Donec Gratus Song & Ballet-Montfort Academy

An ancient Latin love poem is sung to a modern setting and dramatized through an elegant ballet solo in Untermyer Gardens. Subtitles in English, Latin, Italian, and Polish can be activated by moving the cursor over the lower right corner of the screen and clicking the gear wheel.
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Adapted from Quintus Horatius Flaccus, Odes, Book 3, Poem 9.
Donec gratus eram tibi
As long as I was pleasing to you
nec quisquam potior
and no other abler youth
bracchia candidae
threw his arms around
cervici iuvenis dabat,
your brilliant neck,
Persarum vigui rege beatior.
I flourished, happier than the king of Persia.
Donec non alia magis
As long as with no love but ours
arsisti neque erat
did you burn, before
Lydia post Chloen,
Lydia came after Chloe,
multi Lydia nominis,
I, Lydia, of good repute,
Romana vigui clarior Ilia.
flourished, shining brighter than Roman Ilia.
(Editor’s Note: Stanzas 3 and 4 are omitted in this recording.)
Quid si prisca redit Venus
What if that old Love returns
(Redeat Venus!)
(May Love return!)
diductosque iugo
and coaxes together us parted lovers
cogit aeneo,
with her bronze yoke,
(Iugo aeneo!)
(With her bronze yoke!)
si flava excutitur Chloe,
if blonde Chloe is cast aside,
reiectaeque patet ianua Lydiae?
and the door opens again for rejected Lydia?
Quamquam sidere pulchior
Although my lover is more handsome than the stars,
(Redeat Venus!)
(May Love return!)
ille est, tu levior
and you are lighter
cortice et improbo
than a cork,
(Iugo aeneo!)
(With her bronze yoke!)
iracundior Hadria,
and angrier than the wicked Hadrian sea,
tecum vivere amem,
I would love to live with you
tecum obeam libens!
and with you I would freely die.
Tecum vivere amem,
I would love to live with you
tecum obeam libens!
and with you I would freely die.
Tecum vivere amem,
I would love to live with you
tecum obeam libens!
and with you I would freely die.
*****

[@kathleenkeefe7871]

Heavenly!

[@richard29sher]

Great work! I like your editing choices.

[@VictoriaCCorbo]

My Latin class was never this cool! Great job to all involved.

[@VictoriaCCorbo]

Above comment was from Victoria the Elder.

[@frankmari]

Nicely done, Mike! Great production value. All around great job!

[@cynthiamanson3508]

Beautifully staged - gorgeously done

[@cynthiamanson3508]

The performers vocals were amazing!