Parisina (Donizetti)
| Work data | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Parisina |
Title page of the libretto, Florence 1833 |
|
| Shape: | Melodramma in three acts |
| Original language: | Italian |
| Music: | Gaetano Donizetti |
| Libretto : | Felice Romani |
| Literary source: | Lord Byron : Parisina |
| Premiere: | March 17, 1833 |
| Place of premiere: | Florence |
| Playing time: | approx. 2 ¾ hours |
| Place and time of the action: | Around and in Ferrara , 15th century |
| people | |
|
|
Parisina is an opera seria (original name: "Melodramma", later also "Tragedia lirica") in three acts by Gaetano Donizetti . The libretto was written by Felice Romani in 1816, based on a romance by Lord Byron . Parisina premiered on March 17, 1833 at the Teatro della Pergola in Florence .
action
prehistory
The lord of Carrara, driven from his lands, sought refuge with his friend Azzo (historically Niccolò III d'Este , Margrave of Ferrara ). His daughter Parisina (historical role model: Parisina Malatesta , actually daughter of a Condottiere from Cesena ) grew up at Azzo's court. She falls in love with the orphan boy Ugo, who is looked after by Azzo's minister Ernesto. Azzo vows to her father that he will regain his property and as a reward he is allowed to marry Parisina. She complies, even if she still loves Ugo and is loved again by him.
Azzo, who drove his first wife Matilda to her death through his maddened jealousy, observes Parisina and Ugo suspiciously. He has Ugo removed from the court on the pretext of giving him military training.
first act
Ernesto and other nobles wait for the Count's arrival in the Belvedere summer palace. Parisina is dejected and has withdrawn. Azzo appears. Ernesto reports that a battle has been won. Azzo orders Parisina to be informed and tournaments and boat races organized to celebrate the day. He confesses to Ernesto that he is convinced that Parisina is cheating on him and tells Ugo that he is no longer allowed to enter Belvedere and Ferrara unless he is called. As soon as Azzo is gone, Ugo appears. Love has called him back and he wishes to see Parisina.
Parisina and her ladies-in-waiting are resting in the garden. Knights appear and invite her to participate in the festival, she refuses. The knights move away, only one remains: Ugo, whom she did not recognize in his armor at first. She asks him to flee and forget about her. Azzo appears and angrily asks Ugo why he dares to appear here. Parisina defends him, which increases Azzo's anger. However, he makes a good face to the game and allows Ugo to stay for the festivities. But he doesn't let the couple out of sight. The Count's boat takes everyone to Ferrara for the festivities.
Second act
In Parisina's bedroom, the ladies-in-waiting are happy that their mistress was in a good mood during the feast. Parisina is tired and goes to bed, the ladies-in-waiting leave.
Azzo appears and looks at the sleeping woman. She speaks in her sleep and mentions the name Ugo. Azzo roars furiously. Parisina wakes up and has to admit her love for Ugo. Azzo tries to stab her, but stops when she asks him to stab her.
In the ballroom. Ugo is restless because he has not yet seen Parisina. News got around that Azzo was furious and had the palace cordoned off. Armed men arrest Ugo. Moved, he says goodbye to Ernesto before he is taken away.
Parisina and Ugo are led in chains in front of Azzo. Parisina confirms again that she loves Ugo, but only in her mind. Azzo is about to bring both of them back to their cells, when Ernesto appears. He informs Azzo that he is having his own son executed: Ugo is the son of his first wife Matilda. Azzo hands Ugo Ernesto over, Parisina has to stay at court.
Third act
A choir reports that Parisina is lying unconscious in front of an altar. She complains that her prayers for Ugo's life could no longer ascend to heaven.
Imelda brings her a letter from Ugo: he suggests that they flee with him. When the bell of a neighboring monastery strikes, you come to her via a secret passage to take her to her father.
As the bell rings, Azzo appears. He pulls the curtain away from the window and shows her Ugo's body in the courtyard: Azzo had him beheaded. Parisina collapses dead.
Instrumentation
The orchestral line-up for the opera includes the following instruments:
- Woodwinds : two flutes (2nd also piccolo ), two oboes , two clarinets , two bassoons
- Brass : four horns , two trumpets , three trombones , cimbasso
- Timpani , percussion : snare drum , bass drum , cymbals ,
- harp
- Strings
- Incidental music: two bassoons, two horns, trumpet, two trombones, snare drum, banda
Work history
The opera Parisina is based on the verse story Parisina (1816) by Lord Byron, to whom Donizetti felt connected through his belief in fate and his melancholy. Since the textbook did not arrive until mid-February 1833, Donizetti only had a few weeks to compose and rehearse it before the premiere. Nevertheless, the premiere on March 17th took place as planned. It sang Caroline Unger (Parisina), Gilbert Duprez (Ugo), Domenico Cosselli (Azzo), Carlo Ortolino Porto (Ernesto) and Teresa Zapucci (Imelda).
Caroline Unger , the first Parisina
Domenico Cosselli , the first Azzo
Gilbert Duprez , the first Ugo
The work was enthusiastically received. The audience was moved by the music and the sad fate of the protagonist. For the next 20 to 30 years, Parisina was regularly performed in Italian opera houses, then the work was somewhat forgotten. Since the second half of the 20th century, the opera has been increasingly performed again.
literature
- Robert Steiner-Isenmann: Gaetano Donizetti. His life and his operas. Hallwag, Bern 1982. ISBN 3-444-10272-0 ; P. 152f; 478ff
- Booklet for Opera, Opera Rara , 2009
Web links
- Parisina : Sheet Music and Audio Files in the International Music Score Library Project
- Libretto (Italian), Florence 1833. Digitized in the Internet Archive
- Work information and libretto (Italian) as full text on librettidopera.it
- Parisina (Gaetano Donizetti) in the Corago information system of the University of Bologna
- Discography on Parisina d'Este at Operadis
Individual evidence
- ↑ Here there is a confusion of two historical figures: Gigliola da Carrara, daughter of the last lord of Padua, Francesco Novello da Carrara, was actually the first wife of Niccolò III, who soon died. d'Este, which preceded Parisina Malatesta.
- ^ Norbert Miller : Parisina. In: Piper's Encyclopedia of Musical Theater . Volume 1: Works. Abbatini - Donizetti. Piper, Munich / Zurich 1986, ISBN 3-492-02411-4 , pp. 753-755.
- ↑ March 17, 1833: "Parisina". In: L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia ., Accessed on August 8, 2019.