Traducciones inéditas de tragedias de Alfieri en España

Abstract

El dramaturgo italiano Vittorio Alfieri (1749-1803) tuvo en su época un extraordinario alcance y una difusión europea acordes con la importancia de su obra, tan famosa como discutida. A lo largo de toda su producción aparecen muchos análisis de la realidad que le hacen precursor de ideas y movimientos actuales. La modernidad de su pensamiento es patente en el concepto del ciudadano libre, la independencia de los intelectuales responsables respecto al poder, la lucha contra la opresión de las tiranías, la perversión del lenguaje políticamente correcto y la actuación de la mujer libre y resoluta, como son sus heroínas. Su polémica actitud vital y su búsqueda constante de la verdad le debieron ayudar a destacar entre los intelectuales de la época. En España se tradujeron, se editaron y representaron algunas de sus tragedias que despertaron gran interés. En los teatros su éxito no fue escaso. Dramaturgo muy controvertido, unos lo defendieron con intensidad y otros lo desestimaron criticándolo con dureza, pero su huella quedó patente en muchos de los dramaturgos españoles de los primeros años del siglo XIX. La identificación en España de, al menos, siete manuscritos inéditos, traducciones de otras tantas tragedias del autor italiano, ha despertado nuestro interés porque revelan que su fama fue mayor aún de la que se le adjudicó oficialmente...

The Italian playwright Vittorio Alfieri (1749 – 1803) had in his time an extraordinary significance and a wide circulation in Europe as befitted the importance of his work as famous as it was controversial. Throughout his entire production there appears an analysis of reality which makes him a forerunner of current ideas and movements. The modernity of his thinking is evident in the concept of the free citizen, the independence of responsible intellectuals regards power, the struggle against the oppression of tyranny, the perversion of politically correct language and the behaviour of free and resolute women, as are his heroines. His controversial attitude to life and his constant search for truth must have helped in making him stand out amongst the intellectuals of his time. Some of his translations were translated, published and represented in Spain and aroused great interest. In the theatre his success was by no means insignificant. As a contraversial playwright, some defended him fervently and others rejected him criticising his work harshly, but he left his mark on many Spanish playwrights of the early nineteenth century. The identification of at least seven unpublished manuscripts, translations of that many tragedies of the author has captured our interest because they reveal that his reputation was greater than that with which he was officially credited...