NIKOS KOLESIS
TRILOGY FALL OF CITY
FALL OF CONSTANTINOPLE
FALL THE CITY
FALL
FALL
BYZANTINE RHAPSODY
OPERA
1
RAPSODOS -Aria-
1
RAPSODOS -Aria-
Thousands of corpses
they lie slaughtered
the blood runs
River.
they lie slaughtered
the blood runs
River.
Oh! City
Queen of cities
Queen of cities
Jewel of Christians
disappeared
from the Turks.
disappeared
from the Turks.
Beautiful
as the plains
of Paradise
with riches
spiritual
and Others
as the plains
of Paradise
with riches
spiritual
and Others
Centre - eye
of West
and the East.
of West
and the East.
DANCE
Fell the City from betrayal.
PATRIARCH GENNADIOS
Vain spilled so much blood
the Turks would conquered Constantinople
In any case.
the Turks would conquered Constantinople
In any case.
ALL TOGETHER
Ρesented Sun!
Ρesented Sun!
Ρesented Sun!
RAPSODOS
Whole neighborhoods burned three days
the ships were leaving loaded with countless world
gold, jewelry, money and immense wealth’s.
The mothers cryed and searched the children
the Greeks paid with their lives.
the ships were leaving loaded with countless world
gold, jewelry, money and immense wealth’s.
The mothers cryed and searched the children
the Greeks paid with their lives.
DANCE
The city ablaze
Ablaze.
Ablaze.
RAPSODOS
Very loud they sounded
the howls of women,
who Janissaries raped in the houses.
Everywhere bodies thrown
Trampled than violence.
the howls of women,
who Janissaries raped in the houses.
Everywhere bodies thrown
Trampled than violence.
DANCE
Ablaze Bosphorus
Ablaze.
Ablaze.
RAPSODOS
Those who were lucky and survived
they will sell them slaves
In the slave markets of East.
they will sell them slaves
In the slave markets of East.
DANCE
A Handsome death
it should in brave.
it should in brave.
ODYSSEUS
Great sadness flooded my soul
such slaughter- such carnage
It never happened in history.
I can not bear another such spectacle.
such slaughter- such carnage
It never happened in history.
I can not bear another such spectacle.
DANCE
Fall the city
Fall
Fall
ODYSSEUS
The Turks slaughtered the captives as lambs
everywhere heard wails and cries.
mostly children
an endless dance of death
reigning in Constantinople.
everywhere heard wails and cries.
mostly children
an endless dance of death
reigning in Constantinople.
DANCE
Fall the city
Fall
Fall
ODYSSEUS
What happened to Helen Palaeologus
whatever if I asked
nobody knows where it is.
Others said it fought
with the Greeks on the walls,
until she found a Beautiful Death.
Others said that she left
with a Venetian boat
in mythical Venice.
whatever if I asked
nobody knows where it is.
Others said it fought
with the Greeks on the walls,
until she found a Beautiful Death.
Others said that she left
with a Venetian boat
in mythical Venice.
DANCE
A beautiful death
found Beautiful Helen.
found Beautiful Helen.
ODYSSEUS
Others said that it is
at a monastery dressed nun,
nobody knew.
Maybe from somewhere to watch
as another hyacinth
and smiling
Every where the sun rises and sets.
at a monastery dressed nun,
nobody knew.
Maybe from somewhere to watch
as another hyacinth
and smiling
Every where the sun rises and sets.
RAPSODOS
Mehmed the Conqueror, the Great Victorious
he entered from the gate of Agios Romanus
riding a snow white horse,
overjoyed as if passing
the gate of Paradise.
Among thousands of corpses and ruined houses
follow the road to Saint Sophia.
he entered from the gate of Agios Romanus
riding a snow white horse,
overjoyed as if passing
the gate of Paradise.
Among thousands of corpses and ruined houses
follow the road to Saint Sophia.
DANCE
In front went the Janissaries
and followed the vizier,
Pashas and the Satraps.
and followed the vizier,
Pashas and the Satraps.
RAPSODOS
Around his personal safety
right Spachides
and left the official guard.
Boys and girls of harem
marching ahead
and fundraiser with rose petals the road.
right Spachides
and left the official guard.
Boys and girls of harem
marching ahead
and fundraiser with rose petals the road.
DANCE
In the Eurasia garden sings the bat.
RAPSODOS
Tsaousides imposed the order
large rows of Dervishes
fundraiser with incense the road
to pass the great Conqueror.
Thousands of soldiers were following
with swords in hands.
large rows of Dervishes
fundraiser with incense the road
to pass the great Conqueror.
Thousands of soldiers were following
with swords in hands.
DANCE
Make in the end
Pass
Mehmed the Conqueror.
Pass
Mehmed the Conqueror.
ALL TOGETHER
Mehmed the Conqueror.
DANCE
May God bless us
Fair your crisis.
Fair your crisis.
ALL TOGETHER
Oh!! City of cities
neither kind nor beauty.
neither kind nor beauty.
//////////
RAPSODOS
RAPSODOS
Unfortunate City, capsized boat
You will travel in the centuries,
from goddess became slave.
The Wild Silence of death
reigned in the all city.
The Greeks cried for her loss
had such a beauty
in front her paradise seemed ugly
from goddess became slave.
The Wild Silence of death
reigned in the all city.
The Greeks cried for her loss
had such a beauty
in front her paradise seemed ugly
ODYSSEUS – song
My people
It hurts under
the Tyranny
It hurts under
the Tyranny
Lord pity
the wicked
the wicked
how you left to become
such slaughter,
be sacrificed
so many people.
There are enough lamentations
and tears.
such slaughter,
be sacrificed
so many people.
There are enough lamentations
and tears.
three days
and three nights
he kept the carnage,
such disaster
did not rediscovered
another city.
river
the blood of the deads
startled world
startled Sun!
and three nights
he kept the carnage,
such disaster
did not rediscovered
another city.
river
the blood of the deads
startled world
startled Sun!
Mercy - Mercy
Lord - Lord.
Lord - Lord.
RAPSODOS
Sultan Mehmed II majestic on the white mare
went to the Saint Sophia.
Flooded with happiness
he looked so beautiful with the crooked nose
and bright eyes.
The vindication of an emperor
who took the position another.
went to the Saint Sophia.
Flooded with happiness
he looked so beautiful with the crooked nose
and bright eyes.
The vindication of an emperor
who took the position another.
DANCE
Make in the end
Passes the Sultan.
Make in the end
Passes the Sultan.
MEHMED THE CONQUEROR-song-
Αs an indication
utmost humiliation
and reverent grandeur,
I kneel to get
a handful of earth
to throw
In my head,
Respecting the unique god
of Islam.
Man I am
born from the soil
and I will end up
In soil,
completing
the chain
of birth and death.
utmost humiliation
and reverent grandeur,
I kneel to get
a handful of earth
to throw
In my head,
Respecting the unique god
of Islam.
Man I am
born from the soil
and I will end up
In soil,
completing
the chain
of birth and death.
DANCE
Only breaths of janissaries
they are heard leathal.
they are heard leathal.
RAPSODOS
The Turks looted and destroyed
elaborate mosaics, holy icons
gold, silver and precious stones.
elaborate mosaics, holy icons
gold, silver and precious stones.
MEHMED THE CONQUEROR
Immediate stop the looting
all properties are mine,
The buildings, the city all belongs to me.
To you I left mobile
these transferred.
Such resplendent temple
not rebuilt by human hand
no one can destroy.
all properties are mine,
The buildings, the city all belongs to me.
To you I left mobile
these transferred.
Such resplendent temple
not rebuilt by human hand
no one can destroy.
GENITSAROS
My Sultan
Looked at
jumping too high,
I put my own mark of blood
up there on the wall.
Looked at
jumping too high,
I put my own mark of blood
up there on the wall.
MUHAMMAD II
Bring me a bow
up there on the famous dome,
I will nail the arrow
as high as possible.
this here is my mark.
up there on the famous dome,
I will nail the arrow
as high as possible.
this here is my mark.
ALL TOGETHER THE OTTOMAN TURKS
That is Mehmed the Conqueror
It dedicates in the One
and only God of Islam
the great church of Christians.
It dedicates in the One
and only God of Islam
the great church of Christians.
AK SEMSEDDIN
All together let us turn to the East
and pray to Allah.
and pray to Allah.
DANCE
Pray the warriors of Islam
with knees on the ground,
touching the forehead
On the floor of the church of God.
with knees on the ground,
touching the forehead
On the floor of the church of God.
SULTAN MEHMED II
Make fast
do not sit for a minute
we need to manage the city.
What happened to Constantine Palaeologus
where are the princes of the city.
do not sit for a minute
we need to manage the city.
What happened to Constantine Palaeologus
where are the princes of the city.
COURTIERS
Little more beyond
awaits the great Duke Lucas Notaras
and many Greeks rulers.
awaits the great Duke Lucas Notaras
and many Greeks rulers.
LOUKAS NOTARAS
My Sultan
we submit our respects
and worship
always your servants.
we submit our respects
and worship
always your servants.
SULTAN MEHMED II
Why did not immediately surrender the city
and you let unjustly spilled so much blood?
You resisted such
so you fought more heroically than others.
and you let unjustly spilled so much blood?
You resisted such
so you fought more heroically than others.
