Zefiro Torna – Orfeo

The madrigal “Zefiro torna” was created in the early Baroque period by Claudio Monteverdi and combines lyrical texts by Ottavio Rinuccini.

The opening line “Zefiro torna, e’l bel tempo rimena” can be translated as “Zephyr returns and brings the beautiful weather with it.” Zephyr, the personification of the west wind, symbolizes the arrival of spring and the revitalization of nature. This line runs as a “Leitmotif” throughout the entire piece, emphasizing the changing of the seasons and the renewal of life.

In this piece, Claudio Monteverdi explores the revival of nature and the contrasting feelings of joy and sorrow, as well as the sense of abandonment and loneliness. The piece captures the beauty and renewal of nature and links it to the inner conflicts of a person who feels trapped in a desolate world without the presence of a beloved figure.

Cornelia Rainer brings excerpts from Monteverdi’s work to the stage as part of the thematic focus “Shakespeare – A Republic of Errors” at the Burgtheater Kasino.