Rezitativ Antigone

Composer´s Notes

Rezitativ Antigone, “Antigone’s Recitative”, was commissioned by the University Competition Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy 2020. Its text is taken from Sophocles’s eponymous tragedy, where King Creon tells Antigone that she will be killed if she buries her brother, Polynices, who has fallen in battle.

In the part of the text that is set to music, Antigone tells her sister Ismene about Creon’s order. She also says that she will bury her brother at all costs. She is therefore sentenced to death, but it is more important to her to stay faithful to the living and to the dead, than it is to go on living herself.

Antigone is angry, but self-possessed, and she wants to act. On the other hand, Ismene is frightened of Creon’s power, and refuses to join in. Antigone decides to carry out her intention, one which is born of love and is commanded by the Gods, alone.

By setting this powerful material to music, I would like to encourage both musicians and audiences to consider what is worth fighting for. Rezitativ Antigone portrays the drama of internal conflict, and interprets this emotionally highly-charged material. Its material is antique, but still highly relevant today.

The text is sung in Ancient Greek. The composition requires a sense of horizontal flow: its melodies and rhythms evoke an archaic atmosphere, which is important for the interpretation. Rhythms and time changes should flow smoothly throughout the piece.

English translation

He (Creon) has no right to separate me from my loved ones.

I do not kneel before you (Ismene). Even if you change your mind,

I will gladly not accept your help.

Keep your illusions. I will bury him alone.

It pleases me to do this, even if I will die.

I will lie beside him, beloved with beloved.

In holy shame. For a long time

Those in the Underworld will rejoice over me as one of them.

Because there I will rest forever. If you want it your way, go ahead

Dishonour what the gods worship.

(Translation: Konstantia Gourzi)