Rodelinda (opera)

Template:Handel operasRodelinda, regina de' Longobardi (HWV 19) is an opera seria in three acts by George Frideric Handel. It was based on a libretto by Nicola Francesco Haym, in turn based on an earlier libretto by Antonio Salvi. Salvi's libretto originated with Pierre Corneille’s play Pertharite, roi des Lombards.

Performance history

It was first performed at the King’s Theatre in the Haymarket, London, on 13 February 1725. It was produced with the same singers as Tamerlano. There were 14 performances and it was repeated on 18 December 1725, and again on 4 May 1731. It was also performed in Hamburg. The first modern production was in Göttingen on 26 June 1920.

A recent UK production was that at the Glyndebourne Festival in 1998. Directed by Jean-Marie Villégier and conducted by William Christie, this highly-praised production featured Anna Caterina Antonacci in the title role. It has been issued on DVD by Warner Music.

Roles

		Premiere 1725
Rodelinda, Queen of Lombardy	soprano	Francesca Cuzzoni
Bertarido, usurped King of Lombardy	alto castrato	Senesino
Grimoaldo, Duke of Benevento	tenor	Francesco Borosini
Eduige, Bertarido's sister	alto	Anna Vicenza Dotti
Unulfo, Bertarido's friend and counsellor	alto castrato	Andrea Pacini
Garibaldo, Grimoaldo's counsellor	bass	Giuseppe Maria Boschi

Bold text=Synopsis=

Grimoalda has beaten King Bertarido in battle, and the king has sent word of his death so he can surreptitiously return and rescue his wife, Queen Rodelinda, and their son. Grimoalda had been promised the hand of Bertarido’s sister, Eduigo, as a claim to the throne and as a reward for defeating Bertarido. Although Eduigo and Grimoalda have fallen in love, Eduigo has been stalling the wedding due to mourning her brother.

Act I: Rodelinda and her son are kept in the castle by Grimoalda, who wants to marry Rodelinda to take the throne. Rodelinda rejects Grimoalda. Instead, Eduige suggests marriage to Grimoalda, but he is too hurt by her previous postponements to accept. Garibaldo, who is also power hungry, flirts with Eduige, and she does not discourage him. Meanwhile, Bertarido returns, incognito and in hiding at the stables. He sees Rodelinda accompany their son as he puts flowers on a memorial for his father. Bertarido witnesses Garibaldo’s ultimatum to Rodelinda: either she marries Grimoalda or he kills her son. Rodelinda concedes, and Bertarido sees this as an act of infidelity.

Act II: Eduige and Rodelinda talk, and it is obvious that Eduige still loves Grimoalda. Rodelinda assures her that she does not love him. When he enters, Rodelinda tells him that she has accepted his ultimatum with one condition: in order to marry her, Grimoalda must kill her son before her eyes. Grimoalda backs down but is impressed by Rodelinda’s courage and thinks that he can love her, although he is still in love with Eduige. Outside, Eduige finds Bertarido and assures her that Rodelinda still loves him. Bertarido and Rodelinda are reunited, but Grimoalda sees them and takes Bertarido into captivity, preparing to have him killed.

Act III: Eduige and Unolfo hatch a plan to help Bertarido escape the prison and flee with his wife and son. An internal struggle rages inside Grimoalda as he grapples with killing Bertarido. Meanwhile, Bertarido stops Garibaldo from assassinating Grimoalda and lets Grimoalda live. Grimoalda cedes the throne back to Bertarido, Rodelina and their son. Eduigo eventually forgives him and they reunite.

Sources

Rodelinda by Anthony Hicks, in 'The New Grove Dictionary of Opera', ed. Stanley Sadie (London, 1992) ISBN 0-333-73432-7

http://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/history/stories/synopsis.aspx?id=135