An opera on the theme of power
Libretto
Deutschland Radio Berlin, Hörspiel Abteilung, 2000
(Fragment - mp3 -1,3MB)

PREISTORIA

(Children are fighting, while they are watching television. A real battle starts; two players throw the coordinates and try to sink each other ships. Behind these ships some dictators and men of power are hidden. Here and there, from time to time, some people of different nationalities, interviewed, answer to the question:"What would you like to do if you had power?")

I

Italian Narrator: Preistoria
1st child: Raus mit den Flugmessern, Raumgeister, zerstört Golums Reich!
2nd child: Das wird dir nicht gelingen, Doktor K, meine magnetischen Lanzen werden dir das Gehirn zersprengen!
Iranian (man): If I had power, I would like to fight against God. I would put some drug into the water; in this way I would destroy any…any birth. I would like to see how the world ends.
English Narrator: Year 1. The war was spreading all over the Cartesian Plane, with no sign of truce. The aim was to destroy as many enemy ships as possible, a great prize. It emerged from the graphic that in fact, some big dictators and men of power were hidden behind these ships. According to the pre-estabilished program, we had the duty to rid the world of tyranny. We were fighting for peace. We were destroying in order to reconstruct.
Player 1: B-5
TV: Fuoco!…
Player 2: A-9
TV: Now!…
Player 2: I-27
Player 1: R-6
TV: Now!…fuoco!…
German Narrator: Jahr Eins. Großes stand auf dem Spiel. Aus der graphic geht hervor, daß sich hinter solchen Schiffen große Diktatoren und Machtmenschen verbagen. Man kämpfte, um wieder Frieden zu schaffen. Man zerstörte, um wieder aufzubauen.
Player 1: G-13
TV: fuoco!…l'ho preso!
Mussolini: Saluto al Duce! Ufficiali… sottoufficiali… gregari di tutte le forze armate dello stato…(explosion)
(Translation: Officers…sub-officers…soldiers of all the State Army…) (explosion - Mussolini is sinking)
TV: Date l'ordine di lancio!
Player 2: L-1
TV: Au revoir!…l'ho preso!
Stalin: Ot imeni Sovetskogo pravitel'stva, ja obrashajus' k vam, komandiry i boitsy Krasnoi Armii i armii nashikh sojuznikov…
(On behalf of the Soviet Government I am addressing you, the officers and the soldiers of the Red Army and the Armies of our alliance…) (Explosion - Stalin is sinking)
TV: E adesso che facciamo?…stop, stop… (explosion)
Player 1: F-15
TV: Fatelo saltare!…l'ho preso, l'ho preso! (explosion)
Hitler: Ich verkünde die Spiele von Berlin zur Feier der elften Olympiade neuer Zeitrechnung als eröffnet (Hitler is sinking)

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II

Italian Narrator: La situazione è sotto controllo… Non vi sono né vincitori né vinti… Le cellule si rigenerano…
English Narrator: The situation is under control. There are nor winners, nor loosers. Cells are regenerating…
Italian Narrator: Il corpo si riorganizza…
English Narrator: The body is organizing new strategies. Blood is flowing again.
Italian Narrator: Il sangue scorre ancora.
American (man): If I had power, I'd like to send people to very cold northern places, where they could not rest at lunch-time…shop-keepers, workers and public officers…a lot of these people that don't do anything at lunch time…send them to Siberia, without lunch-break.
Reagan: Thank you very much. The speaker, the president, distinguished members of congress, honored guests and fellow citizens, may I congratulate all of you who are members of this historic one hundredth congress of the United states of America in this two hundredth anniversary year of our constitution, you and I stand on the shoulders of giants, men whose words and deeds put wind in the sails of freedom - however, we must always remember that our constitution is not to be celebrated for being old, but for being young, young with the same energy, spirit and promise that filled each eventful day in Philadelphia state house…
German Narrator: Die Situation war unter Kontrolle
Lenin: Chto takoe sovetskaja vlast'? V chem zakl'uchaetsa sushnost' etoi novoi vlasti, kotoroi ne khotjat ili ne mogut ponjat' eshe v bol'shinstve stran?
(What is Soviet power? What is the essence of this new power which they don't want or are still unable to understand in most other countries?)
German Narrator: Es gibt weder Sieger noch Besiegte.
Mao: Tong Zhì Men. Peny You Men. Wo Dai Biao Guo Ren Can Jia Qing Zhù (…) Tong Zhi Shi Shaù Qing…
(Comrades and friends, I represent the delegation to join the celebration party for this comrade (…) 70 years birthsday…)
German Narrator: Das Blut fließt noch immer.
Italian Narrator: Il sangue scorre ancora.
Bossi: sarebbe gravissimo che il Presidente della Repubblica sia d'accordo con chi mette al bando il popolo!
(It would be very serious that the president of our repubblic agrees with those who like to ostracize the people) (explosion)

III

Chinese (man): I would like to use power against the power.
TV: Adesso avremo l'occasione di lanciare un'offensiva.
TV: Sbrigatevi un po' lassù…noi siamo pronti…ehi tiratevi giù…Manuel, Manuel…alza Manuel…salta giù Manuel
French (woman): If I have a power, I would like that …this power was female power. It would be a revenge on men who exerced power on me…on my life. It would be power of the beauty and of feelings and not a power of rules, law and of religion. I would like to exerce this power on men and to make them everything I would like they do.

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STORIA

(A strong power is dominating and spreading everywhere. A man is escaping in an endless run, between slogans and dog-barkings, military marches and threatening thumps. The power advances faster and faster until it destroyes itself. The situation degenerates into anarchy and rebellion).

I

Italian Narrator: Storia. Anno Secondo.
German Narrator: Es ist leichter, ein ganzes Volk auszumerzen als einen einzigen Verantwortlichen. Es ist leichter, den Befehlen eines Verrückten zu gehorchen, als die eigene Autonomie zu wählen. Und es ist viel leichter, das eigene Gedächtnis auszulöschen, als die Erinnerung an die eigene Schande zu akzeptieren.
English Narrator: Year 2.
German Narrator: Wir müssen die Tyrannen schlagen, schnellstmöglich ein Gericht schaffen, das die Schuldingen aburteilt und auf der Stelle vernichtet. Wir müssen jede Spur der Vergangenheit verwischen, müssen ein Programm der Zivilisierung starten, das die Welt vom Unwissen befreit. Wir forden das Recht auf Bildung für alle. Alle sind gleich, Männer, sogar Frauen. Laßt uns die Sümpfe der Ignoranz austrocken! Laßt uns der Welt ihre Schatten nehmen. Laßt und gemeinsam zum Licht marschieren. Wir müssen die Tyrannen schlagen…
Italian Narrator: Dobbiamo abbattere i tiranni, istituire al più presto un tribunale che giudichi i colpevoli e li elimini seduta stante. Dobbiamo cancellare ogni traccia del passato, iniziare un programma di civilizzazione che tolga l'ignoranza dal mondo. Rivendichiamo il diritto all'istruzione per tutti. Tutti gli uomini sono uguali. Tutte le donne sono uguali. Bonifichiamo le paludi dell'Ignoranza. Ripuliamo il mondo dalle tenebre. Marciamo uniti verso la Luce. Dobbiamo abbattere i tiranni…
English Narrator: We must overthrow tyrants and bring them to justice; we must eliminate tyranny. We must erase any trace of our past, start a program of civilization which rids the world of ignorance. We must claim the right to instruct everybody. All men are equal. All women are equal too. Let's drain the marshes of ignorance. Let's march together towards the light. Everybody! Everybody! Everybody!
Italian (man): If, for one day, or once, I could decide for the planet, or…for many many millions people…sure, I abolish the money. I think this is the most important abolition that I can decide for change the planet.

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II

English Narrator: It's easier to destroy an entire people, than it is to kill one single guilty person.
TV: Fuoco!…
English Narrator: It's easier to obey a madman's order, instead of choosing our own autonomy.
TV: Now!…
English Narrator: And it's much easier to erase memory, instead of accepting the remembrance of our past shame.
Italian Narrator: L'ordine…il disordine.
German Narrator: Die Ordnung…die Unordnung.
English Narrator: Order…disorder.
German Narrator: Die Unordnung.
Italian Narrator: Il disordine.
German Narrator: Es ist leichter, ein ganzes Volk auszumerzen als einen einzigen Verantwortlichen. Es ist leichter, den Befehlen eines Verrückten zu gehorchen, als die eigene Autonomie zu wählen. Und es ist viel leichter, das eigene Gedächtnis auszulöschen, als die Erinnerung an die eigene Schande zu akzeptieren.

III

Polish (woman): If I have power, really power, true power…I immediately…take…take away power from these very thin, very beautiful girls.
Serbian (man): If I have power… it means that the first step will be to destroyed all others who also have powers… it means, it's the wish of each dictators just to destroyed the concurrence…and then, when we are alone, then we can give all our wishes to our people, and I'm completely sure that this is the beginning of each good vision, because only when we are alone we have good visions.
D'Alema: Questo congresso è a mio giudizio utile; utile perché da questo congresso vengono idee, slancio, critiche, passione unitaria, orgoglio, di cui c'è bisogno, per affrontare le sfide difficili che ancora sono davanti a noi; utile perché il congresso ha rilanciato il ruolo fondamentale, unitario, ma non arrogante della principale forza del centro-sinistra; perché il congresso ha messo in campo un'identità appassionata, e una proposta politica convincente, e lo ha fatto a partire da una relazione che condivido pienamente per la sua chiarezza, per la sua forza e per il suo coraggio politico.
(Trad.: In my opinion this congress is useful; useful because it brings out ideas, enthusiasm, critics, passion for unity, pride, which we need to face the difficoult challenges which are in front of us; useful because the congress has re-proposed the rule, the fundamental but non-arrogant rule of unity of the centre-left party; because the congress has shown a passionate identity, and convincing politics; it has done this, starting from a relation with which I agree completely, for its clearness, its stenght and its political courage).
Chinese: Use power
German (woman): If I had power…
Chinese: Against the…
German: I would like to choose my parents…
Chinese: Power
German: expecially my father.
Pope Woytila: Dear brothers and sisters, today I wish to you my gratitude, to the civil and religious authorities in India and in Georgia for their welcomed hospitality during my recent visit; New Dehli, at the conclusion of the special cerimony…
Interpreter: Il Santo Padre ha aperto il discorso rivolto ai pellegrini di lingua inglese, dicendo che desidera rinnovare la sua gratitudine alle autorità civili e religiose dell'India e della Georgia per l'accoglienza che gli hanno riservato durante la sua recente visita; ricorda anche a loro che la ragione del suo viaggio è stata soprattutto la firma dell'esortazione ecclesia in Asia…
Italian Narrator: Fantastoria.
English Narrator: Year 3, democracy
Italian Narrator: Anno Terzo, la guerra è terminata, siamo liberi finalmente!

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FANTASTORIA

(Democracy is rebuilt. Some radio-tv DJs explain to the listeners how beautiful the new society is, and how many improvements have been done. Television, satellyte, pubblicity are broadcasting information 24 hours per day between techno and funky. Step by step they start dominating, until the war explodes again, for a rebellion in the "Untouched Zones", lands which are out of control, the last remaining oasis where all the trash of civilization is discarded)

I

American DJ: We have created modern man, dynamic, active, engaged, very engaged, always engaged. New ideas, new structures, new organizations. And now a short break for publicity…
TV: Ben cinquantanove programmi a vostra disposizione per combattere con incredibile ed estrema efficacia la pelle a buccia d'arancia!
American DJ: For childhood we have invented the new dialectic toys, push the button and… (electronics toys)
Italian Narrator: Siamo liberi finalmente!
German DJ: Darüberhinaus haben wir großartige elektronische, interaktive, multimediale Gärten geschaffen, mit denen die Intensität des Grün, der Sonnenwärme, des Wasserflusses kontrolliert werden, ja sogar die Lautstärke der Geräusche regoliert werden können. (electronic gardens)
Italian DJ: E abbiamo inventato i nuovi cartoni animati
TV-Cartoons: Adesso mi arrabbio sul serio. Attento Johnny, Asso sta intervenendo per…
German DJ: Und jetz die Werbung
TV: Und das ist heiß, das flüssige zum kleinen Preis!
TV: Laßen Sie Ihre Ansprüche wachsen mit dem Nuikur!
American DJ: We have created employements for millions of people, even a thousand million, in accordance with the safety norms, listen to it…(factories)
Italian (man): If I had power, I would like to see what would happen if all kinds of pubblicity where banned, completely banned, and everybody who has something to say was obliged to make real information.
American DJ: In this way we have been able to keep inflation under the danger-mark (of course with a little increase in taxes).
German DJ: Dank der Technik der Klonens besiegen wir alle Krankheiten und haben mit einem bis ins Kleinste durchdachten Sterilisationsprogramm für Nahrung, Wasser, und Luft begonnen.
American DJ: The new industrial radioactive slags are not a problem anymore: we bury them into the "Untouched Zones", lands out of danger, isolated places which by definition will never develop…(African Music)
Italian Narrator: Siamo liberi finalmente!
TV: And we can see Portugal quite clearly, but take a look at some of the white spots here on the costas of Spain, quite heavy showers today and here across the Alps, which got some snow showers falling throughout Austria and Switzerland, and the eastern Mediterranean in a complete mess, lots of showers around, across the south of france through Corsica and down towards Sicily and the south of Italy…
TV: Mike, here is the counting house, there is the…chancellor preparing for his fourth budget this afternoon, it really is a sunny day for him, isn't it? because, as you intimate…
TV: Adesso mi arrabbio sul serio. Attento Johnny, Asso sta intervenendo per salvare il suo amico. Un calcio nei gioielli di famiglia. Grazie Asso mi hai preceduto, stavo giusto per farlo fuori. Il suo problema è…con questo colpo a sorpresa Rissa riporta il match in parità. Ehi fratello, ti andrebbe di andare a fare un giretto…
American DJ: But the biggest invention nowadays is of course the satellyte; in every moment of your life you can connect yourself, control and be controlled, get news and know if everything in the world is O.K.
Italian DJ: E scoprire che nel mondo è tutto O.K.
German DJ: Und jetz die Werbung
TV: Hello, want a low cost loan at your convenience - whatever you want eight hundred to fifteen thousand pounds for…
Italian DJ: E dopo la pubblicità, una breve interruzione pubblicitaria
TV: L'evento dell'anno…our rates reflect your circumstances…
Italian (woman): If I had the power, I would like to cut the (bip), to all men in the world, expecially to German men (laughing)
Italian DJ: Abbiamo interessanti soluzioni per il tempo libero: Ginnastica Ritmica, Aritmica, Aritmetica, Anti-Ginnastica, Fitness Sociale, Anti-Sociale, Yoga, Yogurth, Meditazione Auto-riflessione, Massaggio Bio-Erotico, il tutto con musiche altamente terapeutiche…(Oriental Music)
American DJ: And to the point of music, a short break dedicated to teenagers and young people…
German DJ: Übrigens, was die Musik anbetriffts, etwas Kleines für die Jugend (tum-tum-tum-tum…)
Italian DJ: E per chi ama cantare, abbiamo inventato "I Tenori" (grand concert)
American DJ: The royalties of this show will be devolved to the "Sufferers", poor people (luckily endangered species) actually living into the "Untouched Zones"…(African music)
German DJ: Und jetzt Werbung, Werbung, Werbung!
American DJ: And now, pubblicity, pubblicity, pubblicity!
German DJ: Und jetzt Werbung, Werbung, Werbung!
Berlusconi: Non potete dire di essere democratici, se poi volete impedire con un trabocchetto al leader dell'opposizione, pigliando a scusa il conflitto di interessi, il cui disegno di legge avete finora tenuto nel cassetto, affinché non si possa neppure presentare come candidato alla guida del governo; non potete votare in Parlamento, se siete democratici, delle leggi ad-personam; non potete fare questo, non potete fare quest'altro, e la lista di ciò che loro fanno e che è in contrasto con chi è un vero democratico, è una lista lunga, è una lista molto negativa che tutti quanti conosciamo.
(Trad.: You can't say that you are democratic, when you try with a trick to prevent the leader of the opposition from presenting himself as a candidate for the leadership of our government, by taking the conflict of interest as an excuse. You can't vote in the Parlament for "ad-personam" laws if you are democratic; you can't do this, you can't do that, and the list of things they are doing, in contrast to those who are real democratic, is a big list, a very negative list which each one of us knows perfectly…)
TV: Und das ist heiß, das flüssige zum kleinen Preis!

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II

Berlusconi: Non potete dire di essere democratici…(explosion)
English Narrator: Year 4. The war had exploded again, more in the west side of the Cartesian Plane.
Italian Narrator: Anno Quarto.
German Narrator: Einige behaupten, in den "Jungfräulichen Zonen" sei es unter den Leidenden zu einer Rebellion gekommen. Anscheinend habe einer von ihnen - einer aus der Spezies der - sagen wir - "Intellektuellen", diese Art unwissender und unziviler Medizinmänner also, die nicht einmal den genauen Zeitpunkt der Entdeckung ihres Landes kennen, so ein Mann habe sich also geweigert, die eigene Hütte desinfizieren zu lassen und sei zudem bei der Paarung ohne Präservativ gesehen worden.
Player 1: A-28
TV: Fuoco!…
Italian Narrator: Alcuni dicevano che nelle "Zone Vergini" fra i Sofferenti, c'era stata una ribellione.
Hungarian (woman): If you have a negative power, just like a dictator, I will kill all the artistic peoples, all the people that make art, because I think we are a parasit in the world, parasit on this big planet, we are artist!
Player 2: X-21
TV: Now!…
English Narrator: Someone said that in the "Untouched Zones", among the "Sufferers", there had been a sort of rebellion; it seems that one of their, let's say "intellectuals" this genre of very ignorant and uncivilized magicians who don't even know the date in which their own land was discovered, had refused to disinfect their log-cabin, and, what's more, had been seen mating without the condom, and like sheep before the "Age Of Cloning", his people then started the revolution.
Player 1: L-11
TV: Fuoco!…
English Narrator: But there are other hypothesis as well, some of them more peculiar still.
Italian Narrator: Una certa Scuola, per altro assai pericolosa, sostiene che la guerra sia scoppiata a causa di un malinteso nel mondo dell'informazione; alcuni proprietari di network televisivo avrebbero… come dire…divulgato notizie tendenziose sul governo, cercando di manipolare i dati ai fini di un colpo di stato.
German Narrator: Eines Staatsstreiches
English Narrator: Coup d'état (explosion).
German Narrator: Die mit Sicherheit unglaubwürdigste Quelle jedoch ist eine kleine Gruppe von Dissidenten, die kühn behaupten, der Krieg diene dazu, neues Geld zu erzeugen!
Italian Narrator: la guerra genera denaro!
English Narrator: War produces profits!

III

1st Child: Gibt Feuer, verbrennt alles, mein Mond-Desentegrator ist der stärkste des Universums!
Russian (man): If I had the power…hmmm!…

Lucca-Wiepersdorf, October 1999 - June 2000