Monteverdi: Lamento della Ninfa

Helen Charlston and Toby Carr perform Claudio Monteverdi’s ‘Lamento della Ninfa’ with members of The Gesualdo Six as part of London Sound Gallery.

The London Sound Gallery online series will be broadcast in stunning 4K on Sundays at 5pm from 25 October to 29 November. Ticket holders will be able to watch on-demand from the date of broadcast until 1 January 2021.

The London Sound Gallery festival themes include new beginnings and reconnection: in this spirit, The Gesualdo Six are delighted to be collaborating with each artist as part of their programme.

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Monteverdi: Lamento della Ninfa (Lament of the Nymph)

The god Phoebus had still to light
The great fires of the dawn
When the nymph left her dwelling.

Her face a pale temple in its ruins of grief;
Her cries – a heart, rending.

Hither and thither she went,
Stumbling through flowers,
Grieving the love she had lost:

Hear me, O Love, she begged the heavens,
– stock still now, rooted to the spot –
What happened to that traitor’s vow,‘
Togetherness and trust’?''
I just want him back,
But as he was before.
If you cannot – then kill me;
I cannot bear this agony. 

No more will I listen to his sighs,
Unless we are separated by a thousand seas
No! No longer will I martyr myself for this. 
I am destroying myself because of him,

And the worse it is, the more gorged,
The more satisfied he seems.
If I were to flee from him,
Perhaps then he might come begging?

That woman’s eyebrows
May be arched more perfectly than mine,
But sealed within my breast,
O Love,Lives a faithfulness still fairer. 

And that woman’s mouth will never open
To give such kisses as I can give!
(Hush! Say nothing – you know only too well!)

With these cries she cast
Her anguish to the heavens.
And so it is that in the heart of every lover
Burns, side-by-side, love’s flame and ice.

#LondonSoundGallery #classicalmusic

[Igarappappa]

"I pray for you, Richter Belmont."

[alaricphilip]

From Castlevania Nocturne to here this is an amazing song. What a splendid display of talent and craftsmanship 🥹

[nxjitki]

400yrs later and still wonderful. Fantastic collaboration with the superb Helen, theorbo and G6.

[kennyu]

My personal favorite rendition of this song. Helen's timbre is absolutely immaculate. Amazing phrasing and emotion expression as well. The G6 singers also did a great job with their beautiful harmonizing.

[grobaniteever]

I first heard this song on Castlevania Nocturne. Edouard's voice actor sang this beautifully

[dionixx]

Even a decent Italian pronunciation
I already used to listen others Helen charlston performance, such a singer she is
Brava

[ibunrakuken]

Incredibile equilibrio e qualità delle voci. Bellissima interpretazione.

[chimera]

When the voice of Ms Helen start... I cannot stop my tears.
They are exceptional, but she is divine, powerful, intense, sweet and painful.
This is without any doubt the best interpretation of this song in my opinion.

[mamorumobushi]

Assolutamente fantastici. La voce di Helen è divina!!!😍✨

[glongog]

fra le tante esecuzioni ascoltate la vostra mi ha colpito molto. Assaporare la vostra interpretazione è stato coinvolgente

[danieldiasdossantos]

A melhor interpretação que achei aqui no YouTube. Parabéns!

[eliealie]

I can feel the deep and unbearable sorrow in her voice 💔

[googasmusic]

translation. the part in quotes is sung by the nymph.

"oh love", she said,
"oh love", looking up to the sky with her feet planted,
"oh love, where is the faithfulness that the deceiver promised?" poor her.

"make my love come back to me as he used to be, or kill me, so that i will not suffer anymore" poor her.
"i will not suffer anymore" poor her.
poor her, she can't bear all this coldness*.
"i will not suffer anymore"
"i don't want him to sigh anymore, except when he is far away from me**"
"no, he will not make me suffer anymore, i swear"
poor her, she cannot bear any more.

"he is proud because i waste away for him" poor her, she cannot take any more.
"perhaps if i fly away, he will come to pray to me again?" ah, poor her.
poor her.
"even if her gaze is more serene than mine, she does not hold in her heart, o love, a fidelity as pure as mine".
poor her, she cannot bear all this coldness*.
"nor will you receive from her lips kisses as sweet as mine" poor her.
"nor softer- ah, do not speak." poor her.
"do not speak... you know better than that."

*literally translated, would be "ice"
**i don't really understand what this part is supposed to mean, maybe it's meant as in, i only want him to be sad if he is not near me, but that doesn't quite make sense either. maybe it is just an expression lost to time.

[vladmorkovkin]

Wonderful performance. First time saw this giant string instrument from Lute family theorbo, (chitarrone)!