The puritans | Vincenzo Bellini
In itself, the story of The puritans is quite simple: a love triangle, a contrast for political reasons, the threat of a tragedy, in this case narrowly avoided. But it is Bellini's music that makes the difference. Every human action, every conflict, every evil, is taken and transformed into long, celestial melodies, with a sinuous profile, which suspend time and have had a hypnotic effect on listeners since 1835. It does not matter that the story takes place in England: the composer's orchestra, perhaps thanks to his birthplace in Catania, maintains a Mediterranean light, the same one that fascinated Chopin and Wagner, and that was opening the doors of fame in Europe for him, before death closed them to him at just thirty-three years old. Among his operas, The puritans is perhaps the most refined in its instrumentation and the most varied in its characters: "the gay, the sad, the robust of the pieces, everything was marked by applause", wrote Bellini to his friend Francesco Florimo, the day after the premiere at the Théâtre-Italien in Paris. His last opera is being revived at the Regio conducted by Francesco Lanzillotta, who had already made a name for himself in Turin with Norma and La rondine, and sung by champions such as John Osborn, Gilda Fiume and Simone Del Savio. Pierre-Emanuel Rousseau, after his recent successes at the Regio with Il barbiere di Siviglia and La rondine, signs a new production for the occasion between classicism and neo-romanticism.
Lecture-Concert: Wednesday 22 April at 6 pm - Foyer Toro
Opera seria in three acts
Characters and cast
Gilda Fiume
John Osborn
Nicola Ulivieri
Simone Del Savio
Andrea Pellegrini
Chiara Tirotta
Saverio Fiore
Performances
Synopsis
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A fortress near Plymouth, 17th century. Preparations are underway for the wedding of Elvira, daughter of the Puritan governor Gualtiero Valton, to Sir Arturo Talbo, a supporter of the Stuarts. Riccardo Forth is inconsolable: Valton had once agreed to his marriage with Elvira, but later chose not to oppose his daughter, who had fallen in love with Arturo.
Elvira’s chambers. Elvira confides in her uncle Giorgio: she cannot marry a man she does not love. Giorgio reassures her—her groom will be Arturo.
Armory hall. Valton gives Arturo a safe-conduct pass that will allow him and Elvira to leave the castle and go to the church for the wedding. Valton himself will not accompany them, as he must escort an unknown lady to Parliament, who is brought in at that moment. Aside, Giorgio tells Arturo that she is suspected of being a Stuart spy. Left alone with the lady, Arturo learns her identity: she is Enrichetta, widow of Charles I Stuart and daughter of Henry IV of France. Realizing her fate is sealed, Arturo decides to help her escape.
Elvira enters, and Enrichetta helps her try on her bridal veil—then puts it on herself so Elvira can admire it. Elvira steps away, and Arturo tells Enrichetta to keep the veil: disguised and with the safe-conduct, she will be able to flee the castle with him. As they are about to leave, Riccardo stops them. In the confusion, Enrichetta loses the veil. Realizing the veiled woman is not Elvira, Riccardo decides to let his rival escape with another woman. Once they have left, he raises the alarm. Elvira, believing herself betrayed by Arturo, begins to show signs of madness.
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A hall in the castle. Riccardo announces that Parliament has condemned the traitor Arturo to death. Elvira then appears: clearly out of her mind, she does not recognize her uncle and addresses Riccardo as if he were Arturo. Exhausted, she withdraws to her chambers. Giorgio knows that Riccardo aided Arturo’s escape and uses this to persuade him to save his rival, for Elvira’s sake. The two reach an agreement: Arturo will be spared, but if he appears on the battlefield among the Stuart forces in the imminent clash, they will both confront him in combat.
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A garden near Elvira’s home. Arturo has managed to evade the guards and reach his beloved’s house. From a balcony, Elvira sings the song Arturo once dedicated to her. Hearing him join in, she rushes down to the garden to meet him. Arturo finally explains that he only appeared to abandon her in order to save Enrichetta. But Riccardo, Giorgio, and the soldiers suddenly arrive and catch the young lovers. Riccardo announces Arturo’s death sentence. Overwhelmed, Elvira regains her sanity and declares she wishes to die with her beloved. At that moment, a herald arrives: Cromwell, now victorious, has declared an amnesty for the defeated. Amid general rejoicing, the two lovers can finally embrace.