| Operas by Vincenzo Bellini |
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Adelson e Salvini (1825) |
Beatrice di Tenda, is a 'tragedia lirica', or tragic opera in two acts by Vincenzo Bellini, from a libretto by Felice Romani, after the play of the same name by Carlo Tedaldi-Fores. Vincenzo Salvatore Carmelo Francesco Bellini ( November 3, 1801 &ndash September 23, 1835) was a Sicilian Opera Composer Adelson e Salvini ( Adelson and Salvini) is a three act Opera semiseria composed by Vincenzo Bellini and first performed at the Teatro del Conservatorio Bianca e Fernando ( English Bianca and Fernando) is an Opera in two acts by Vincenzo Bellini. Il pirata ( The Pirate) is an Opera in two acts by Vincenzo Bellini to an Italian libretto by Felice Romani from La straniera ( English The Stranger) is an Opera in two acts by Vincenzo Bellini, from a Libretto by Felice Romani, based Zaira is a tragedia lirica, or tragic Opera in two acts by Vincenzo Bellini ( 1829) from a libretto by Felice Romani based on the I Capuleti e i Montecchi ( The Capulets and the Montagues) is an Italian Opera by Vincenzo Bellini. La sonnambula ( The Sleepwalker) is an Opera semiseria in two acts music by Vincenzo Bellini to an Italian Libretto by Felice Norma is a tragedia lirica or Opera in two acts by Vincenzo Bellini with Libretto by Felice Romani after Norma ossia I puritani ( The Puritans) is an Opera in three acts by Vincenzo Bellini. Opera is an art form in which Singers and Musicians perform a Dramatic work (called an opera which combines a text (called a Libretto Vincenzo Salvatore Carmelo Francesco Bellini ( November 3, 1801 &ndash September 23, 1835) was a Sicilian Opera Composer A libretto is the text used in an extended Musical work such as an Opera, Operetta, Masque, sacred or secular Oratorio and Felice Romani ( January 31, 1788 — January 28, 1865) was an Italian Poet and scholar of literature and Mythology
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Background
The composer chose the subject in discussions with Giuditta Pasta after they had seen the ballet together in Milan, against the better judgement of Romani and despite similarities with Donizetti's Anna Bolena. Domenico Gaetano Maria Donizetti (29 November 1797 &ndash 8 April 1848 was an Italian composer from Bergamo, Lombardy. Anna Bolena is a tragedia lirica, or Opera, in two acts by Gaetano Donizetti. Work was problematic, and the finale was not finished in time for the premiere so Beatrice's final aria was borrowed from Bianca e Fernando; Bellini's sketches of a former duet between Beatrice and Agnese were realized by Vittorio Gui for a series of revivals from the late 1960s. This article is about the musical term "aria" For other meanings or uses of the word see Aria (disambiguation. Bianca e Fernando ( English Bianca and Fernando) is an Opera in two acts by Vincenzo Bellini. Vittorio Gui (born 14 September, 1885 in Rome; died 16 October, 1975 in Florence) was an Italian conductor Romani's distaste for the subject, and his exasperation with Bellini, led him to insert an apology into the printed libretto; this led to a bitter row with the composer and a breakdown of their difficult, if glorious, working relationship.
The chorus plays an even more important part here than in Bellini's earlier operas, not only commenting on the action but advising and comforting the protagonists, in the true tradition of classical Greek drama. The theatre of ancient Greece, or ancient Greek drama, is a theatrical Culture that flourished in ancient Greece between c
Bellini felt he had counteracted the horror of the story with his beautiful music and that Beatrice "was not unworthy of her sisters". It was Pasta's fine performance in the title role that overcame the public's hostility to the piece, and it was the only one of Bellini's operas to be published in fiull score in his lifetime.
Performance history
It received its first performance at the Teatro La Fenice, Venice, on 16 March 1833 with Giuditta Pasta in the title role. Teatro La Fenice ("The Phoenix " is an Opera house in Venice, Italy. Venice ( Italian: Venezia, Venetian: Venesia or Venexia) is a city in Northern Italy, the capital of the Events 597 BC - Babylonians capture Jerusalem, replace Jehoiachin with Zedekiah as king Year 1833 ( MDCCCXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Giuditta Angiola Maria Costanza Pasta (née Negri October 26, 1797 - April 1, 1865) born in Saronno, Italy, was
It was revived in 1961 by the American Opera society with Joan Sutherland, Enzo Sordello and Marilyn Horne under the baton of Nicola Rescigno, and in the same year at La Scala with Sutherland and Raina Kabaivanska, with Antonino Votto conducting. Year 1961 ( MCMLXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. WikipediaWikiProject Opera#Infoboxes --> Dame Joan Alston Sutherland, OM, AC, DBE (born 7 November 1926 The American Opera singer Marilyn Horne (b January 16 1934 Bradford Pennsylvania) is a Mezzo-soprano who is particularly associated with The Teatro alla Scala (or La Scala, as it is known in Milan, Italy, is one of the world's most famous Opera houses The theatre was Raina Kabaivanska (Райна Кабаиванска ( December 15, 1934) is a Bulgarian opera singer one of the leading lirico-spinto Sopranos Antonino Votto ( October 30, 1896 - September 9, 1985) was an Italian operatic conductor Since then, the title role has been assumed by a number of other prominent sopranos, including Leyla Gencer, Mirella Freni, Lucia Aliberti, June Anderson and Edita Gruberová. Leyla Gencer, or Ayşe Leyla Çeyrekgil (b October 10, 1928 in Istanbul, Turkey – d Mirella Freni (born 27 February 1935 as Mirella Fregni is an Italian Opera Soprano much admired for the youthful Lucia Aliberti (born August 12, 1963 in Messina) is a prominent Sicilian Soprano Opera singer June Anderson (born December 30, 1952) is a Grammy -award winning American Coloratura Soprano. Edita Gruberová (born December 23, 1946, Bratislava) is a Slovak Soprano who is one of the most acclaimed Coloraturas of
Beatrice di Tenda is Bellini's penultimate opera, coming after Norma (1831) and followed by I puritani (1835). Norma is a tragedia lirica or Opera in two acts by Vincenzo Bellini with Libretto by Felice Romani after Norma ossia Year 1831 ( MDCCCXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a I puritani ( The Puritans) is an Opera in three acts by Vincenzo Bellini. Year 1835 ( MDCCCXXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, March 16, 1833 (Conductor: - ) |
|---|---|---|
| Beatrice di Tenda, Filippo's wife | soprano | Giuditta Pasta |
| Filippo Maria Visconti, Duke of Milan | baritone | Orazio Cartegenova |
| Agnese de Maino, in love with Orombello | mezzo-soprano | Anna del Serre |
| Orombello, lord of Ventimiglia | tenor | Alberico Curioni |
| Anichino, loyal friend of Orombello | tenor | Alessandro Giacchini |
| Rizzardo del Maino, Agnese's brother | tenor |
- The Bel Canto Operas, Charles Osborne, Amadeus Press ISBN 0-931340-84-5
Synopsis
This is the story of the woman who was the widow of the condottiere Facino Cane and later the wife of Filippo Maria Visconti, in 15th century Milan. This article is related to a series of articles under the main article Voice type. Giuditta Angiola Maria Costanza Pasta (née Negri October 26, 1797 - April 1, 1865) born in Saronno, Italy, was The following is a list of rulers of Milan from the 13th century to 1859 when Milan and the rest of Lombardy were incorporated into the Kingdom of This article is related to a series of articles under the main article Voice type. This article is related to a series of articles under the main article Voice type. WIDOW is a full-length Album recorded by British rock band Ritual released in 1983 Condottieri (singular condottiero, rarely condottiero) were Mercenary leaders employed by the Italian City-states from the Late Middle Facino Cane da Casale, born Bonifacio Cane (1360 - May 1412 was an Italian Condottiero. A wife is a Female spouse or participant in a Marriage, or Civil union or Civil partnership. Filippo Maria Visconti, ( September 23, 1392 &ndash August 13, 1447) was ruler of Milan from 1412 to 1447 Milan (Milano Milan (listen) is one of the largest cities in Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy.
Duke Filippo is finding marriage to Beatrice boring, while she regrets her impetuous marriage to him after her first husband's death, which has delivered her and her people into the Duke's tyrannical power.
Act 1
Filippo attends a ball at the Castle Binasco in Italy, shadowed as usual by the sinister Rizzardo. He is fed up with everyone bowing and scraping to his wife. His sycophantic courtiers tell him how much they sympathize, and suggest that Beatrice's servants are all plotting against him.
Beautiful harp music is heard. Agnese, the current object of Filippo's lust, sings from afar that life is empty without love. Filippo echoes her thoughts and states how much he loves her; she has no equal. His courtiers again sympathize with him and encourage him to seize the moment. Agnese disappears and all leave. Then Agnese reappears, this time singing for Orombello. Mysteriously, she wishes that her heart will guide him to her arms and, as in all good opera plots, the object of her lust makes his entrance. Orombello splutters that he does not know where he is or why he is there. Comforted by Agnese, he begins to relax and agrees that he is deeply in love and, when asked about a letter, shows her the one he is carrying. "Such misfortune!" The letter he is referring to is one of many he has written to Beatrice and not the one that Agnese had sent to him. Agnese's world falls apart, her tenderness turns to vitriol, and the two of them spit out a dramatic aria and leave.
Beatrice enters one of her secret places with her ladies. She is happy, but soon loses her poise and laments how misguided she has been to have married the evil Duke Filippo. As they all go to leave, Filippo sees them in the distance and, believing she is avoiding him, demands that she be brought back. The two of them accuse and rage at each other, with Filippo producing some secret papers stolen from Beatrice's apartment.
In another scene, slightly the worse for wear, Filippo's soldiers discuss his silence and temper. Beatrice enters carrying a portrait of her beloved, deceased husband, Facino. She is bemoaning the fact that everyone has abandoned her when Orombello enters protesting that he has not. Excitedly, he tells her his plans to rally the troops and help her free herself. She crushes him saying, in so many words, that she does not rate his expertise in security matters. Stunned, Orombello protests his love and, even when begged to do so, will not leave her presence; instead, he kneels down in front of her, at which moment Agnese and Filippo enter and accuse the two traitors of having an affair. Everyone now joins in with accusation, counter accusation, attack and defence. The upshot is that Filippo has the pair arrested — to be tried in Court for adultery.
Act 2
The courtiers learn of the terrible torture that has been applied to Orombello. Then, the Court is summoned and Filippo sets out the case for the prosecution. Beatrice is dragged in, and she protests that the Court has no jurisdiction. Next, Orombello is hauled in and, after desperately seeking forgiveness from Beatrice, proclaims her innocence. Beatrice regains her will to live and something in her speaking touches Filippo's heart. He announces that the sentence should be delayed. The Court overrules him stating that more torture should be applied until the truth is spoken. Again, Filippo changes his mind and, supporting the Court's decision, instructs that, indeed, more torture seems to be necessary to extract the truth. The Court rises.
Filippo and Agnese, full of remorse, are left alone and Agnese,. realizing that things have gone much further than she had expected, begs Filippo to drop all the charges; but Filippo, not wishing to look weak, dismisses the idea.
Filippo now goes through several stages of torment, and is obviously still deeply in love with Beatrice. Just as he has made up his mind to drop all the charges, with cruel timing, men still loyal to the late condottiere Facino arrive, to invade the castle. As a result, Filippo signs the death warrant now handed to him by Anichino*, and tries to justify his actions to the crowd, blaming Beatrice's behaviour.
There is a scene in which we see Beatrice's ladies outside Orombello's cell, while Beatrice prays. The action reaches its finale.
Selected recordings
- Decca - 1966 - Beatrice di Tenda - Joan Sutherland (Beatrice), Luciano Pavarotti (Orombello), Josephine Veasey (Agnese), Cornelius Opthof (Fillipo) - London Symphony Orchestra, Ambrosian Opera Chorus - Richard Bonynge (conductor)
Bibliography
- The Viking Opera Guide, ed. WikipediaWikiProject Opera#Infoboxes --> Dame Joan Alston Sutherland, OM, AC, DBE (born 7 November 1926 WikipediaWikiProject Opera#Infoboxes. Thank you--> Luciano Pavarotti, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI ( October 12, Josephine Veasey (born on July 10, 1930) is a British Mezzo-soprano, particularly associated with Wagner and Berlioz roles The London Symphony Orchestra ( LSO) is one of the major orchestras of the United Kingdom. Richard Bonynge, CBE (last name pronounced "bonning" (born 29 September 1930 is an Australian Conductor and pianist Amanda Holden with Nicholas Kenyon and Stephen Walsh, Viking (1993) ISBN 0-670-81292-7
- Performance programme text based on English libretto by Guy Davenport
External links
- Libretto. Italianopera. org.
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