08/10/2025
The story of Pharnassus came to Copenhagen from Anatolian Black Sea 2000 years later!
Vivaldi’s “Gelido in ogni vena” comes from his 1738 opera Farnace. The opera tells the tragic story of Pharnaces II of Pontus, a historical ruler caught in the turmoil of love, war, and loss.
The aria appears in Act II, sung by Farnace himself after he believes his son has died. In this moment, he is frozen with grief — his blood turns to ice, his heart stops beating. Vivaldi paints that emotion in sound: trembling strings, suspended harmonies, and a chilling stillness.
The text roughly translates to:
“Cold flows through my veins,
my heart no longer beats,
for the life of my son is gone.”
It’s one of Vivaldi’s most haunting laments — a father’s sorrow captured in pure music.
During the concert, this aria found a new life through eastern instruments, blending Baroque drama with the deep, resonant colors of Istanbul’s musical tradition. With beautiful voice of Kirsten ❤️
