Phaeton (finale) - Bart Watté

Описание: Phaeton - Bart Watté- grade 5 - 11'00'' - BVT252

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The music tragedy ‘Phaeton’ depicts the last day of the life of the eponymous figure from Greek mythology. The work is divided into four interacting parts. Various leitmotifs, certain characters and events are featured and follow the development of the story.

Sunrise. It is night, but the first sunlight glimpses over the horizon. The sun is dangling from a fiery chariot, pulled by ferocious kicking horses manhandled by the sun god Phoebus, the only one up to the task. Phaeton watches the sun rise and dreams away at this impressive event.

Phaeton's wish. He learns later that day from his mother, the sea nymph Clymene, that Phoebus is actually his father. Phaeton decides to go and see him. The two meet and Phoebus grants his son a favour: he may wish for whatever he wants. Phaeton wishes he could drive the solar chariot once during a sunrise. His father tries to talk him out of this, as even supreme god Zeus would not dare this mission and it is absolutely fatal for a human being. The overconfident Phaeton perseveres, however, and Phoebus has no choice but to fulfil his promise.

Phaeton's last sunrise. The following morning, the sunrise initially proceeds as the day before, but soon things go wrong. The horses become restless because they do not feel the strong hand and weight of the sun God and they stampede. Phaeton loses control and is terrified. The loose chariot flies up and then back over the earth's surface, threatening to scorch the world. Zeus intervenes and throws a lightning bolt at the chariot. The horses are scared and the chariot disappears from sight, into the sky. Phaeton is fatally struck, falls from the chariot and dies.

Epilogue. In a pensive epilogue, Phoebus mourns his son, but eventually resumes his duties as driver of the solar chariot. The music fades out, and one last time the menacing sun chariot motif sounds.