Verdi’s Opera

-Always has 5 acts

-Always in french

-Historical setting w/ contemporary relevance

-All sung

-Overture has a grand tune

-Has a procession

-Always has a ballet

-Big Chorus

-Always a big catastrophe of some sort

Tebaldo and Roberto (French Soldiers) have just invaded Palermo, Italy and are drinking to their accomplishments in the main square. The local sicilians look on in disgust and began to plan a revolt.

Elena enters prepared to mourn for her executed brother. Drunk Roberto asks Elena to sing (she complies).

Moneteforte, governor, comes in and the crowd calms down. 

Arrigo, recently released from prison, has been asked by Monteforte to be a part of French Army as long as he stays away from Elena. Arrigo refuses and follows Elena.

Jean Procida returns to Palermo from exile and calls to meet with Elena and Arrigo to plan for an uprising against french.

Procida then leaves and Arrigo swears his love for Elena and his promise to avenge her brother’s death.

Bethune, french soldier, invties Arrigo and Elena to a ball hosted by Monteforte. Arrigo refuses and is arrested. 

Procida (made aware of situation by Elena) arrives and sees its too late to save Arrigo. Roberto and french soldiers also arrive and they take young sicilian woman from a party. Procida decides that Monteforte will be assassinated that night. 

Bethune notifies Monteforte that Arrigo has been arrested and forced to come to the ball. Monteforte, having recently discovered that Arrigo is his son, asks that he be treated correctly. Arrigo is confused why he is treated so well until Monteforte lets him know. Arrigo insults his father and rushes out.

Later in the ball, Monteforte enters and ballet begins. Elena, Arrigo and Procida are disguised and ready to assinate Monteforte. In the last moment Arrigo feel bad for his father and jumps in front of Elena as she approaches to assassinate Monteforte. Elena, Procida and other Sicilians are angry at Arrigo and are dragged away to prison. Arrigo tries to follow but is held back by Monteforte.

Arrigo arrives to the prison and admits to Elena that he is the son of Monteforte. Elena sympathizes. 

Monteforte arrives and order all prisoner to be executed. Arrigo begs for mercy for his friends and Monteforte says he will if he acknolwedges that he is his father. Arrigo says nothing and executioner appears. 

As Elena is led toward the executioner, Monteforte has change of heart and announces a pardon for the Sicilians.  He also proclaims that Arrigo and Elena are to wed. Everyone is happy.

Elena and Arrigo are happy and ready to be married. Arrigo leaves to find his father and Procida arrives. Procida states that he plans to attack all the french and kill Monteforte when the vows have been said. 

Elena is conflicted between marrying Arrigo and her duty to sicilians. She tells Arrigo they cannot Marry. Both Procida and Arrigo feel they have been betrayed by Elena. 

Monteforte arrives and takes the couples hands and pronounces they are married as the bells ring.

The bells were signal for Sicilians to rush in and execute Monteforte and the french. 

How is the musical composition of Les Vepres Siciliennes different than early Verdi?

(Morrison listed multiple reason, name at least 3)

-Orchestration was more dense

-Beginning to stray away from conventions

-More reliance on rememberance of Melody (certain melodies remind audiences of people)

-Voice types change: Male voices become bigger and deeper (no more tenors.)

-Music becomes more forceful and lyric. 

-Orchestras become larger and louder.

Simon Bocanegra was based of a play of same name by Antonio Garcia Gutierrez.

This same author created story of El Trovador, made into the opera Il Trovatore. 

Paolo Albini speaks with his friend Pietro and lets him know that he chooses Boccanegra as Doge for upcoming election. 

Paolo states that Boccanegra would surely be allowed to marry Maria Fiesco if he was Doge. Her father, Jacopo Fiesco, would finally approve it. 

Previously, Boccanegra and Maria had a child and was cause for trouble in the Fiesco family (according to Jacopo)

Jacopo then comes out of his palace and states Maria has died. Boccanegra tries to reconcile with Jacopo–who nelgects to let Boccanegra know of Maria’s death. 

Jacopo states he will accept him of he gives his child to  him. Boccanegra states that he can’t, his child has been stolen. 

Boccanegra then enters palace and sees his dead love. 

Boccanegra becomes Doge. 

Summarize Act 1 of Simon Boccanegra

(it is long)

25 years have passed (since events in prologue) and Boccanegra has exiled many of his political opponents including Jacopo Fiesco. 

Fiesco now lives with the Grimaldi and goes under a new name Andrea Grimaldi. 

The Grimaldis adopted Amelia, the kinapped daughter of Boccanegra. (Unbeknown to Boccanegra or Fiesco)

Amelia’s lover, Gabrielle Adorno, is suspect to plotting against the Doge. Amelia warns Gabrielle of dangers. Word arrives that Doge Boccanegra is arriving and Amelia is afraid he will marry her to Paolo. Amelia urges Adorno to ask her guardian Andrea Grimaldo (Fiesco) to marry her. 

Andrea confesses to Adorno that Amelia is adopted. Adorno don’t care and moves forward with wedding. 

Boccanegra enters and Amelia says she does not want to marry Paolo (not his intentions). She tells him that she was adopted and that she has one souvenir of her mother, a picture in a locket. The two compare Amelia’s picture with Boccanegra’s, and Boccanegra realizes that she is his long-lost daughter. Finally reunited, they are overcome with joy. Amelia goes into the palace. Soon after, Paolo arrives to find out if Amelia has accepted him. Boccanegra tells him that the marriage will not take place. Furious, Paolo arranges for Amelia to be kidnapped

Paolo has imprisoned Fiesco. Determined to kill Boccanegra, Paolo pours a slow-acting poison into the Doge’s water, and then tries to convince Fiesco to murder Boccanegra in return for his freedom. Fiesco refuses. Paolo next suggests to Adorno that Amelia is the Doge’s mistress, hoping Adorno will murder Boccanegra in a jealous rage. Adorno is furious

Adorno hides as Boccanegra is heard approaching. Amelia confesses to Boccanegra that she is in love with his enemy Adorno. Boccanegra is angry, but tells his daughter that if the young nobleman changes his ways, he may pardon him. He asks Amelia to leave, then drinks the poisoned water, which Paolo has placed on the table, and falls asleep. Adorno emerges and is about to kill Boccanegra, when Amelia returns in time to stop him. Boccanegra wakes and reveals to Adorno that Amelia is his daughter. Adorno begs for Amelia’s forgiveness

Noises of fighting are heard – Paolo has stirred up a revolution against the Doge. Adorno promises to fight for Boccanegra, who vows that Adorno shall marry Amelia if he can crush the rebels.

Paolo is angry Amelia will not marry him and begins to try and kill Boccanegra. 

Paolo tries to convince Fiesco to to murder Boccanegra. He refuses. Paolo makes Adorno think that Amelia is Boccanegra’s mistress. Adorno, enraged, goes out to kill Boccanegra.

Amelia tells Adorno she loves him but can’t reveal her secret–she’s daughter of Boccanegra–to him. Amelia finally confesses to Boccanegra she loves Adorno.

Boccanegra is angry but willing to overlook. Adorno hides in Boccanegra’s bedroom  prepared to kill him. He jumps out but Amelia reveals the secret. Adorno asks for forgiveness.

Meanwhile, outside, Paolo stirred a revolt against Boccanegra. Adorno fights against the rebels.

Uprising revolt put down. Paolo is caught and condemnned. 

Paolo poisoned Boccanegra and is dying slowly.

Adorno and Amelia are married and Adorno is named successor.

Although both stories are similar (both written by Antonio Garcia Gutierrez) Verdi tries to break away from convention and become more forward looking in Simon Boccanegra.

In Il Trovatore, Verdi composes an opera that is very conventional in style, not edgy at all. 

Verdi stopped composing and was happy managing a farm and guns. 

He also married Strapponi in 1859

Verdi advised Mery and Locle on nearly everything in creating the libretto. 

Even the slightest detail was not left alone by Verdi

Elisabeth, daughter of the King of France, arrives with her attendants. She reassures the people that her impending marriage to Don Carlos, son of the King of Spain, will bring the war to an end, and departs.

Carlos, coming out from hiding, has seen Elisabeth and fallen in love with her. When she reappears, he initially pretends to be a member of the Count of Lerma’s delegation, but then reveals his identity and his feelings, which she reciprocates

 A cannon-shot signifies that peace has been declared between Spain and France, and Thibault informs Elisabeth that her hand is to be claimed not by Carlos but by his father, Philip II. Lerma and his followers confirm this, and Elisabeth feels bound to accept, in order to consolidate the peace. She departs for Spain, leaving Carlos devastated.

Don Carlos enters a monastery anguised that the woman he loves is with his father.

Carlos’s friend Rodrigue, Marquis of Posa, has just come from the oppressed land of Flanders. He asks for the Infante’s aid on behalf of the suffering people there. Carlos reveals that he loves his stepmother/ Elisabeth. Posa encourages him to leave Spain and go to Flanders. The two men swear eternal friendship

Outside the monastery Princess Eboli  and the other ladies-in-waiting are not allowed in the monastery, so they amuse themselves. The female chorus sets the scene and then Eboli sings her famous Veil Song.

Elisabeth appears, soon followed by Posa, who hands the queen a letter from her mother in which is hidden a note from Carlos. As Elisabeth reads. Elisabeth agrees to see the Infante alone. Eboli infers that she, Eboli, is the one Don Carlos loves

When they are alone, Don Carlos tells Elisabeth that he is miserable, and asks her to request Philip to send him to Flanders. She promptly agrees, provoking Carlos to renew his declarations of love, which she piously rejects. Don Carlos exits in a frenzy. King  Philip himself appears, angry that Elisabeth has been left alone. He orders her lady-in-waiting, the Countess of Aremberg, back to France; Elisabeth bids the Countess a tender farewell

The King approaches Posa, whose character and activism have impressed him favorably. Posa begs the King to stop oppressing the people of Flanders. The King calls Posa’s idealistic request unrealistic, and warns him that the Grand Inquisitor is watching him.

Elisabeth is tired, and wishes to concentrate on the following day’s coronation of the King. To avoid the party planned for the evening, she exchanges masks with Eboli, assuming that thereby her absence will not be noticed, and leaves.

Don Carlos enters. He has received a note suggesting a tryst in the gardens, which he thinks is from Elisabeth, but which is really from Eboli, to whom he mistakenly declares his love. The disguised Eboli realizes that he thinks that she is the Queen, and Carlos is horrified that she now knows his secret.

Preparations are being made for a public parade and burning of condemned heretics. The royal procession follows, and the King addresses the populace, but Don Carlos brings forward six Flemish deputies, who plead with the King for their country’s freedom.The people and the court are sympathetic, but the King, supported by the monks, orders the deputies’ arrest. Carlos draws his sword against the King. The King calls for help but the guards will not attack Don Carlos. Posa steps in, and persuades Carlos to surrender his sword. The King then promotes Posa to Duke

The king laments that Elisabeth has never loved him and that he will only sleep properly when he is in his tomb. The blind, ninety-year-old Grand Inquisitor is announced. The King asks if the Church will object to his putting his own son to death. King Philip seems in command as he asks the Inquisitor how to deal with Carlos; but, as the controlled opening gives way to freer declamation, the Inquisitor takes over, stating that Posa is the more serious threat and demanding that he be turned over to the Inquisition. Philip resists, but the Inquisitor warns him that even kings can be brought before the tribunal. The King admits that he is powerless to save his friend and begs the Grand Inquisitor to forget about the whole discussion. The Grand Inqusitor leaves

Elisabeth enters, alarmed at the apparent theft of her jewel casket, but the King produces it and points to the portrait of Don Carlos which it contains. She protests her innocence, and, when the King threatens her, she faints.  The King realises that he has wronged his wife. Posa resolves to save Carlos, though it may mean his own death. Eboli feels remorse for betraying Elisabeth; the latter, recovering, expresses her despair.

Eboli confesses not only that she stole the casket because she loved Carlos and he rejected her, but, worse, she has also been the mistress of the King. Elisabeth tells her that she must go into exile or enter a convent, and exits.

Don Carlos has been imprisoned. Posa arrives to tell him that he will be saved but that he himself will have to die. A shadowy figure shoots Posa in the chest. As he dies, Posa tells Carlos that Elisabeth will meet him atthe monastery on the following day, and says that he is content to die if his friend can save Flanders and rule over a happier Spain. Philip enters, offering his son freedom. Carlos repulses him for having murdered Posa. The King sees that Posa has been killed, and cries out in his sorrow. 

Bells ring, and Elisabeth, Eboli and the Grand Inquisitor arrive, while a crowd demands the release of Carlos and threatens the King. In the confusion, Eboli escapes with Carlos. The people are brave to threaten the King, but they are terrified by the Grand Inquisitor, and they instantly obey his angry command to quiet down and bow to the King.

Elisabeth kneels before the tomb of Charles V in monastery. She is committed to help Don Carlos on his way to fulfil his destiny in Flanders, but she herself longs only for death. Carlos appears and they say a final farewell.

Philip and the Grand Inquisitor enter: the King declares that there will be a double sacrifice, and the Inquisitor confirms that the Inquisition will do its duty. A short summary trial follows.

Carlos, calling on God, draws his sword to defend himself against the Inquisitor’s guards, when suddenly, the Monk emerges from the tomb of Charles V. He grabs Carlos by the shoulder, and loudly proclaims that the turbulence of the world persists even in the Church; we cannot rest except in Heaven. Philip and the Inquisitor recognize the Monk’s voice as that of the King’s father, former-Emperor Carlo V  himself. Everyone screams in shock and terror, and the Monk/former-Emperor drags Carlos forcibly into the tomb and closes the entrance. The curtain falls.

Ramfis, the high priest of Egypt, tells Radames, the young warrior, that war with the Ethiopians seems inevitable, and Radames expresses the hope that he can be chosen as the Egyptian commander.

Radames dreams both of gaining victory on the battle field and of Aida, the Ethiopian slave, with whom he is secretly in love. Aida, who is also secretly in love with Radames, is the captured daughter of the Ethiopian King Amonasro, but her Egyptian captors are unaware of her true identity. Her father has invaded Egypt to deliver her from servitude.

Amneris, the daughter of the Egyptian King enters the hall. She too loves Radames, but fears that his heart belongs to someone else. Then Aida appears and, when Radames sees her, Amneris notices that he looks disturbed. She suspects that Aida could be her rival, but she is able to hide her jealousy and approaches her 

The King enters, along with the High Priest, Ramfis, and the whole palace court. A messenger announces that the Ethiopians, led by King Amonasro, are marching. The King declares war and also proclaims Radames to be the man chosen by the goddess Isis as leader of the army

Alone in the hall, Aida is torn between her love for her father, her country, and Radames

Inside the Temple of Vulcan Solemn ceremonies and dances by the priestesses take place followed by the installation of Radames to the office of commander-in-chief. All present in the temple pray for the victory of Egypt and protection for their warriors

Amneris is host a huge party and dance for Radames’ victory. She tries to forget if Aida loves Radames, because it worries her.

Aida enters and Amneris lies that Radames has died in battle. This makes Amneris very mad. Amneris then leaves.

Later at the gate of Thebes, Radames returns victorious and the troops march into the city.

The Egyptian king decrees that on this day the triumphant Radames may have anything he wishes. The Ethiopian captives are rounded up and Amonasro appears among them. Aida immediately rushes to her father, but their true identities (that they are royals) are still unknown to the Egyptians, save for the fact that they are father and daughter

As his reward from the King, Radames pleads with him to spare the lives of the prisoners and to set them free. Gratefully, the King of Egypt declares Radames to be his successor and to be his daughter’s betrothed

Aida and Amonasro remain as hostages to ensure that the Ethiopians do not avenge their defeat

On the eve of Radames wedding with Amneris, Radames meets with Aida.

Amonasro asks Aida to make Radames reveal the location of the Egyptian army (to the benefit of the Ethiopian army.) Instead, Aida and Radames confess their love for one another. 

Aida tries to convince Radames to escape with her to the desert. Radames does accidentally confess the location of Egyptian army 

Amonsaro, who was hiding then jumps out, and reveals he knows the locatino of Army. At the same time Amneris and Ramfis leave the temple and accuse Radames of being a snitch and is arrested by imperial guards. 

Amneris tries to save Radames by asking him to lie of the accusations. Radames loves Aida too much and says no. He is happy that Aida is still alive and knows he will be sentenced to death. 

His trial happens (off stage) and is sentenced to be buried alive. Amneris is really sad that Radames rather die for another girl than live with him

Radames is then taken into the vault to be sealed alive in a tomb. After he is sealed he realizes Aida was hiding inside the vault to die and live with him forever. Both accept their fate and die. Amneris is singing and praying for Radames above the vault. 

In terms of Verdi’s experimental works, how does Aida fall into the overall characterization of later works?

Aida was a very conservative opera. Unlike most works in his later period, this opera is almost a “throwback” to his earlier works. 

Overall, Verdi’s later works took steps away from convention, while Aida stayed the same. 

Aida is the one opera by Verdi that can’t be transported to another place geographically. The setting must remain in Egypt.

Unlike Sicilian Vespers, the location was changed depending if the performance was in Italy or France. 

With Aida, the way it is orchestrated and the harmonies od the orchestra make the piece impossible to change to another location.

Verdi himself stated that this work is not to be performed as if it was one of his operas. Doing so would ruin the work. 

Many critics incorrectly compare this work to its operatic counterparts. 

Theme and variation w/ coda. 

Soloists alternate with choral response.

Scapigliatura was the rise of an artistic italian-only movement after the risorgimento in Italy.

Verdi himself believed that too many foreign arts were impacting Italian creativity and originality. 

His requiem, through the counterpoint, celebrates an important era in Italy’s past. Requiem was definitely a celebration of Italian art during a period of clutural crisis. 

-innovatie genre

-psychological realistic

-sophisticated orchestration

-motivically sophisticated

According to morrison it was conventional, however, only “skeletal” meaning the foundation for the opera was conventional, but nothing more. 

It had an introduzione, brindisi, big chorus like conventional operas.

Otello arrives to the Island of Cyprus, where he is governor.

Roderigo loves Desdemona, Otello’s wife, and Iago promises to help him because he is mad at Otello for not promoting him. Otello promoted Cassio instead.

Iago gets Cassio drunk and Otello takes away his promotion because he is not being proper. 

Iago, being a bitch, tells Cassio to talk to Desdemona how has power to convince Otello to restore his promotion.

Iago then sings about how cruel humanity and how God must be evil. Life has no meaning. 

Cassio speaks with Desdemona who agrees to talk to Otello. When Otello comes in Iago tries to convince Otello that Desdemona is cheating.

Desdemona tries to talk to Otello about Cassio, but he gets annoyed by her. Desdemona tries to wipe sweat off Otello with handkerchief. Otello knocks it to ground and Emilia, servant, picks it up.

Iago forces Emilia to give him handkerchief and then later lies to Otello saying Cassio had it and was speaking about Desdemona in his sleep. 

Otello is convinced Desdemona is cheating with Cassio and further suspects this when Desdemona again brings up the subject of Cassio’s promotion. 

Otello calls her a cheating courtesan and sends her away. 

Otello hides as Iago returns with Cassio. As Otello is secretly lisetning Iago, unbeknown to Cassio, pretends to be talking about Desdemona. 

Otello promises to kill his wife.

To make matter worse, Lodovico recalls Otello to Venice and names Cassio as new governor of Cyprus.

Otello is on the ground and Iago gloats over him.

Otello goes to Desdemona and kills her in her sleep.

Emilia, the servant, screams and gets Iago, Cassio and Lodovico. Emilia reveals Iago’s treachery and Iago escapes.

Otello realizes the mistake he has made and then puts a dagger in himself and dies.

Desdemona ins Shakespeare was more cheeky and cunning. She was clever and used her wit more than in Verdi’s opera.

In the opera she is very fragile and very feminine, to the point in which Verdi calls her a “type of person” not a woman.

According to the readings,

the real tragedy is ________, not Otello.

La Scala

La Fenice

San Carlo

Italy: Until end of 19th century sets were flat rectangular frames that were moved via pulley system using manpower.

France: Scenes and staging were painted on canvas and rolled up and out of the way, not frames like in Italy.

This being Verdi’s last opera, his orchestration and view for libretto were at a very high level and it really shows in the work. 

The orchestration is bigger and thicker than ever before and the libretto was complex.

Falstaff, sitting at an inn with his bad friends wondering how to make more money. Falstaff agrees to send love letters to 2 women.

The 2 women Meg and Alice realize Flastaff is a liar and decide to punish him.

Flastaff heads to try and court Alice, who is  playing the lute. 

Flastaff hides in linen basket as Ford arrives looking angrily for him. Flastaff is crying for air.

Flastaff is then thrown outside the window into muddy river, still in linen basket. 

The final act of the opera ends in Alice and Meg trying to scare Falstaff in the forest. He is allured there by a note saying Alice is still willing to love him.

They dress up in crazy outfits and go out to scare flastaff. 

Flastaff is tormented until he begs for mercy and then everyone unmasks. 

Flastaff leads to people in a song declaring the world a joke.