austraLasia #2523

The Blind Man of Jericho in Japan
 
TOKYO: 14 October 2009 -- Anyone who has been around the Salesians long enough will have heard of Mark the Fisherman and possibly even taken part in a performance of this operetta by Don Cimatti.  Less known, but considered as one of Cimatti's masterpieces is The Blind Man of Jericho (Il cieco di Gerico in its original title).  The two-act operetta was performed in the church at Chofu, Tokyo, on 11th October, and the Vice-postulator for the Cimatti Cause, Fr Gaetano Compri, says that it was performed in Italian for the first time ?and the Italian pronunciation was perfect!'. The Japanese version was last performed in Tokyo in the presence of the composer himself - for his eightieth birthday in 1959!
   The melodrama is drawn from the account in Mk.10:46-52, and was the first effort of its kind by Don Cimatti, who published it in 1908. It was performed with much acclaim at Valsalice that year on 8 December in the presence of Don Rua. It was then performed a number of times in Italy. The Cimatti Museum in Tokyo holds one part of the original score and libretto along with a transcription made by Don Roberto Bosco, a past pupil of Don Cimatti's and a musician to boot. After the first World War Bosco played the part of Simon, and says that Don Cimatti simply improvised the accompaniment!  Musical Maestro Ino Savini from Faenza saw to the definitive transcription basing himself on the original as well as Don Roberto Bosco's but also on the Japanese copy that he was given fromTokyo.  
    The first act presents a well-to-do and happy Bartimeus who is about to marry Noemi. Simon speaks to him about Jesus the prophet. But Aser, his rival, sets about planning his ruin, and with the help of Barabbas and his henchmen kills Noemi and burns down his house - resulting in Bartimeus becoming blind.
    In the second act Bartimeus is a blind beggar, assisted by Eleazarus. But this latter is none other than Aser, his rival, who has been converted by Jesus' teachings! Jesus is heading for Jerusalem with other pilgrims and cures Bartimeus who then sees Jesus standing before him, then his former adversary Aser. He offers a prayer of pardon taught him by Jesus.

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Title: australasia 2523
Subject and key words: EAO Provinces GIA Cimatti operetta
Date (year): 2009
ID: 2000-2099|2523