La Gioconda (opera)
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La Gioconda is an opera in four acts by Amilcare Ponchielli to an Italian libretto by Arrigo Boito, based on Angelo by Victor Hugo. First performance: Teatro alla Scala, Milan, 1876.
La Gioconda was a major success for Ponchielli, especially in its third and latest version (Teatro alla Scala, Milan, March 28, 1880), as well as the greatest success in the history of Italian opera between Verdi's Aida (1871) and Otello (1887). It is also the most famous example of the Italian genre of Grande opera, the equivalent of French Grand-Opéra.
There are many recordings of the opera, and it is frequently performed. It is one of only a few operas that features a principal role for each of the six major voice types.
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, April 8, 1876 (Conductor: Franco Faccio) |
|---|---|---|
| Gioconda | soprano | Maddalena Mariani Masi |
| Laura Adorno | mezzo-soprano | Marietta Biancolini Rodriguez |
| La Cieca | contralto | Eufemia Barlani Dini |
| Enzo Grimaldo | tenor | Julián Gayarré |
| Barnaba | baritone | Gottardo Aldighieri |
| Alvise Badoero | bass | Ormondo Maini |
| Zuàne | bass | Giovanni Battista Cornago |
| Isèpo | tenor | Amedeo Grazzi |
| Chorus: Workers, senators, priests, nobles, sailors, children | ||
Synopsis
The opera's title means "The Happy Woman." The title is usually given in English as "The Ballad Singer" but as this avoids the irony inherent in the title, the Italian is usually used. Each act of La Gioconda has a title.
- Place: Venice
- Time: 17th century
Act 1
The Lion's Mouth
Act 2
The Rosary
Act 3
The House of Gold
Act 4
The Orfano Canal
Noted sequences
- "Voce di donna o d'angelo" (La Cieca)
- "O monumento" (Barnaba)
- "Cielo e mar" (Enzo)
- "Si! Morir ella de!" (Alvise)
- Dance of the Hours
- "Suicidio!" (Gioconda)
In popular culture
"The Dance of the Hours" section is considered one of the most popular ballet pieces in history. The ballet was spoofed in Walt Disney's classic Fantasia. The segment was pretty much the whole ballet, only with animals. The dancers of the morning are represented by Madame Upanova and her ostriches. The dancers of the daytime are represented by Hyacinth Hippo and her servants. The dancers of the evening are represented by Elephanchine and her bubble-blowing elephant troop. The dancers of the night are represented by Ben Ali Gator and his troop of alligators. All of the dancers rejoice in the great hall for a grand finale.
Another famous interpretation of "The Dance of the Hours" is Allan Sherman's song Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah, describing a miserable time at summer camp.