Lucrezia Borgia (opera)
Lucrezia Borgia is a
melodramma, or
opera, in a prologue and two acts by
Gaetano Donizetti.
Felice Romani wrote the
Italian libretto after the play by
Victor Hugo, in its turn after the legend of
Lucrezia Borgia.
It was first performed on
26 December 1834 at
La Scala,
Milan.
When the opera was staged in
Paris in 1840, Hugo obtained an injunction against further productions. The libretto was then rewritten and retitled
La Rinegata, with the Italian characters changed to Turks, and the performances were resumed. The first English-language production was in London on 30 December, 1843.
A famous performance of
Lucrezia Borgia made in 1965 at the
Carnegie Hall with
soprano Montserrat Caballé (her American debut) was soon followed by a recording featuring Caballé,
mezzo soprano Shirley Verrett,
tenor Alfredo Kraus, and
bass Ezio Flagello, conducted by
Jonel Perlea. This performance and recording helped reintroduce the work to the opera-loving public.
The soprano aria "Com'è bello", together with the tenor's "Di pescator ignobile" are perhaps the most famous melodic moments from the opera and has been performed and recorded frequently.
Lucrezia Borgia is still performed from time to time as a vehicle for a star soprano and there are several recordings, such as the famous 1980
Covent Garden production, with
Richard Bonynge conducting the Orchestra of the
Royal Opera House. [
1]
| !Premiere, December 26, 1834 | | Alfonso D'este, Duke of Ferrara | baritone | Luciano Mariani |
| Lucrezia Borgia | soprano | Henriette Méric-Lalande |
| Maffio Orsini | contralto | Marietta Brambilla |
Gennaro, young nobleman in
service of the Venetian Republic | tenor | Francesco Pedrazzi |
Liverotto, young nobleman in
service of the Venetian Republic | tenor | Napoleone Marconi |
Vitellozzo, young nobleman in
service of the Venetian Republic | bass | Giuseppe Vaschetti |
| Gazello | bass | Giuseppe Visanetti |
| Rustighello, in the service of Don Alfonso | tenor | Ranieri Pochini |
| Gubetta, in service of Lucrezia | bass | Domenico Spiaggi |
| Astolfo, in service of Lucrezia | tenor | Francesco Petrazzoli |
Gentlemen-at-arms, officers, and nobles of the Venetian Republic;
same, attached to court of Alfonso; ladies-in-waiting, Capuchin monks, etc. |
*
Plot synopsis in a
New York Times review.
