Griselda (Scarlatti)
| Work data | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Griselda |
| Original title: | La Griselda |
Title page of the libretto, Rome 1721 |
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| Shape: | Opera seria in three acts |
| Original language: | Italian |
| Music: | Alessandro Scarlatti |
| Libretto : | Apostolo Zeno |
| Literary source: | Griseldis from Boccaccio's Decamerone |
| Premiere: | January 1721 |
| Place of premiere: | Rome , Teatro Capranica |
| people | |
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Griselda is an opera seria in three acts by Alessandro Scarlatti based on the libretto by Apostolo Zeno . It was completed in 1721.
Emergence
The opera, which was originally called La Griselda , was Scarlatti's last opera completed in 1721 and premiered in Rome at the Teatro Capranico that same year. It was written by Scarlatti together with three other operas during his last three-year stay in Rome (from 1718). One of these operas was Marco Attilio Regolo. The other two operas are lost. Scarlatti noted on the manuscript that La Griselda was his 114th opera, which means that almost half of his operas are completely lost.
Since women were forbidden on the stages in Rome, all roles were originally played by men, in this case five castrati and one tenor. The title role of Griselda was sung by the soprano castrato Giacinto Fontana, known as Farfallino , who specializes in female roles ; the seconda donna Costanza was interpreted by the young Giovanni Carestini ; the famous alto Antonio Bernacchi sang the Gualtiero ; the other singers were Andrea Pacini (Ottone), Matteo Lucchini (Corrado) and Bartolomeo Bartoli (Roberto).
action
first act
At the Sicilian court: before the actual plot begins, King Gualtiero marries a shepherdess named Griselda. The court and the people are equally outraged by this, so that Gualtiero entrusts the first child of this marriage, Costanza, to his friend Corrado, the prince of Apulia, and announces publicly that he has killed her and will leave Griselda.
Ottone, a member of the court, now announces the arrival of Gualtiero's new bride, who is none other than his own daughter Costanza, which nobody knows. She comes with Corrado's brother Roberto, with whom she is in love and who loves her again, which is why the two are very upset about Gualtiero's plans. Ottone in turn hopes that his long-cherished love for Griselda will now be heard by her. However, she refuses and leaves the court with her son Everardo. Costanza is taken to her new apartment.
Second act
Griselda, now in her old home in the country, is not left alone by Ottones advances. Corrado comes to Griselda with the news that he should throw Everardo to the wild animals. However, he has pity and leaves Griselda her child. Then Ottone explains that his job is to kill the child.
Costanza and Roberto meet at court. Gualtiero arrives and tries to find out what the two were talking about. A hunting party sets out and comes near Griselda's hut. Costanza is with them and meets Griselda. The two women immediately feel a deep bond with each other. Corrado and Gualtiero join them. Finally Ottone shows up with a band of armed men to rob Griselda by force. Gualtiero prevents him from doing so. At Costanza's urging, Gualtiero takes Griselda back to court as a servant.
Third act
Back at the palace, Griselda continues to be harassed by Ottone. She tries to convince Costanza to love Gualtiero. In desperation, Roberto asks Costanza to kill him. Ottone confesses to Gualtiero his love for Costanza. The latter promises that Ottone will have Griselda as his wife as soon as he has married Costanza himself. He forbids Griselda to cry and at the same time praises her strength. Roberto says goodbye to Costanza. Griselda tries in vain to ask Gualtiero for the lovers. The wedding is being prepared. Gualtiero publicly announces that Griselda Ottone will be given to wife. Griselda replies that she would rather die. Gualtiero hugs his wife, who has now also passed this test of her honesty. Ottone admits to having incited the people out of love for Griselda. Gualtiero reveals the secret of Costanza's origins. You and Roberto are now allowed to marry. Love and loyalty triumph.
literature
- Booklet for CD recording Griselda with René Jacobs and the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin , Harmonia Mundi 2003, HMC 801805.07-
Oswald Beaujean: Der Seelenleser . In: The time . November 13, 2003 (review). - George J. Buelow: A History of Baroque Music. Indiana University Press, Bloomington IN et al. a. 2004, ISBN 0-253-34365-8 .
- Julie Anne Sadie: Companion to Baroque Music. Oxford University Press, Oxford u. a. 1998, ISBN 0-19-816704-0 .
Web links
- Griselda : Sheet music and audio files in the International Music Score Library Project
- Libretto (Italian), Rome 1721. Digitized version of the Museo internazionale e biblioteca della musica di Bologna
- Griselda (Alessandro Scarlatti) in the Corago information system of the University of Bologna
- Discography of Griselda at Operadis
Individual evidence
- ↑ Buelow: A History of Baroque Music. 2004, p. 151.
- ^ Julie Anne Sadie: Companion to Baroque Music. Dent, London 1990, ISBN 0-460-04602-0 , pp. 69-70.
- ↑ Buelow: A History of Baroque Music. 2004, p. 142.
- ^ Griselda (Alessandro Scarlatti) in the Corago information system of the University of Bologna .