Ghismonda
| Work data | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Ghismonda |
| Original title: | Ghismonda |
| Original language: | German |
| Music: | Eugen d'Albert |
| Libretto : | Eugen d'Albert |
| Literary source: | The victims of the silence of Karl Immermann |
| Premiere: | November 28, 1895 |
| Place of premiere: | Dresden |
| Place and time of the action: | Pleasure palace of Prince Tankred, early 16th century |
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Ghismonda is an opera in three acts by Eugen d'Albert using the dramatic poem The Victims of Silence by Karl Immermann . The opera premiered on November 28, 1895 at the Dresden State Opera .
action
first act
A hall in Tankreds Castle
Ghismonda, longing to get out of court life regulated by the cold rules of etiquette, rejects Count Manfred's advertising. She openly explains to him that she would marry him if her father insisted on it, but that he cannot count on love from her side. Manfred is satisfied with this decision. At the engagement party Manfred has live pictures displayed, and one of them is Guiscardo, whom his father Dagobert recently brought to the castle for princely service, and Ghismonda alone as Endymion and Luna. Even while Ghismonda was instructing the handsome youth what to do with this picture, a wild love for the charming woman had awakened in his young heart, and as he parted he had kissed the hem of her veil in an elementary outburst of emotion. When the curtain is lowered over the picture, Endymion leaves his position and kneels in front of Ghismonda, who is even more beautiful as the goddess Luna. Manfred noticed this and while the party was going on he decided to notify Tankred and take revenge on his rival.
Second act
A secluded place in the palace gardens
Ghismonda and Guiscardo admit their ardent love, but decide to force their hearts to part and never exchange a word of love again. They were overheard by Tankred and Manfred, and no sooner had Ghismonda left Giuscardo than her father emerged, harshly called the youth to account and, when he denied meeting the princess, struck down. Horrified by his deed, he sinks on a bench, calls for help and describes himself as the murderer to the servants who hurry up.
Third act
Castle terrace on the Gulf of Salerno
When Ghismonda learns that Guiscardo has been murdered by her own father, she orders the body to be brought before her and charges herself with the main culprit for the death of her lover because she keeps him silent about her love. - Transformation. Location: Hall at Ghismonda. In front of the corpse, her father, her bridegroom and all the court and people, Ghismonda confesses that it was not Manfred, but the dead man who was her bridegroom. She remains alone by the coffin, wreaths the corpse, drinks poison and sinks down beside her dead love.
literature
- Johannes Scholtze: opera guide . S. Mode's Verlag, Berlin 1929.
- Charlotte Pangels: Eugen d'Albert: wonder pianist and composer. A biography. Atlantis, Zurich / Freiburg i. Br. 1981, ISBN 3-7611-0595-9 .