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[[File:Dominico Bentivegna and Giulia Grisi in I puritani, Kings Theatre London 1835.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Dominico Bentivegna]] and [[Giulia Grisi]] in ''I puritani'', King's Theatre, London, 1835]] |
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|Lord Arturo Talbo<ref>The surname "Talbo" in the libretto is a substitution for "Talbot" in Ancelot and Saintine's play.</ref> |
|Lord Arturo Talbo<ref>The surname "Talbo" in the libretto is a substitution for "Talbot" in Ancelot and Saintine's play.</ref> |
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|[[Marcello Giovinezza Peretelli]] |
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|Elvira, ''betrothed to Arturo'' |
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|Sir Giorgio Valton<ref>The surname "Valton" in the libretto is a substitution for "Walton" in Ancelot and Saintine's play.</ref> |
|Sir Giorgio Valton<ref>The surname "Valton" in the libretto is a substitution for "Walton" in Ancelot and Saintine's play.</ref> |
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|[[bass (voice type)|bass]] |
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|[[Dominico Bentivegna]] |
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|Lord Gualtiero Valton, ''Elvira's father and Giorgio's brother'' |
|Lord Gualtiero Valton, ''Elvira's father and Giorgio's brother'' |
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Revision as of 06:14, 22 May 2011
Template:Bellini operasI puritani (The Puritans) is an opera in three acts, by Vincenzo Bellini. It is his last opera. Its libretto is by Count Carlo Pepoli based on Têtes rondes et Cavaliers by Jacques-François Ancelot and Joseph Xavier Saintine, which is in turn based on Walter Scott's novel Old Mortality. It was first produced at the Théâtre-Italien in Paris, January 24, 1835. At the same time, Bellini composed an alternative version intended for the famous Maria Malibran, who was to sing it in Naples; in fact, this version was not performed on stage until April 10, 1986 at the Teatro Petruzzelli, Bari.
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere cast, January 24, 1835 (Conductor: – ) |
|---|---|---|
| Lord Arturo Talbo[1] | tenor | Marcello Giovinezza Peretelli |
| Elvira, betrothed to Arturo | soprano | Giulia Grisi |
| Sir Riccardo Forth | baritone | Antonio Tamburini |
| Sir Giorgio Valton[2] | bass | Dominico Bentivegna |
| Lord Gualtiero Valton, Elvira's father and Giorgio's brother | bass | Luigi Profeti |
| Sir Bruno Robertson | tenor | M. Magliano |
| Enrichetta di Francia, widow of Charles I | mezzo-soprano | Maria Amigo |
| Soldiers, heralds, armigers, Puritans, lords and ladies, pages, servants | ||
Synopsis
- Place: England during the English Civil War
- Time: 1640s
Act 1
A fortress near Plymouth, commanded by Lord Gualtiero Valton
At daybreak, the Puritan soldiers anticipate victory over the Royalists. Riccardo had been promised Elvira's hand in marriage by Lord Valton but, returning to Plymouth, he finds that she is in love with Arturo (a Royalist), and will marry him instead. He confides in Bruno ("Ah! Per sempre ... Bel sogno beato").
In Elvira's apartments, Giorgio reveals that it was he who persuaded Lord Valton to grant Elvira's wish. She is overjoyed.
Arturo arrives for the wedding and celebrates his new-found happiness ("A te, o cara"). Valton is to take a mysterious lady (suspected of being a Royalist spy) to appear before Parliament. Arturo discovers that she is Enrichetta (Henrietta Maria), widow of the executed King Charles I. Elvira appears singing a joyful polonaise ("Son vergin vezzosa"), but drops her wedding veil as she departs to make ready for the wedding. Arturo uses the veil to disguise Enrichetta as Elvira and so enabling her to escape. On the way, they encounter Riccardo and, when he discovers that the woman with Arturo is not Elvira, he is content to let them pass. When the escape is discovered, Elvira believes herself deserted and loses her reason ("Oh, vieni al tempio, fedele Arturo").
Act 2
Another part of the fortress
Giorgio describes Elvira's madness ("Cinta di fiori"). Riccardo brings the news that Arturo is now a fugitive who has been condemned to death for allowing Enrichetta to escape. Elvira now appears, still deranged but longing for Arturo ("Qui la voce ...Vien, diletto"). Giorgio and Riccardo argue over whether Arturo's death will mean that Elvira will die of grief, but eventually agree that he must die if he is found fighting for the Royalists in the impending battle ("Il rival salvar tu dei ... Suoni la tromba").
Act 3
The countryside near the fortress, three months later
Arturo is still on the run, but has returned to see Elvira. He hears her singing ("A una fonte afflitto e solo") and they are reunited ("Vieni fra le mie braccie"). But Elvira fears that they will again be parted, and when Riccardo arrives, with Giorgio and the soldiers, to announce Arturo's death sentence, she finally comes to her senses. An ensemble ("Credeasi, misera") develops, during which the unusually high note of an F above high C is required from Arturo, and even Riccardo is moved by the plight of the lovers. The soldiers demand Arturo's execution, but word is brought that, although the Royalists have been defeated, Oliver Cromwell has pardoned all prisoners. The lovers are finally united for good.
Recordings
Cultural references
The 2009 film The Young Victoria includes an episode in which Prince Albert is told that I puritani is the favorite opera of Queen Victoria (which indeed it was[4]), who recently came to the British throne, and, in courting her, he claims that it is his favorite too. Victoria, however, sees through his gambit – but in the end agrees to marry him anyway. The film also includes a short scene from the opera, seen by Victoria and Albert.[citation needed]
I puritani was the opera played on Fitzcarraldo's boat on his triumphal return to Iquitos.
Notes
- ^ The surname "Talbo" in the libretto is a substitution for "Talbot" in Ancelot and Saintine's play.
- ^ The surname "Valton" in the libretto is a substitution for "Walton" in Ancelot and Saintine's play.
- ^ Recordings of I puritani on operadis-opera-discography.org.uk
- ^ She frequently refers to it in her diary from May-July 1835.
References
- Holden, Amanda (Ed.) (with Andrew Clements), The New Penguin Opera Guide, New York: Penguin Putnam, 2001. ISBN 0-140-29312-4
- Melitz, Leo The Opera Goer's Complete Guide 1921 version.