| Giuseppe Verdi |
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Operas
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Giovanna d'Arco (Joan of Arc) is an operatic dramma lirico with a prologue and three acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Temistocle Solera.
The opera partly reflects the story of Joan of Arc and appears to be loosely based on the play Die Jungfrau von Orleans by Friedrich von Schiller, Solera denied this assertion in letters to Verdi's publisher, and claimed that the work was "an entirely original Italian drama."
The opera, Verdi's seventh, had its first performance at Teatro alla Scala, Milan, on February 15, 1845. The original Giovanna was Erminia Frezzolini, who had previously appeared in Verdi's (and Solera's) I Lombardi alla prima crociata two years earlier. She was paired with her husband, tenor Antonio Poggi, as Charles, King of France. Baritone Filippo Colini portrayed Giovanna's father Giacomo.
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Performance history
The opera has been rarely staged, although a 2008 production was mounted in Rouen in France. A staged version of the opera was given at the Royal Opera, London in June 1996 with Vladimir Chernov as Giacomo and June Anderson as Giovanna. Fully staged productions were also mounted by the San Diego Opera in June 1980 as part of its short-lived "Verdi Festival" [1], and also by New York City Opera in 1999, with Lauren Flanigan.[2] The opera will be performed by Sarasota Opera in 2010 as part of its "Verdi Cycle" of all of the composer's operas. The Teatro Regio di Parma, a company with similar aims, presented the opera in 2008 as part of its "Festival Verdi".[3].
It is claimed that Vincent La Selva (now of the New York Grand Opera) gave the first US performance in 1976. NYGO also gave the opera in 1983 and in 1995, the latter as part of its "Viva Verdi!" festival of all of the composer's operas in chronological order.[4] Other notable performances in the United States include two concert versions at Carnegie Hall: with Teresa Stratas (1966)[5] and June Anderson and Carlo Guelfi (May 1996) in a presentation by the Opera Orchestra of New York.[6] The opera was also performed in concert at Avery Fisher Hall in 1985, with Welsh soprano Margaret Price, Carlo Bergonzi and Sherrill Milnes.[7]
Several recordings and at least one DVD exist.
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 15 February 1845[8] (Conductor: - ) |
|---|---|---|
| Giovanna | soprano | Erminia Frezzolini |
| Carlo VII, King of France | tenor | Antonio Poggi |
| Giacomo, shepherd and father of Giovanna | baritone | Filippo Colini |
| Talbot, an English Commander | bass | Francesco Lodetti |
| Delil, a French officer | tenor | Napoleone Marconi |
| French and English soldiers, French courtiers, villagers, nobles, angels, demons - Chorus | ||
Synopsis
- Time: 1429
- Place: Domrémy, Rheims and near Rouen, France
Prologue
Scene 1: The French village of Domrémy
Charles (the not-yet-crowned King of France) describes to his officers and the villagers his vision of the Virgin Mary commanding him to surrender to the invading English army and laying down his weapons at the foot of a giant oak tree. (Aria: Sotto una quercia parvemi - "Beneath an oak I seemed"). Later, he expresses his frustration with the limitations of being a ruler. (Aria: Pondo è letal, martirio - "A deadly burden, a torment").
Scene 2: A forest
By a giant oak tree, Giacomo prays for the safety of his daughter Giovanna, who before she falls asleep by a nearby shrine offers prayers to be chosen to lead the French forces. (Aria: Sempre all'alba ed alla sera - "always at dawn and in the evening"). Suddenly, Charles arrives, prepared to lay down his arms at the base of the tree. Meanwhile, the sleeping Giovanna has visions in which angels ask her to become a soldier and lead France to victory. She cries out that she is ready to do so. Charles overhears her and thrills at her courage. Her father Giacomo weeps, believing that his daughter has given her soul to the Devil out of her devotion to the future King.
Act 1
Scene 1: Near Reims
Commander Talbot of the English army tries to convince his discouraged soldiers that their imminent surrender to the French is not due to forces of evil. Giacomo arrives and offers up his daughter, believing her to be under the influence of the Devil: Franco son io - "I am French, but in my heart..." and So che per via dei triboli - "I know that original sin...".
Scene 2: The French court at Reims
Preparations are under way for Charles' coronation. Giovanna longs for her simple life back home. (Aria: O fatidica foresta - "O prophetic forest..."). Charles confesses his love for Giovanna. She withdraws despite her feelings toward the King, because her voices have warned her against earthly love. Charles is taken to the Cathedral at Reims for his coronation.
Act 2
The Cathedral square
The villagers of Reims have gathered in the Cathedral square to celebrate Giovanna's victory over the English army. The French soldiers lead Charles into the Cathedral. Giacomo has decided he must repudiate his daughter who, he believes, has entered a pact with the Devil. (Aria: Speme al vecchio era una figlia - "An old man's hope was a daughter"). He denounces her to the villagers (Aria: Comparire il ciel m'ha stretto - "Heaven has forced me to appear") and they are persuaded, although the King refuses to listen. Charles pleads with Giovanna to defend herself, but she refuses.
Act 3
At the stake
Giovanna has been captured by the English army and is awaiting her death at the stake. She has visions of battlefield victories and begs God to stand by her, explaining how she has shown her obedience by forsaking her worldly love for the King as the voices had commanded. Giacomo overhears her pleas and recognizes his error. He loosens his daughter's bonds and she escapes. She rushes to the battlefield to turn French defeat into victory once more.
Giacomo pleads with the King, first for punishment and then for forgiveness, which Charles grants. Charles learns of the French victory on the battlefield but also of Giovanna's death. (Aria: Quale al più fido amico - "Which of my truest friends"). As her body is carried in, Giovanna suddenly revives. Giacomo reclaims his daughter, and the King professes his love. The angels sing of salvation and victory, as Giovanna dies and ascends into heaven.
Recordings
| Year | Cast (Giovanna, Carlo VII, Giacomo) |
Conductor, Opera House and Orchestra |
Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Montserrat Caballe, Placido Domingo, Sherrill Milnes, |
James Levine, London Symphony Orchestra, Ambrosian Opera Chorus |
Audio CD: EMI Classics Cat: 7-63226-2 |
| 1990 | Susan Dunn, Vincenzo La Scola, Renato Bruson |
Riccardo Chailly, Teatro Comunale di Bologna Orchestra and Chorus |
DVD: Kultur Cat: D4043 |
Notes
- ^ San Diego Opera's 1980 performance
- ^ Anthony Tommasini, "Music Review: A Daredevil Soprano Tackles Early Verdi", The New York Times, May 18, 1999.
- ^ Parma's 2008 "Festival Verdi"
- ^ NYGO's repertoire list
- ^ J. Warrack and E. West, The Oxford Dictionary of Opera (1992).
- ^ Bernard Holland, "Music Review: A Young Verdi's Bold and Vivid Joan of Arc", The New York Times, May 11, 1996.
- ^ Donal Henahan, "Opera: Verdi's Giovanna D'Arco", The New York Times, October 28, 1985.
- ^ List of singers taken from Budden, Julian: The Operas of Verdi (Cassell), vol 1, p. 204.
External links
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