The “Order of the virtues”, opera written in the 12nd century, transcends music by bringing together literature, philosophy, theology and spirituality in a single art piece. Dr Zoltan Paulinyi presents his translation next to the Latin text to maintain the words’ correspondence to bring the reader closer to the author's original message and facilitate musical and theatrical production. The full score is included as the facsimile of the opera manuscript.
The order of the virtues remains one of the most engaging philosophical themes of the last millennium. Saint Hildegard elegantly presented the questioning through this sublime and solemn opera, inspiring hundreds of intellectuals after her, like Saint Thomas Aquinas, to seek more complete answers.
On a battlefield, patriarchs and prophets admire the personified virtues. The Virtues wish to protect three incarnated souls: the Happy, the Unhappy and the Penitent ones.
Out of 23 characters and members of the choirs, 18 virtues appear successively. Following the cavalry’s customs, the virtues seek to coat the souls with appropriate armour and encourage them to honour their garments fighting against the devil.
Each virtue aims to consolidate a leading position in the order of virtues to strengthen the souls at the battlefield, which symbolizes the life.
The Penitent Soul converts with the help of the Virtues and struggles against the ancient serpent.
The Unhappy Soul, who desisted from the fight, reveals the great God’s miracle when aided after calling for help. The virtues come together to arrest the devil, and to show souls the right path for God. The opera ends by glorifying the magnificent divine wisdom and requesting for God's blessings.
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