The Hellenic Society Prometheas presented Panayoti Karousos’ Prometheus

On Saturday, November 8, at the Grand Hall of St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church of Bethesda, Maryland, the Hellenic Society Prometheas, the cultural society of the Washington Metropolitan Area, organized a very unique musical event. On the occasion of its 30th anniversary, it staged the neo-classical opera Prometheus, by the Greek-Canadian composer Panayoti Karousos, with the participation of a host of soloists and a large orchestra under the direction of conductor Grant Gilman. The opera is based on Aeschylus’ tragedy: Prometheus Bound.

Father Dimitrios, Father George of the St. George church and Greek Embassy officials were joined by an audience of 230 people who arrived at the Presvytera Maria Grand Hall to enjoy Karousos’ music and relive the myth of Prometheus, who was punished by Zeus for giving fire to mankind against His will.

The District of Columbia Symphony Orchestra performed beautifully and flawlessly and the accomplished soloists, all first class professionals, interpreted skillfully and with vigor all parts of Karousos’ work. The critics categorize the opera as a modern post-romantic work and praise it for its melodic and harmonic power. The fine cast completed by excellent lyric baritone Robert Maril: Prometheus, the magnificent mellow tone soprano Mary Elizabeth Mackenzie: Io, very dramatic and powerful bass Nathan Baer: God’s Voice, Ocean, Zeus and beautiful dramatic mezzo Elspeth Davis: Bia, Goddess Athena. District of Columbia Symphony Orchestra conducted excellently by Grant Gilman especially in the slow tempos with emphasis in the tragic elements

The performance was very well organized and made an impression on the participants as an exceptional and high quality cultural event. Mr. Lefteris Karmiris, the president of Prometheas, welcomed the audience and Dr. Polyvia Parara, of the Department of Classics at Georgetown University, offered interpretive introduction to Prometheus Bound. An artistic and informative program was available to the participants to follow the plot of the opera. A nice reception followed the performance.

The proceeds of the event will benefit the St. George Building Fund and the new St. Katherine’s Paideia preschool program. www.patrides.com

THE SPIRIT OF LIBERTY

The Spirit of Liberty of Panayoti Karousos is a Symphonic Poem for a large symphony orchestra, solo trombone and choir. The grandiosity and majestic heroic sound of this work made critics acclaim The Spirit of Liberty as a second national anthem of Greece.

The poem is written for the Greek Revolution of 1821 against Ottoman Empire, but the composer want it always to give a vaster meaning of the work.
It was first presented in Montreal, Canada at the presence of Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau. Second major presentation was under the auspices of the Greek Consulate General in Montreal at Place des Arts for the celebration of the Greek National Independence Day 25th of March 2002. The Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York present The Spirit of Liberty in the presence of Archbishop Demetrios of America, a concert for the 2006 5th Avenue Greek Parade festivities under the direction of maestro Silas Nathaniel Huff. Before the concert Mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg gave a reception at his house in Manhattan.
The superposed sevenths and augmented sixths among with a thick orchestration give to this work an atmosphere of mystery and darkness.

The solo trombone guides a melody as a cantus firmus in the middle of a galaxy of sounds running around of the center theme.
The heroic explosions of the trumpets and the vocal part ending the work in a total elevation of the human spirit, seeking liberty and screaming loud “Liberty or Death”
The one-hour duration of the work is a breathtaking experience.

THE SPIRIT OF LIBERTY

Oh come spirit of liberty
And grant me broad wings
To soar above time and space
To fly far beyond.

It is I whom from chaos rises
As a soul of fire, surpassing
and living with responsibility
in Fate and God who guides me.

Even though your soul drowns in bloody tears
With a bitter smile, stand proud
On your pedestal and hear
The great anthem of freedom

Oh play trumpet, the paean
Let it rise higher than the sun
Stand, Freedom, as a luminous statue
And embody spirit, morality and bravery.

Oh break free from your chains, Prometheus,
The nations are yearning for you
And, Zeus, throw your thunderbolt
Into the heart of Hades.

Lead me by the hand, Freedom
Like another Byron or Alexander
Above Souli and Mesologgi
Above Marathon and Thermopiles.

From the ashes of the heroes past
again you shout your triumphant NO
upon the Pindus Mountains and me
I will praise this heroic battle
As a new Homer, as another Hugo.

Liberty or death!
Raise the sword and strike for Freedom!
With the Sacred Band I advance
On the holy road of the Mystery!

Oh, man’s time has come to create a fair, new society
Far from the tangible things and evil vices
A new spring’s day shines brightly now.

Oh play trumpet, the paean of freedom
Rise like a white dove above Athens and Greece
So all the nations can hear you.
Democracy, Culture, Brotherhood, Humanism, Freedom!

Panayoti Karousos

The opera Alexander the Great of Panagiotis Karousos Impressed Chicago

Greek-Americans of Chicago attended an unforgettable high quality concert on 17 May that presented very successfully the opera Alexander the Great of Greek-Canadian composer Mr. Panagiotis Karousos. The work that first played in French in Montreal, Canada, made its first English presentation and delighted the American public with the dynamism and its intense lyricism. Conductor David Stech directed the American Symphony Orchestra of Chicago and the protagonists from the opera of Chicago.
The concert was honored with the presence of Thessalonica MP Mr. Giorgos Orfanos that came exclusively for the presentation of Alexander the Great and relayed the greetings of Prime Minister Konstantinos Karamanlis and the Greek Parliament for the composer Panagiotis Karousos and the audience. Congratulatory messages were received from Rob Blagojevich, Governor of Illinois, the State Treasurer Alexis Giannoulias, and the Chairman of SAE America Mr. Spyropoulos among others.
The work made a big impression for its epic character and inspiring melody. The composer Panagiotis Karousos was referred to as the Verdi of Greek community of North America. Mythical beings were incarnated with embossed realism through the musical work of Mr. Panagiotis Karousos as were the Olympic Games, Philip, Aristotle and above all Alexander the Great.
The general consul of Greece in Chicago Mr. Anastasios Petrobas presented a medal to composer Mr. Karousos on behalf of the Federation of Greek Associations of Illinois, which organized irreproachably the important for this community concert. The chairman of the Federation “ENOSIS” Mr. Dimitrios Georgakopoulos dedicated the concert to Mr. Georgios Orfanos and welcomed the official guests including the New Democracy MP from Etoloakarnania Mr. Mario Salma, Chris P. Tomaras chairman of PanHellenic Scholarship Foundation, His Excellency the Bishop of Chicago Dimitrios, the chairman of SAE America Theodoros Spyropoulos, the professor Mr. Giorgos Papadantonakis and other chairmen of associations and organisms but also persons of arts and culture that were present.
Chairman of opera was the businessman Mr। Dimitrios Kourkouvis of Athens Constructions that directed the irreproachable assiduity of the program and the event in general. The honored for this subject composer Mr. Panagiotis Karousos opened the concert interpreting the song “Famous Macedonia” (Makedonia Ksakousti). The Macedonian association of Chicago decorated the scene with Macedonian flags and its dancing troop received the audience with Macedonian dress. Alexander the Great, of distinguished composer Panagiotis Karousos, was a splendid event from those that Hellenism of the Diaspora really thirst for, but also with the weight of artistic scope required in order to promote our historical subjects here in America.

Prometheus of Panayoti Karousos in New York

On Sunday, March 30th, 2008 at 6:00PM, the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York, Inc. presented "Prometheus," the epic masterpiece of Greek-Canadian neo-classical composer Panayoti Karousos, whose previous presentations during Greek Independence Week had impressed and inspired audiences. The Astoria Symphony, under the direction of Grant Gilman, performed the complex opera to an enthralled crowd.The event begun with Mr. Karousos' world premiere of the bouzouki concerto performed by soloist James Moore.Then followed the opera "Prometheus", one of the composer's most dramatic and lyrical pieces, which is based on Aeschylus' ancient Greek Tragedy "Prometheus Bound". Soloists, Nathan Baer, Abby Powell, Martin Fisher and Mary Mackenzie wowed the crowd with their powerful interpretations of this neo-classical masterpiece with it's highly symbolic and spiritual messages.The story of Prometheus carries great depth of meaning; for one, his punishment for stealing the Fire of Knowledge from the gods for human kind has relevance with today's Olympic Games as the symbolic torch passing of peace and culture from Greece (Hellas) to all peoples of the world.This extraordinary event took place at the Stathakion Center Astoria New York and it was presented in celebration of Greek Independence Day and the Parade to take place on April 6, 2008 on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue.
Thomas S. Saras Editor in Chief
Patrides North American Review Monday, April 28, 2008 www.patrides.com

Religious Freedom Concert of Composer Panayoti Karousos Captivates Audience

April 12th, the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York held a Concert for Religious Freedom dedicated to the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople at Astoria 's Stathakion Center, to a full house of music enthusiasts and government officials. The program included the works of Greek-Canadian composer, Panayoti Karousos, who presented his symphony The Spirit of Liberty last year courtesy of the Federation and dedicated to his eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America at Long Island City High School with great reception.The concert's Master of Ceremonies and organizer, Vassilios Chrissochos, opened up the evening with a few words, introducing the composer and the conductor for the evening, Grant Gilman. Nikos Diamantidis, the president of the Federation followed, as well as Ioannis Tragakis, the vice-president of the Greek Parliament. As they spoke, other members of the Greek Parliament, such as Grigoris Niotis and Evgenios Chaitidis, along with parade organizer Dino Rallis and Federation cultural committee president Panayiotis Pavlou anxiously waited for the concert to start.
Mr. Gilman served as the maestro for a brilliant orchestra that lifted the spirits of the hall with the sounds of several pieces reflective of the themes of liberty, freedom and perseverance. The first two songs, "Religious Freedom" and "Hellenic Eros" were performed by Lina Orfanos, a noted lyrical soprano who has worked with Mikis Theodorakis. Reverend Stephen Smith of the Canadian Greek Orthodox Archdiocese wrote the wonderful hymn, "Religious Freedom" especially for the concert and Mr. Karousos. Brimming with nostalgic romanticism, poet Dimitris Iatropoulos also collaborated with Mr. Karousos on "Hellenic Eros" for this concert. Following was a dynamic performance by Russian virtuoso Leo Adamov of the Karousos' Violin Concerto. Later on, Mary Mackenzie stunned the audience with her powerful voice in two arias of "The Olympic Flame." She was accompanied also by mezzo soprano Jessica Klein in the third aria from the same opera, entitled "Deianeira & Alcmena."
The culmination of the program was a brass-laden performance of the finale to The Spirit of Liberty. The timpani roused the crowd like a marching band proceeding on the streets, much like they would be in the Greek Independence Parade the following weekend. In all, the concert was a great success with many leaving the hall buying copies of the composer's CDs and praising the copious amounts of talent they saw that evening.

By Theresa Gaffney

A Successful Concert with the "Spirit of Liberty" Honors Archbishop Demetrios

New York.- On March 30th at the Long Island City Auditorium, the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York presented a concert, “The Spirit of Liberty” by Panayiotis Karousos. The concert was in honor of the Archbishop of America Demetrios.“The Spirit of Liberty” was interpreted by the Astoria Symphony Orchestra and the Queensborough Choir conducted by maestro Silas Huff. The choir, prepared by chorus master Dr. Sheila Schonbrun, sung in Greek, and the virtuoso trombone soloist was Gregory Briggler.
After the performance of the symphonic poem “The Spirit of Liberty”, Archbishop Demetrios asked composer Panayotis Karousos to stand up and then proceeded to thank him for his work. He acclaimed “The Spirit of Liberty” as a marvelous work that was reminiscent of the bolero of Ravel in the terms of a repetitive motive, and was also a very smart combination between the brass and the woodwind instruments of the orchestra. Archbishop’s continued to analyze Karousos music and said that we had the impression of the March parade of the people, this march of Liberty is the historical Hellenic road battles to freedom. He then spoke for the 1821 heroes of Greek Independence Day and the international meaning of the Greek Revolution. He finished his speech with Greek National issues of the Cypriot and Macedonian problems, and congratulated composer Mr. Panayoti Karousos for his “Spirit of Liberty” again.
Mr. Petros Galatoulas president of the Cultural Committee announced the dignitary guests from the Greek Government as deputies John Tragakis, Grigoris Niotis, Tonia Antoniou, Evgenios Haitides, Petros Mantouvalos, the General consuls of Greece Ekaterini Boura, Cyprus Martha Mavrommatis. The Ambassadors of Bosnia and Russia were among the guests. Also among the guests were John Rangos, Andrew Athens, Dinos Ralis, Gus James etc.
Panayoti Karousos symphonic poem “The Spirit of Liberty” is a celebrated hymn to freedom of humankind in spiritual as well as political levels. Hellenes were from the ancient times of Greece the people of Heroes and myths, from Achilles to Alexander the Great from Marcos Botsaris to Kolokotronis, from the Epos of 1821 to Epos 1940. The admiration of Greek heroes was a source of inspiration allover the world and in creation of the terminology of philhellenes, as Byron, Churchill, Roosevelt, Hugo and countless other politicians, artists, Scientists, that related it with anything involving nobles and heroism.
The symphonic poem is built up in the Do major, in the form of a march; sometimes a military march, sometimes a funeral march, but always grandiose and heroic. The work starts in a huge explosion as the big bang superposed by augmented 4ths.Karousos polyphonic and polytonal harmonic development related to the Pythagorean numerological system in addition to an influence of minimalism.
From this universal chaos comes “The Spirit of Liberty”, symbolized by the solo trombone playing the motive of liberty in a stings tremolo.In the rest of the long part of the work, we see all human struggles to establish freedom in the earth; war, slavery and liberty in a mortal battle of blind powers. “Death or Liberty” was the symbol of the Greek revolution of March 25th 1821. “Death or Liberty” sung the chorus in the last titanic coda of “The Spirit of Liberty”.
Panayote Karousos is a renowned Greek – Canadian composer. He presented the operas “Prometheus” and “Olympic Flame” with great success in Canada. His masterpiece “The Spirit of Liberty” is a symphonic poem presented in the presence of Pierre Trudeau. The “Olympic Symphony” was presented for Mount Olympus and along with the oratorio “The Song of the Nations” were sensational in the Montreal Notre Dame Basilica. The “Piano Concerto for Peace” was presented under UNESCO’s auspices for an audience of 5000 people in the Montreal Maurice Richard Arena.

Posted on Sunday, April 23 @ 13:40:28 EDT by Greek News

http://www.greeknewsonline.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4799

Artists presented by Karousos

Complete operas

Prometheus Bound - Athens Greece

Literary Society Parnassos Concert Hall 27 March 2012
Prometheus: Ilias Tiliakos, baritone
Io: Alexandra Matthaioudaki, soprano
Ocean - Zeus: Vassilios Assimakopoulos, bass
Violence, Athena: Zoi Apiranthitou, mezzo-soprano
Gennadios Bykov, violin - Eugenios Bensis, cello -
Vivi kleisoura, piano

Prometheus Bound – Athens Greece

Hellenic Literary Society 30 January 2012
Prometheus: Giorgos Matthaiakakis, baritone
Io: Alexandra Matthaioudaki, soprano
Ocean: Vassilios Assimakopoulos, bass
Violence, Athena: Zoi Apiranthitou, mezzo-soprano
Andreas Haniotis, violin - Stavros Parginos, cello, Spyros Souladakis, piano

Prometheus – Kefalonia (Cephalonia) - Greece

Municipality Theater of Argostoli (Kefalos) 29 July 2011

Ilias Tiliakos, baritone: Prometheus

Alexandra Mattheoudaki, soprano: Io

Zafiris Koutelieris, Baritone-bass: Kratos, Ocean, Zeus

Victoria Mayfatova, mezzo: Via, Goddess Athena

George Tziouvaras, tenor: Hermes, Hephaestus

Andreas Haniotis, violin -Stavros Parginos, cello

Spyros Souladakis, piano

Sung in Greek

Prometheus – Athens, Greece

Cholargos Municipal Amphitheater

Monday November 29, 2010

Prometheus: Ilias Tiliakos, baritone

Io: Helen Bouki-Agiomirgianaki

Kratos – Ocean – Zeus: Sotiris Sideris, bass

Violance – Godess Athena: Tatiana Magina, mezzo

Hephaestus – Hermes: George Zografos, tenor

Musical direction: Petros Bouras, pianist

Sung in Greek

Alexander the Great - New York, NY
Stathakion Cultural Center
Sunday, June 28th 2009
Alexander the Great: Tytus Abrahamson, tenor
Queen Olympias: Elspeth Davis, mezzo
Roxana: Mary Mackenzie, soprano
King Philip: Eric Keller, bass-baritone
Astoria Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Grant Gilman
Sung in English

Alexander The Great – Toronto, ON
Toronto Cultural Center - 15 February 2009
Alexander the Great: Stewart Granger, tenor
Queen Olympias: Dolores Tjart, soprano
King Philip: Andrew Love, baritone
Roxana: Jennifer Razor, soprano
High Priest: Alastair Smyth, bass
Sneak Peak Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Victor Cheng
Sung in English

Alexander the Great – Greensboro, NC
THE CAROLINA THEATRE – 25 January 2009
Byron Singleton tenor: Alexander the Great
Elspeth Davis mezzo soprano: Olympias
Nathan Baer bass: King Philip, Aristotle
Mary Mackenzie soprano: Cleopatra, Roxana
East Coast Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Grant Gilman - Sung in English

Prometheus – Washington DC
(Grand Hall – Bethesda) - 8 November 2008
Robert Maril baritone: Prometheus
Mary Elizabeth Mackenzie soprano: Io
Nathan Baer bass: God’s Voice, Ocean, Zeus
Elspeth Davis mezzo: Bia (Violance), Goddess Athena, Amphitriti
District of Columbia Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Grant Gilman - Sung in English

Alexander the Great – Chicago
St Martha's Auditorium – 17 May 2008
Heath Harris tenor: Alexander the Great
Francesca Lunghi mezzo soprano: Olympias
Brad Jungwirth baritone: King Philip, Ptolemeus, Apelis
Michael Cavalieri bass: Parmenion, Aristotle, High Priest
Micah Dingler tenor: Hephaistion
Kristina Pappademos contralto: Sisygambis, Ada:
Susan Nelson soprano: Cleopatra, Roxane:
American Symphony Orchestra of Chicago conducting by David Stech - Sung in English

Prometheus – New York
Stathakeion Center Queens – 30 March 2008
Martin Fisher baritone: Prometheus
Mary Elizabeth Mackenzie soprano: Io
Nathan Baer bass: God’s Voice, Ocean, Zeus
Abby Powell mezzo: Bia (Violance), Goddess Athena
The Astoria Symphony directed by Grant Gilman
Sung in English

Alexandre le Grand – Montreal
Notre Dame Basilica 20 October 2007
Donald Lavergne ténor: Alexandre le Grand
Sophie Laganière mezzo-soprano: Olympias
Aldéo Jean ténor: Hephaistion
Chantal Parent soprano: Roxane, Cleopatra
Johanne Patry Alto: Sisygambis, Thessalonique, Barsine
Jacques Corman basse : Antipatros, Isocrate, Psamon
Réal Robitaille baryton: Philippe, Démosthène, Ptolémée, Aristote
Pierre Dufourd basse: Aeschine, Jadduas, Porus
Orchestre Symphonique des Jeunes Laval-Laurentides diriger par André Gauthier - Sung in French

La Flamme Olympique - Montreal
Basilique Notre Dame de Montréal - 6 Mai 2005
Aldeo Jean tenor : Herakles
Natalie Petrarca soprano: Deianeira
Yve Lortie baritone: Prométhée
Chantal Parent soprano : Macaria, Ioly
Anne Julien mezzo – soprano: Alcmena
Gaetan Sauvageau tenor : Hyllus
Pierre Dufourd basse : Rois Evristheas, Iolaos
Sylvie Berthiaume mezzo – soprano: Pythia
Orchestre Symphonique des Jeunes Laval-Laurentides dirigé par André Gauthier - Sung in French

Prométhée (Prometheus) – Montreal
Place des Arts 17 Juin 1996
Panayoti Karousos baritone: Prométhée
Jean Clément Bergeron basse: Zeus, Océan, Kratos
Julie Beaulieu mezzo soprano: Coryphée
Lorraine Fontaine soprano: Io
Michel Corbeil tenor: Hermès & Hephaestus
Anna Mizera mezzo: Via
Océanides / Sopranos/Altos: Solange Lessard, Louise Beaudry, Angele Trudeau, Madeleine Soucy, Marie Arpin, Francoise Tardif, Celine Chaput, Marie Dugal
Stephane Aubin piano & direction - Sung in French

Prométhée (Prometheus) – Montreal - Canada
Place des Arts 16 Juin 1994
Panayoti Karousos baritone: Prométhée
Joseph Rouleau basse: Zeus, Océan, Kratos
Maria Popescu mezzo: Via
Leila Chalfoun soprano: Io
John Jay Hebert tenor: Hermes & Hephaestus
Pénélope Dale soprano colorature: Coryphée
Océanides / Sopranos: Andreanne De Repentigny, Solange Lessard, Louise Beaudry Altos: Madeleine Soucy, Francoise Tardif, Celine Chaput
Voices / Tenors: Micheal Weber, Pierre Latour
Basses: Alain major, Jimmy Miron
Claudette Denys piano & direction - Sung in Greek

Major Concerts

Panayoti Karousos in Loyola Campus Chapel
13 May 2011 Concordia University Montreal – Canada

Divertimento for Cello and Piano

Songs in the poems of President Barack Obama,

Lord Byron, Apollinaire, and Queen Elizabeth I

Johanne Patry, mezzo-soprano

David Bouchard, violoncello

Claudette Denys, piano

Panayoti Karousos concert in Montreal

6 May 2011-05-03 – Downtown Montreal

Underground song on a poem of Barack Obama

Maid of Athens song on a poem of Lord Byron

Veronica Navarro, mezzo-soprano

Claudette Denys, piano

Hilario Yanez, guitar

Panayoti Karousos in Loyola Campus Chapel
29 April 2010 Concordia University Montreal – Canada
The Light of Christianity
Lamentation of Mariam
Johanne Patry, mezzo-soprano
Karine Bouchard, violin - William Larivière, violoncello
Hugh Cawker, piano

Panayoti Karousos in Chalkida
20 January 2010 – Greece
Prometheus
The Light of Christianity
Songs of Greek poets Kavafis and Seferis
Piano trio d’amour
Divertimento for Violin and piano
Romance for Cello and Piano
Elias Tiliakos, baritone (Prometheus – Jesus)
Theodore Moraitis, bass-baritone (Ocean – songs)
Athena Dimitrakopoulou, soprano (Mariam – Maria Magdalena)
Klarita Loli, violin
Ria Anastasiou, cello
Alexandros Makris, piano
Municipal Theater of Chalcis City
(Theater Papadimitriou) - Euboea

The Spirit of Liberty - New York
Long Island Auditorium 30 March 2006
Symphony Orchestra of Astoria - Silas Nathaniel Huff, director
Queensborough Chorus – Dr. Sheila Schonbrun, chorus master
Gregory Briggler solo trombone

The Song of the Nations Oratorio & Olympic Symphony
Montreal Notre Dame Basilica 23 February 2003
Lambroula Maria Pappas soprano and Daniel Bonato bass
L’Ensemble Choral St-Eustache – Pierre Turcotte, chorus master
OSJL-L Symphony Orchestra directed by André Gauthier
De l'Olympe au Mont Athos - Festival Montréal en lumière

The Spirit of Liberty & Democracy – Montreal
Place des Arts 25 March 2002
OSJL-L Symphony Orchestra directed by André Gauthier
Chœur Chanterelle du College Laval Inc. – Frederic Vogel, chorus master

'Esprit De Liberté
Orchestre symphonique des jeunes de Laval-Laurentides
dirigé par André Gauthier
17 Mars 2001 Collège Regina Assumpta
Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Suite Montrealaise - Montreal 1 October 2000
Highlights from the operas Prometheus and The Olympic Flame
Orchestre Symphonique de la Monteregie dirigé par Luc Chaput
Chantal Parent soprano - Canadian Millennium Concert

Piano Concerto «for Peace» under the auspices of UNESCO
Arena Maurice Richard in Montreal 15 July 2000
OSJL-L Symphony Orchestra directed by André Gauthier
Nathalie Joncas pianist - Les Concerts populaires de Montréal

Esprit de Liberté Symphonic Poem & Eternal Parthenon
Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Montréal - 29 March 2000
OSJL-L Symphony Orchestra directed by André Gauthier

Prometheus – Los Angeles
Beverly Hills City Hall 1 May 1998
Panayoti Karousos baritone: Prometheus, Marti Pia soprano: Io
Natalie Dalschaert pianist, Manon Shaw Trent cello, Robin Lorentz violin

Symphony orchestras
East Coast Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Grant Gilman
Sneak Peak Symphony Orchestra conducted by Victor Cheng
American Symphony Orchestra of Chicago - David Stech, director
District of Columbia Symphony Orchestra conducted by Grant Gilman
Orchestre Symphonique des Jeunes Laval-Laurentides - André Gauthier, director
Symphony Orchestra of Astoria - Silas Nathaniel Huff, director
Orchestre Symphonique de la Monteregie - Luc Chaput, director
FACE Symphony Orchestra - Theodora Stathopoulou, director
American Symphony Orchestra – Grant Gilman, director
Gunst wat’n Kunst Symphony Orchestra – Rafael Pylarinos, director
Astoria Symphony Orchestra – Grant Gilman, director

Chorals
Queensborough Chorus – Dr. Sheila Schonbrun, chorus master
Choeur du Tres Saint Redempteur – Aldeo Jean, chorus master
Chœur Chanterelle du College Laval Inc. – Frederic Vogel, chorus master
Montreal Hellenic Community Choir – Petros Plarinos, chorus master
Byzantin Choir of Montreal – Constantin Lagouros, chorus master
Russian choir of Montreal – Olena Ilvakhina, chorus Master
L’Ensemble Choral St-Eustache – Pierre Turcotte, chorus master
McGill Faculty Medieval Choir - Voix Médiévales – Dr. John Baboukis, director
Apollon Choir – Hara Spiratos mandolin, Peter Brakoulias bouzouki, Maro Litra voice
Ensemble Vocal Redemptor, Chorus Master: Aldéo Jean
Gunst wat’n Kunst Choir – Rafael Pylarinos, director

Conductors
Silas Nathaniel Huff: The Spirit of Liberty (New York)
Andre Gauthier: Alexandre le Grand, La Flamme Olympique, Olympic Symphony, Parthenon Eternele, Time Melody, Democracy, The Song of the Nations, Piano concerto, Esprit de Liberte (Montreal)
Luc Chaput: Souite Montrealaise, Parthenon Eternele (Montreal)
Theodora Stathopoulou: Time Melody, Orchestral Songs (Montreal)
Grant Gilman: Prometheus, The Olympic Flame, Violin Concerto, The Spirit of Liberty,
Bouzouki Concerto (New York)
Rafael Pylarinos: The Olympic Flame (Hague)
David Stech: Alexander the Great (Chicago)

Musiciens
Klarita Loli: (violin) Divertimento - Piano Trio d'amour
Ria Anastasiou: (cello) Cello Romance - Piano Trio d'amour
Alexandros Makris: (piano) Prometheus - The Light of Christianity - Chamber music
Karine Bouchard: (violin) Lamentation of Mariam
William Larivière: (violoncello) Lamentation of Mariam
Hugh Cawker: (piano) Lamentation of Mariam
Claudette Denys: (Piano) Prométhée, La Flamme Olympique, Alexandre le Grand
Veronica Parrales: (cello) Violoncello Concerto
Philippe Prevost: (Violin) Piano Trio No 1, Violin romance
Leo Adamov: (Violin) Violin Concerto
Jean-Luc Clauzier: Cello sonatas No 1 & No 2, Piano trio, Violin and Cello romances
James Moore: (Bouzouki) Bouzouki Concerto
Philippe Fleming: (Cello) Cello sonatas No1 & No2, Piano trio, Intermezzo
Pierre Mclean: (Piano) Prométhée
Gregory Briggler (trombone) The Spirit of Liberty
Olivier Gaudin: (Piano) Prométhée, Violon Sonata « Beverly Hills », Cello Sonata «Transfiguration», Piano trio « d’Amour », Cello romance « 5th Avenue ».
Nathalie Joncas: (Piano) Piano Concerto « pour la Paix »
Eunjin Choi: (Piano) The Spirit of Liberty
Stephane Aubin: (Piano) Prométhée
Aldo Shllaku: (piano, keyboards and trumpet) Alexander the Great & Songs
Natalie Dalschaert: (Piano) Prometheus, Piano trio, Violin Sonata – Los Angeles
Manon Shaw Trent: (cello) Piano trio, Cello Sonata, Cello romance – Los Angeles
Robin Lorentz: (violin) Piano trio, Violin Sonata, Beverly Hills romance – Los Angeles
Benoit Loiselle: (Violoncelle) Piano trio, Cello sonata, Cello romance
Alexandre Dugué: (Violin) Piano trio, Violin sonata, Violin romance

Concerts and Highlights from operas
Johanne Patry, mezzo-soprano: Lamentation of Mariam, Songs
Elias Tiliakos, baritone (Prometheus – Jesus-Christ)
Theodore Moraitis, bass-baritone (Ocean – songs)
Athena Dimitrakopoulou, soprano (Mariam – Maria Magdalena)
Panayoti Karousos baritone: Prometheus, Alexander the Great
Chantal Parent soprano : Io, Deianeira
Susan Eyton Jones soprano: Io, Deianeira
Lambroula Maria Pappas soprano: Oratorio - The Song of the Nations
Daniel Bonato basse: Oratorio - The Song of the Nations
Marti Pia soprano: Io (Beverly Hills City Hall – Los Angeles)
Mary Elizabeth Mackenzie soprano: (New York) Deianeira
Jessica Klein mezzo: (New York) Alcmena
Dr. Sheila Schonbrun soprano: The Spirit of Liberty
Lina Orfanos soprano: Religious Freedom, Hellenic Eros (Iatropoulos)

The Olympic Flame of Panayoti Karousos

Act 1: The Olympic Stadium

Chorus: Long live!
Pythia: The King of Argos Eurystheas.
Chorus: Long live!
Eurystheas: I declare the opening of the first Olympic Games, the games of Hellas. Honour to our gods, glory to our youth, glory to our generation! Glory to Heracles, our hero. Who saved our nation from all that is horrid, and organised these games. Long live our athletes. Glory and honour to the athletes. Hellas unites all of her children!
Chorus: Glory and honour to the athletes. Hellas unites all of her children!
Pythia: And now Heracles will bring the Olympic flame.
Chorus: The flame! Long live! Long live Heracles, and the Olympic flame! Long live Eurystheas, Argos and Greece!
Heracles: O my King Eurystheas, and the peoples of Hellas, listen. The fire of wisdom I light, the gift of Prometheus to us. But we must liberate him. Our benefactor must not suffer, I must go and free him from Caucasus, where Haephestus and Bia have bound him, on command of Dia. O my King Eurystheas, to Prometheus we owe both wisdom and art. To the birth of civilisation, we are entitled! O Greeks, we all want the sun to shine on the sky of our wisdom. A luminous, vast, sky, here! Prometheus’s fire is burning! O flame of wisdom, the true and holy flame! You who enlighten all darkness, light! To thunderously strike with you we may, eternal light of wisdom. Holy flame of our gods! O Prmoetheus the flame of the future, we hold in our hands, the flame of the gods.
Eurystheas: Go Heracles. We owe everything to our gods, but even more so, to Prometheus. And you being the son of Dia, will ensure that your father does not curse our people, for you going.
Chorus: Long live Prometheus! Long live all Greeks!
Eurystheas: Let the games begin!
Pythia: The first game is wrestling. Iolaos and Phoibos.
Chorus: Iolaos, Iolaos! Phoibos, Phoibos!
Pythia: Iolaos is the victor! Call in Kotino.
Chorus: Crown the victor with olive branches!
Pythia: Pyros and Nicomachus.
Chorus: Long live all Greeks! O! O!
Deianeira: Heracles…
Heracles: Deianeira why are you dressed like this? We are going out…
Chorus: Hail Hellas!
Deianeira: I wanted to come in to see you.
Heracles: Come with me.
Deianeira: Heracles I love you! How I wish everything would end, and for you to be close to me, forever, in our home. Come Heracles, our children await you… I don’t know what I am feeling, I want to lose myself in your embrace… Do not renounce your home. Come back home. Do not renounce us Heracles. Heracles I love you!
Heracles: Rose of my life you are. Deianeira, come to my arms. O sweet voice of an Angel.
Deianeira: O your words caress my chest gently, I want to drink your words Heracles! The stars look upon our love. Heracles I love you, and I will love you! My love Heracles, I love you; my love, my light! Aphrodite unites us, o yes, our love glows.
Heracles: Our love is looked upon by the stars. Deianeira I love you, and I will love you. My love Heracles, I love you; my love, my light! I want to possess you. Aphrodite unites us, o yes, our love glows.
Deianeira: Come home.
Heracles: That day will come soon.
Deianeira: O, it is for you that I live. O how I fear that which is fated.
Heracles: Those who bow before Adrasteia are wise .
Deianeira: Those who bow before Adrasteia are wise. Our marriage is a gift from the gods, I love you. With your sweet, eternal smile, I love you.
Heracles: You are the most beautiful gift. You are an innocent spring flower Deianeira. With that sweet, eternal smile of yours, I love you. You are mine for all time.
Deianeira: You are mine for all time. I love you.
Heracles: Mother of my children Deianeira, the sweetest mother and most faithful wife.
Deianeira: I live only for you Heracles.
Heracles: And I for you, Deianeira.
Chorus: Where is Heracles to crown the victor? Where is Heracles?
Heracles: I must leave. Deianeira, go home.
Deianeira: No Heracles! Come with me.
Heracles: With my kiss, of love, return home.
Deianeira: Heracles… farewell.
Heracles: Deianeira… farewell.
Chorus: Crown the victor, crown with the Kotino.
Deianeira: Heracles I love you!




The Olympic Flame Libretto: English Translation
translation: Irene Sarrinikolaou

Act II: Caucasus Mountain – Prometheus is tied up on a cliff

Prometheus: Ah… Woe to me… Look at the wicked tortures which rip me to shreds, which, for countless eons I will suffer. Slave of the gods. Slave, to the hatred of the gods I have fallen… fallen for the sake of all humanity. Alas, no-one can defy necessity. Under the exposed sky! Beneath the earth, and below Adi was I sent… Now the eagle of Dia will come and torment me… Woe! Accursed one…
Hercules: Prometheus, it is I, Hercules.
Prometheus: Hercules, you have come!
Hercules: The eagle of Dia, I present before you Prometheus… slaughtered. It does not feel real to be before you. I have come to free you Prometheus. On behalf of all humanity, I have come. For an immortal such as thee, what you endure is even worse still, but now, I bring forth the end of your martyrdom. The time has come.
Prometheus: Now I can breathe, now justice has arrived! Sometime divinities are borne from humans.
Hercules: Divinities!
Prometheus: Demi-gods!
Hercules: Yes, I am son of Dia, demi-god.
Prometheus: Heroes and persons. Humanism is borne!
Hercules: I am the superhuman.
Prometheus: A new sun is dawning now. Hail to Hercules!
Hercules: O Prometheus to your feet I fall. Do not abandon us, do not go far away from us. You have opened our eyes, you drive us, benefactor. O Prometheus, listen to the voice of my soul, which flutters at the sound of your divine reason. Prometheus, O how small and helpless I feel before you. You are the light of all humanity. How I wish to die and find myself immortal, beside you. You to lead, and me by your side, following you through all that is unfamiliar. That I may put an end to my meaningless life. Show me the way. You do not speak? Why? Why Prometheus?

Prometheus: Midday is coming! Holy love! Dawning light. Opportune time! O song of the fruits of human existence. Man, you have consumed the Olympian flame, the wine of ancient wisdom. Now you want to soar toward the future, to resemble the gods. The fire within you is burning. Laugh now! Determine your life yourself, now. Dance now, sing man. Now the gods admire the hero Hercules, mortal, you may become a god, you may become immortal.
Hercules: Titan Prometheus immortal, your freedom I issue. In exchange, stay with us. The earth is small for humans. The great meaning of the universe we seek of you. The flame of wisdom we guard well Prometheus, from all people, as a gift of all Greeks.
Prometheus: Chaos!
Hercules: What are you saying Prometheus? Of what chaos are you talking? Of what fate of humankind are you screaming?
Prometheus: Chaos!
Hercules: Prometheus Titan, you the smartest and most capable of the gods, answer me … The flame … Why? Woe to me! Why do you not answer Prometheus? Why? You are not happy Prometheus!
Prometheus: There are laws that are inevitable.
Hercules: Chaos is the end of mortals! The unknown!
Prometheus: The uncertainty of chaos. I give my face to chaos and call it god. Progress. Light. Darkness.
Hercules: What are you summoning Prometheus? What powers?
Prometheus: The powers which I gave you to conquer time, to surpass the eternal. O Hercules!
Hercules: Chaos! Woe to me! Light!
Prometheus: And now people with the wisdom of the flame, you shall defeat Dia!
Hercules: Have you no fear for what you say? Dia is my father! Prometheus what will you do? Prometheus where will you go? To which place now?
Prometheus: The public await me… I belong to other lands… to other castles. O the setting of the sun! O ether! O land! O the eternal ignorance of the soul!
Hercules: O the setting of the sun! O ether! O land! O the eternal ignorance of the soul!
Chorus: Prometheus! Hercules!
Prometheus: The people!
Hercules: You have followed me here?
Chorus: We brought the flame! It is our consolation…
Prometheus: As I predicted.
Chorus: Stay near us Prometheus, stay with us on earth, you are our benefactor.
Prometheus: Listen people, listen to my voice. To my last song. I shall sing with you dear people.
Chorus: O Prometheus, sing for us.
Prometheus: O the song of the progress of humankind! Dawning light. Opportune time! O!
Chorus: Opportune time! O Prometheus, you have given us glory and honour here on earth. We have lit the Olympic Flame on earth and started the Olympic games to commemorate the gods, you and Dia, O Prometheus.
Prometheus: You are entitled to this.
Chorus: Heroes and gods, for us are divine.
Hercules: Divine!
Prometheus: Children of chaos, Greeks! What power do you possess now Greeks?
Hercules: The power! Knowledge is power, and we possess knowledge.
Chorus: Knowledge is power, and we possess knowledge.
Prometheus: Glory to you! Glory to Greeks! The wisdom which the flame gives you, offer to all nations! And now I will go to the populus to await you.
Chorus: The flame we will give to all nations.





Act III: Trachis - Palace of Herakles and Deianeira

Deianeira: There is an old saying that states: ‘before the end of a life, we may not know whether it was a happy life. But I know for my life that it is black and tragic. When I lived at my father’s house the river Achelaous asked for my hand in marriage. Later, the son of Dio and Alcmena came for me, and Hercules won the battle with Achelous, and freed me. Since becoming Hercules’s wife, my heart trembles with incessant fear. Nightfall brings him to me, and nightfall takes him. We have children which he has scarcely seen. And now that he could have ended his travels, he has chosen not to, and I suffer. We remain in Trachis, in bitter fear. Where he roams, we do not know. I am terrified with the thought that something horrible has happened to him. Woe to me! It has been fifteen months since I have heard of where he is. Woe to me.
Alcmena: Deianeira I have seen you many times crying for Hercules. Why, if you have so many children, have you not thought to send one of them in search of your husband? Surely you could Hyllus. Oh, here he comes.
Deianeira: My child Hyllus, your grandmother has said some very wise things to me.
Hyllus: What did she say?
Deianeira: They said shame on me that my husband is missing, and that his son doesn’t know where he is.
Hyllus: I believe what they say.
Deianeira: Where are they saying that he is?
Hyllus: They say that he has been with a woman in Lydia for the last year.
Deianeira: I expect everything, since this has happened to him.
Hyllus: But I have heard how he has been freed.
Deianeira: Where do they say that he is my child?
Hyllus: They say that he is a soldier at Euboia now, or that he will become a soldier for Euripos’s army.
Deianeira: But do you know that he has left me certain predictions about this land?
Hyllus: Tell me mother.
Deianeira: That he would rather die than be captured. If he is in turmoil we must find him, for we survive only if he does.
Hyllus: No I feel that I will not stop until I learn the truth. Mother we are united.
Deianeira: Go forth my child. United are we.
Hyllus: If only I knew sooner, I would have already gone.
Deianeira: Go forth my son, for it is better to find out now than not at all.
Alcmena: Yes my son, Hyllus, go. Farewell.
Alcmena: Deianeira, sweet child of mine, you always cry. Your soul is full of pain for my son.
Deianeira: All the years, I am afraid of losing him mother.
Alcmena: Dia who brought him to me, has brought you into his life so that you may remain there.
Deianeira: How wonderful to hear, but a sadness consumes me.
Alcmena: I feel that too.
Deianeira: When will Dia bring him back to me?
Alcmena: Time matters.
Deianeira: What does it matter? Time is passing.
Alcmena: Every moment is etenal, and every pain.
Deianeira: Mother … woe to me … my pain is unbearable. Eros is winning.
Alcmena: Love never dies, he melts for you. You fear what you feel my Queen.
Deianeira: O mother Alcmena,in Aphrodite’s wine I tasted bitterness.
Alcmena: O Aphrodite, woman of all women, the heart always suffers for men.
Deianeira: Let him come home. O help Aphrodite, and mother Earth, our goddess.
Alcmena: O help Aphrodite, and mother Earth, our goddess.
Deianeira: Earth, bring him home.
Alcmena: Open roads, and bring him forth.
Chorus: Do not lose hope my Queen Deianeira. I cry for you, sad lark that you are.
Deianeira: May you never come to know the pain that I suffer. Many things have made me cry, but none more so than what I will tell you now. Before Hercules left for the last journey, he left a will for his children, outlining how his properties are to be divided if he does not return after one year and three months. The time has now come. And that is why I wake with terror from my sleep.
Chorus: Ahh Deianeira.
Deianeira: Lament for my misfortune.
Chorus: Aphrodite wins with a great force that no one can conquer.
Alcmena: When the angry Achelous and Hercules descended into a contest for Deianeira’s love, only Kypris helped. And the virgin with the beautiful eyes awaited the victor Hercules upon a mountain.
Chorus: May the garden with the sweet melodious hums greet you. And may it bring back the son of Dio and Alcmena.
Alcmena: Hercules, may you back to your wife victorious.
Deianeira: O beloved friends.
Chorus: O goddess Aphrodite, bring Hercules back to Deianeira. And to his home with his sweet garden’s melody.
Alcmena: Pray on it, for now you see some-one coming toward us with a crown, and smiling.
Deianeira: Who could it be?
Alcmena: It looks like Iolas, the friend of Hercules.
Deianeira: But I do not see Hercules, just a woman he has brought with him.
Alcmena: Iolaos, confidante, friend of my son, what good fortune brings you here?
Iolaos: Hercules sends me, Deianeira, I bow to you. I bring you news from Hercules.
Deianeira: Answer me what I ask, and first, is Hercules alive?
Iolaos: I left him in good health.
Deianeira: Who is she?
Iolaos: She was taken as a prize.
Deianeira: He spent countless days to protect this land.
Iolaos: For most of the time, he was a slave at Lydia. For a whole year he was so bitter and ashamed from embarrassment, that he swore to enslave his captors.
Alcmena: Hercules a slave?
Iolaos: Hercules sees Euritos as the cause of his downfall, so Zeus has thrown Hercules from a mountain to save him from the wrath of Euritos, who would enslave him. To liberate himself, he must offer a sacrifice to Dia. He needs you to send him a cloak.
Alcmena: Be warm hearted Deianeira now.
Deianeira: And how can I not celebrate with what I hear Iolaos? Tell me whose child this mortal is. My heart breaks for her pride.
Iolaos: What do I know? And what are you asking? I assume she is from a good family.
Deianeira: The offspring of a royal? Maybe Euritos’s daughter?
Iolaos: I do not know.
Deianeira: Who are you?
Iolaos: She will not open her mouth. The unfortunate one, only cries… we forgive her for her grief.
Deianeira: Leave her. Go and receive hospitality in the palace.
Alcmena: Come inside.
Makaria: Mother, wait a little, so I may tell you who you are allowing into the palace.
Deianeira: Why should I stop? What is going on?
Makaria: Of whatever Iolaos has already told you, nothing is true.
Deianeira: What do you mean to say?
Makaria: I have heard Iolaos speak in front of many people who you can call on for their witness, he has developed a fondness for this girl.
Deianeira: I cannot believe my grief. I have known every misfortune in this house! He has deceived me?
Makaria: Euritos’ daughter is called Ioly.
Deianeira: What shall I do Makaria? What?
Makaria: Go and ask Iolaos to tell you the whole truth.
Deianeira: You advise me well.
Makaria: And I wait.
Chorus: Here he comes. Here comes Iolaos from inside the palace.
Iolaos: Deianeira, give me the cloak so I can take to Hercules.
Deianeira: You want to leave quickly, but were slow in arriving.
Iolaos: Ask me what you desire to know.
Deianeira: You will tell me the whole truth.
Iolaos: Zeus be my witness, I will say what I know.
Deianeira: Who is the woman you brought here with you?
Iolaos: From Evia, I do not know her parents.
Deianeira: Listen here: to whom do you think you are speaking?
Iolaos: Why are you asking me these questions?
Chorus: Dare to answer if you have your senses about you!
Iolaos: I speak before the Queen Deianeira, the daughter or Oeneus.
Deianeira: Well, you must suffer the penalty if it is found that you are lying.
Iolaos: Liar? But how? I am leaving.
Alcmena: Do not leave before you answer.
Makaria: The woman? Didn’t you say that she is the daughter of Eurutos?
Iolaos: To whom?
Chorus: Speak, answer, tell the truth.
Makaria: You swore it in the marketplace of Trachis.
Iolaos: What?
Makaria: You said that you escort her as the bride of Hercules?
Chorus: Answer.
Iolaos: A bride? Me? Leave me to the gods my queen.
Deianeira: Tell me the truth liar, you cannot fool me. Why are you looking at me? In the name of Dia, Iolaos, tell me what you are hiding. Has Hercules been with other women?
Chorus: To whatever he tells you, believe, and you will thank me.
Iolaos: I have nothing to say.
Deianeira: Speak, accursed one Deianeira strangles him.
Iolaos: Help!
Deianeira: No one will save you from my hands.
Iolaos: Ahhh I shall talk.
Deianeira: Ha!
Iolaos: Well my good lady.
Makaria: O mother, why am I such a burden to you?
Alcmena: Why do I cry for you dear child Deianeira? Woe to me.
Chorus: Why Deianeira? Woe to me.
Deianeira: Let us go inside the house.
Makaria: Desolate am I, the virgin. Ahh when will our house see joy?
Alcmena: Come in my children.
Deianeira: Wait here Iolaos. I will bring you the cloak. Deianeira goes into the palace.
Chorus: Fog envelopes the mountains of Trachis, and I tremble from fear about Deianeira. Deianeira brings the cloak and gives it to Iolaos.
Deianeira: Iolaos! Take the cloak to Hercules, so he may make a sacrifice to Dia. Deianeira goes to the palace. Night falls, and Deianeira comes out, wrapped in her long white gown, terrified.
Deianeira: Ahh! I am scared beloved friends, maybe I have done more than what was necessary.
Chorus: What is wrong Deianeira? What?
Deineira: Listen to my lamentation and cry with me. For the cloak that I sent Hercules, listen to me. When we were on our honeymoon at the Evian river, the Centaur Nessos offered a gift instead of money. But he approached me, and touched me … I screamed and Hercules threw a poisonous vial that struck him a blow in the lungs. As he lay dying, he said: ‘daughter of Oeneus the wise, if you take some blood from my wound and place a drop with the poison of Hydra in a vial, you may be sure that Hercules will be ever-faithful to you, and never lay eyes on another woman.”
I kept this vial hidden in the palace, but I wet the cloak with this mixture before I sent it to Hercules, in the hope that I could win him back, and he come back to me. I love him and I want him to be by my side forever. I, the wife of Hercules.
Chorus: Why are you scared then, why?
Deianeira: Because the Centaur had told me to keep the vial out of the sun, for it would burn skin if it congealed. I took a wad of lamb’s wool and doused it with the mixture and painted the cloak with it. But then I saw the lamb’s wool that had been exposed to the sun’s rays, and it had become sawdust. I realise that I have sinned …
Chorus: To fear misfortune is natural, but before it befalls you, you must not think on it.
Deianeira: Alcmena bring Ioly before me.
Alcmena: Immediately my queen.
Deianeira: Now we will demonstrate the purpose of the potion, and how accurate Centaur Nessos was.
Chorus: A panic suffocates my being in seeing the proud Deianeira so aggravated and anti-social.
Deianeira: Here in this wine, I have added the potion Alcmena brings Ioly to Deianeira.
Alcmena: Here my lady, I present her to you.
Deianeira: My child, you have accepted plenty of hospitality from this house.
Ioly: There is no house like one’s own, as hospitable as it may be, Queen Deianeira.
Deianeira: Drink from this wine to forget your hardships.
Ioly: What are you giving me to drink? What is this?
Deianeira: Drink and ask not, it is what I Deianeira offer you. Accept my hospitality, to the good health of Hecules.
Ioly: To good health of Hercules. She drinks from the glass. What a peculiar taste it has, and a peculiar smell Deianeira.
Deianeira: How strange the love of Hercules, Princess Ioly.
Ioly: So, you know my name after all. Hercules said that no one should know who I am. No one until he returns to his home. But what is this burning I feel? Ahh I feel dizzy. Ahh help me! Help me. I am losing the world from my sight.
Alcmena: What is the matter my dear?
Deianeira: Leave her. Let us wait for the potion to take effect
Alcmena: What have you given her to drink?
Deianeira: The blood of the Centaur Nessos, and the poison of Lernaias and Hydras, I have poured into her red wine.
Ioly: You have poisoned me… ah… I am dying… ahh.
Deianeira: Nessos has deceived me. Now I can confirm that the magic potion is poison, a lethal poison. Accursed Centaur, wherever you are in the other realm.
Alcmena: She is dead! Pity for such a young and fair girl.
Deianeira: The good corpse takes others with it. Take her away from me… I saw it in my blackest dreams, the darkness which was circling around me. And now it becomes true, one after another of terrible misfortunes. I would rather the Centaur had drowned me with him, than dragging me lifelessly against my will. All that now remains is to receive the black news which will complete the garish prophesies.
Alcmena: Ever destitute Deianeira why do you endure such things?
Deianeira: Because I fell in love with a hero, and this is the suffering of loving one exclusively. A hero belongs to all of humankind, and not to a woman! That is why my mother!
Makaria: Mother. Hyllus is coming home, he is finally coming!
Hyllus: Makaria, what fate has befallen us – our house is doomed.
Makaria: Hyllus!
Hyllus: How I wish we didn’t have a mother which has brought such horror into our house.
Deianeira: What have I done to make you hate me dear child? What news do you bring?
Hyllus: Be informed that you are the one who killed father.
Deianeira: No.
Hyllus: Yes you.
Deianeira: Me? How…Tell me?
Hyllus: With the cloak that you sent him.
Deianeira: Pity on me the unfortunate.
Hyllus: He will be here soon, I came first…
Chorus: Chaos.
Deianeira: Come and see me Dia!
Makaria: Woe to me!
Hyllus: Evil that cannot be undone.
Makaria: Poor, destitute father.
Alcmena: O Fate!
Makaria: Mother, what have you done!
Deineira: Ahhh!
Hyllus: He is being tortured with spasms from the poison.
Chorus: You have killed your own husband you wicked woman?
Alcmena: Unfortunate child of mine, Hercules.
Deianeira: Look girls, how the prophecies have come true! My well of tears has overflowed, and the evil has spread. I am finished … Ahh Hercules! Woe to me! What am I to do? How can I undo my life? Ahh. Upon your grave a curse damnable Centaur. My husband, the great hero … Hercules where could you be now? What might you be thinking? You hate me! … Hercules, my blood boils with hate. Woe to me… may I be lost… despair. Forgive me Hercules. Hercules I love you! (Deianeira takes a knife and stabs herself) Ahhh…
Chorus: Gods! Woe to me!
Alcmena: Deianeira! Woe to me!
Hyllus: Mother don’t … No! Woe to me!
Makaria: My darling mother. Woe to me!