RV 644

Antonio Vivaldi

Juditha triumphans devicta Holofernis barbarie (Judith triumphant over the barbarians of Holofernes), RV 644, is an oratorio by Antonio Vivaldi, the only survivor of the four that he is known to have composed. Although the rest of the oratorio survives completely intact, the overture has been lost. The Latin libretto was written by Iacopo Cassetti based upon the Book of Judith.

The exact date of composition and performance of Juditha triumphans are not known, but the allegorical treatment of the Venetian defense of Corfu dominated public discussion in Venice throughout 1716. This work was an allegorical description of the victory of the Venetians (the Christians) over the Turks in August 1716. The work was commissioned to celebrate the victory of the Republic of Venice over the Turks during the siege of Corfu: in July 1716, the Turks had landed on Corfu and set siege to the island. The population resisted the occupation and, in August, Venice signed an alliance with the Holy Roman Emperor. On 18 August, under the leadership of count Johann Matthias von der Schulenburg, the decisive battle was won and the Turks abandoned the island.

Although widely reported to have been performed at the Ospedale della Pietà in November 1716, the victorious General Schulenburg could not have been in the audience of any performance prior to January 3, 1717.

Juditha Triumphans RV 644
01 – Chorus militum pugnantium in Acie cum timpano bellico: Arma, caedes
02 – Recitativo Holofernes: Felix en fausta dies
03 – Aria Holofernes: Nil arma, nil bella
04 – Recitativo Vagaus et Holofernes: Mi Dux, Domine mi
05 – Aria Vagaus: Matrona inimica
06 – Recitativo Holofernes et Vagaus: Huc accedat Matrona
07 – Aria Juditha: Quo cum Patriae me ducit amore
08 – Recitativo Abra: Ne timeas non
09 – Aria Abra: Vultus tui vago splendori
10 – Recitativo Abra et Juditha: Vide humilis prostrata
11 – Vagaus et adstantium militum chorus: O quam vaga
12 – Recitativo Vagaus: Quem vides prope
13 – Aria Vagaus: Quamvis ferro
14 – Recitativo Holofernes et Jutitha: Quid cerno!
15 – Aria Juditha: Quanto magis generosa
16 – Recitativo Holofernes et Juditha: Magna, o foemina petis
17 – Aria Holofernes: Sede o cara
18 – Recitativo Juditha et Holofernes: Tu Judux es
19 – Aria Juditha: Agitata infido flatu
20 – Recitativo Holofernes: In tentorio supernae
21 – Aria Vagaus: O servi volate
22 – Recitativo Vagaus et Abra: Tu quoque hebraica ancilla
23 – Aria Juditha: Veni, me sequere
24 – Recitativo Abra: Venio Juditha
25 – Aria Abra: Fulgeat sol frontis decorae
26 – Recitativo di Abra: In urbe interim pia
27 – Chorus virginum psalentium in Bethulia: Mundi Rector

28 – Recitativo Ozias: Summi Regis in mente
29 – Aria Ozias: O Sydera, o stellae
30 – Recitativo Ozias et Holofernes: Jam saevientis in hostem
31 – Aria Holofernes: Nox obscura
32 – Recitativo Holofernes et Juditha: Belligerae meae sorti
33 – Aria Juditha: Transit aetas
34 – Recitativo Holofernes et Juditha: Haec in crastinum serva
35 – Aria Holofernes: Noli o cara te adorantis
36 – Recitativo Juditha et Holofernes: Tibi dona salutis
37 – Chorus: Plena noctare non mero
38 – Recitativo Holofernes: Tormenta mentis tuae
39 – Aria Juditha: Vivat in pace
40 – Recitativo Juditha: Sic in Pace inter hostes
41 – Aria Vagaus: Umbrae carae
42 – Recitativo Vagaus: Quae fortunata es tu
43 – Aria Abra: Non ita reducem progeniem noto
44 – Recitativo Abra: Jam pergo, postes claudo
45 – Recitativo accompagnato Juditha: Summe Astroum Creator
46 – Aria Juditha: In somno profundo
47 – Recitativo accompagnato Juditha: Impii, indigni tiranni
48 – Recitativo Juditha et Abra: Abra, accipe munus
49 – Aria di Abra: Si fulgida per te
50 – Recitativo di Vagaus: Jam non procul ab axe
51 – Aria Vagaus: Armatae face
52 – Recitativo Ozias: Quam insolita luce
53 – Aria Ozias: Gaude felix Bethulia
54 – Recitativo accompagnato Ozias: Ita decreto aeterno
55 – Chorus exultantium Virginum pro Judithae triumpho: Salve invicta Juditha formosa

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