Francesca da Rimini | Riccardo Zandonai
The episode of Paolo and Francesca, in Canto V of the Inferno, is one of the pages of Italian literature that continues, even today, to enthuse generations of readers. That story inspired Riccardo Zandonai for Francesca da Rimini, an opera that debuted at the Regio in 1914. The subject is filtered by the homonymous tragedy by Gabriele D’Annunzio, who is responsible for the theatrical framework and many of the verses included in the libretto by Tito Ricordi. Zandonai set the story of the two lovers to music with an advanced harmonic language, where the boundaries between spoken and sung words become thinner, so much do poetry and music interpenetrate. The archaisms typical of D’Annunzio’s verse find a musical equivalent in Zandonai with the insertion, in his modern language, of refined historical falsehoods and musical instruments with an ancient flavour. Whether you are interested in it as a cultural object, or because you are in love with D’Annunzio, or Dante, or simply in love, it doesn’t matter: Francesca da Rimini is an opera to be discovered.
The title will see Andrea Battistoni on the podium, who, in his role as Musical Director of the Regio, has among his goals precisely the revival of less frequented titles of the Italian repertoire. An international superstar like the tenor Roberto Alagna plays the role of Paolo Malatesta; the arduous and passionate part of Francesca is by the Uzbek soprano Barno Ismatullaeva. The creation of the new staging is entrusted to the figurative taste of Andrea Bernard, director and architect.
Lecture-Concert: Wednesday 1 October at 6 pm - Piccolo Regio Puccini
Tragedy in four acts
Characters and cast
Barno Ismatullaeva
Ekaterina Sannikova
Roberto Alagna
Marcelo Puente
George Gagnidze
Angelo Veccia
Valentina Boi
Devid Cecconi
Matteo Mezzaro
Valentina Mastrangelo
Albina Tonkikh (Regio Ensemble)
Martina Myskohlid (Regio Ensemble)
Sofia Koberidze
Silvia Beltrami
Enzo Peroni
Janusz Nosek
Daniel Umbelino (Regio Ensemble)
Eduardo Martínez (Regio Ensemble)
Performances
Synopsis
atto
Francesca, daughter of Guido I da Polenta, must for reasons of state marry Giovanni, called Gianciotto, the deformed son of Malatesta da Verucchio. Since Francesca would certainly refuse to marry the lame and deformed Gianciotto, in the first act, using a well-conceived trick, she is introduced to Gianciotto's younger and more handsome brother, Paolo, called the Handsome. Convinced that Paolo is the husband destined for her, Francesca falls madly in love with him at first sight; Paolo also falls in love with Francesca, even though they do not exchange a single word.
atto
The next act shows a fight between Guelphs and Ghibellines, on the platform of a Malatesta tower. Francesca, now married to Gianciotto, meets Paolo and gently reproaches him for the deception she has been the victim of. He declares that he had no part in the plot and reveals his intense passion for her. Gianciotto brings the news of Paolo's election as Captain of the People and of the Commune of Florence. Paolo leaves for Florence.
atto
In the third act, Francesca, in her luxurious apartment, is reading the story of Lancelot and Guinevere to her women. Then follows dancing and singing to celebrate the coming of spring, until, after a word whispered by a slave, Francesca sends everyone away. Paolo, sick with nostalgia for her, has returned from Florence. He enters, the two continue to read the story of Guinevere together, until, no longer able to control their feelings, they let their lips meet in a long kiss.
atto
In the fourth act, Malatestino, Gianciotto's younger brother, who is also attracted to Francesca, has discovered her secret meetings with Paolo. Since Francesca refuses to give in to his advances, Malatestino tells Gianciotto about the meetings, who decides to personally ascertain the truth. Gianciotto lies in wait outside Francesca's door, and when, at daybreak, he surprises her and Paolo together, he kills them both.
Source Wikipedia.