Era uma vez

Era uma vez um curioso exemplar de Cupressus lusitanica, o tal cedro-do-Buçaço que é um cipreste, que morava à beira de um caminho junto ao relvado de Monserrate. Os ventos deste Inverno levaram-no.

Há umas quantas primaveras entretive-me a brincar com fotografias de lá e com Vathek, o poema sinfónico que Luís de Freitas Branco concluiu em 1914, baseado na novela homónima de William Beckford (que viveu em Monserrate antes de Monserrate ser como é), e que é, segundo Alexandre Delgado, uma das obras mais vanguardistas do seu tempo.

O califa Vathek é outro personagem fáustico que não hesita em cometer as maiores crueldades para ir além dos limites que o Criador impôs ao conhecimento humano, tendo mandado construir cinco palácios colossais dedicados à total satisfação de cada um dos cinco sentidos. São esses palácios que descreve cada uma das variações deste poema sinfónico sobre um tema musical árabe.

 "Tema e Prólogo - Variação I"
 Orquestra Filarmónica de Budapeste, András Kórodi

He surpassed in magnificence all his predecessors. The palace of Alkoremmi, which his father Motassem had erected on the hill of Pied Horses, and which commanded the whole city of Samarah, was in his idea far too scanty; he added therefore five wings, or rather other palaces, which he destined for the particular gratification of each of his senses.
In the first of these were tables continually covered with the most exquisite dainties, which were supplied both by night and by day, according to their constant consumption, whilst the most delicious wines and the choicest cordials flowed forth from a hundred fountains that were never exhausted. This palace was called “The Eternal or Unsatiating Banquet.”
The second was styled “The Temple of Melody, or the Nectar of the Soul.” It was inhabited by the most skilful musicians and admired poets of the time, who not only displayed their talents within, but, dispersing in bands without, caused every surrounding scene to reverberate their songs, which were continually varied in the most delightful succession.

William Beckford, Vathek