Performance filmed on 23 November 2019 at the Metropolitan Opera in New York
Anthony Roth Costanzo, Akhnaten
J'Nai Bridges, Nefertiti
Dísella Lárusdóttir, Queen Tye
ACT I – SCENE 3
The Window of Appearances
A windowed balcony of the palace used for state appearances. The music from the opening of the coronation scene is heard again, played on large bells and providing a musical and dramatic transition to what follows. Akhnaten is joined by Nefertiti and his mother, Queen Tye. They approach the Window of Appearances and sing (first a solo, then a duo and finally a trio) through the window. It is a hymn of acceptance and resolve and, in spirit, announces a new era.
Text sung in Egyptian by Akhnaten, Nefertiti, and Queen Tye (from Budge, The Gods of Egyptians)
Tut wu-a yeri enti
Wa-a Wa-u yeri wenenet
Perer en rem em yertif
Kheper Netcheru tep ref
Yeri semu se-ankh menmen
Khet en ankhu en henmemet
Yeri ankh-ti remu en yetru
Apdu genekh pet
Redi nefu en enti em suhet
Se-ankh apnentu yeri ankhti khenus Djedfet puyu mitet yeri
Yeri Kherti penu em babasen
Se ankh puyu em khet nebet Ye-nedj hrak yeri
Enen er a-u
AKHNATEN:
Oh, one creator of all things
Oh, one maker of all existences
Men came forth from his two eyes
The gods sprang into existence at the utterances of his mouth
TYE & AKHNATEN:
He maketh the green herbs to make cattle live
And the staff of life for the use of man
He maketh the fish to live in the rivers, The winged fowl in the sky
AKHNATEN & NEFERTITI:
He giveth the breath of life to the egg
He maketh birds of all kinds to live
And likewise the reptiles that creep and fly He causeth the rats to live in their holes
TYE, AKHNATEN, NEFERTITI:
And the birds that are on every green thing Hail to thee maker of all these things
Thou only one.
