Fabio

Author: Yi He
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features:
Introduction: This narrative long poem is based on a little-known piece of Italian history from the 18th century, telling a magnificent yet tragic love story. During the era of opera's popularity, castrati dominated the stage. From a young age, they were cruelly castrated and trained to become opera singers. This poem narrates the legendary career, painful life, and tragic love story of the castrato Fabio, vividly portraying his spirit of pursuing art, longing for love, and resisting the castration system. At the same time, it also recreates the joy brought by the unique voices of castrati, their outstanding contributions to opera, and the devastation of the castration system on human nature.
When Hai Lan was ten years old, the bishop bought her from the orphanage to serve as a maid for the nine-year-old castrated boy Fabio. The two spent an unhappy childhood together, forging a sibling-like bond. As Fabio grew up, he became one of the most famous castrati in Naples, and composer Scarlatti was his teacher. By chance, Fabio met the Duke's daughter, Lady Jacquin, and the two fell deeply in love. When a marriage of convenience was arranged for Jacquin, her sister Roberta gave up her own love for the teacher Morinari and took her place, marrying Count Andre. To save a young boy about to be castrated by the bishop, Fabio was whipped by him. Jacquin desperately tried to stop the bishop's cruelty, exposing her love for Fabio.
The castrato Pablo, who had grown up with Fabio, had always envied his talent. Taking advantage of the opportunity, he conspired with the bishop to send Fabio to the royal palace as a gift to the king. During this time, the Prince Carlo fell in love with Jacquin and discovered her affair with Fabio. Carlo tried every means to sow discord, causing Jacquin to misunderstand Fabio. Out of anger and desperation, Jacquin married Carlo. After Hai Lan tirelessly resolved the misunderstanding between Fabio and Jacquin, their longing and love for each other deepened. Upon learning this, the prince imprisoned Fabio. When Jacquin and Hai Lan attempted to rescue Fabio, they were discovered by the bishop. Forced to kill the bishop to save Fabio, Jacquin was left heartbroken and separated from him.
Fabio and Hai Lan arrived in Rome, where they met the kind-hearted poor doctor Correggio and the beautiful Miss Maggie. They formed a deep friendship and received encouragement from their teacher Scarlatti. When Fabio, Hai Lan, and Correggio traveled together to Milan, a city of commerce and culture, Fabio's performance was praised by the Pope's adopted daughter, Sister Attilis. To give the Pope a special birthday gift, Attilis invited Fabio and his companions to stay in her luxurious palace. At the Pope's birthday banquet, Fabio performed with an unexpected knife wound, earning amazed admiration from the Pope and the guests. Deeply moved, the Pope crowned Fabio as the highest, once again changing his fate.
Correggio fell deeply in love with the pure and kind Hai Lan. When she politely refused his proposal, Correggio left Milan and returned to Rome, continuing his ordinary yet happy life. When Fabio became the most outstanding castrato singer in Milan, he faced a challenge from Pablo. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Pablo publicly slandered Fabio, claiming he had killed the bishop, severely damaging his spirit and causing him to collapse. Under the Pope's encouragement, Fabio regained his strength, overcoming the arrogant Pablo with his exceptional talent and noble character, winning the understanding and respect of the people. Pablo disappeared from the opera stage from then on.
Following the envoy sent by the Milanese Pope, Fabio and Hai Lan returned to their long-lost Naples. By then, Jacquin was no longer a princess and was under house arrest. As Duke of Milan, Fabio met Jacquin and learned that she still longed for him day and night. Determined to rescue Jacquin and restore her freedom, Fabio discovered that Prince Carlo and the priests planned to castrate a group of boys. Enraged, he resolved to sacrifice his life to stop the cruel castration and save the innocent children. Jacquin and Hai Lan awaited Fabio and the children at the designated port. The children were saved, but Fabio lost his life in the struggle with Prince Carlo and his men.
When Jacquin learned of Fabio's death, she was heartbroken. In the rosebush where they had met, Jacquin followed Fabio in death with unwavering resolve. From then on, Hai Lan, Fabio's former maid, remained in the place where her master had passed away, becoming a nun in the Neapolitan monastery. She devoutly prayed for the souls of Fabio and Jacquin, eternally guarding their graves, and continued to love her master Fabio silently with the rest of her life.