Nerone, opera in 5 acts (incomplete; finished by V.Tommasini, A.Smareglia & A.Toscanini)

• Date: 1877 -1915
• Composer: Arrigo Boito
• Period: Romantic (1820-1869)

Review

Arrigo Boito worked on his final operatic masterpiece for over 60 years. He published the text, which was hailed as a literary masterpiece, well before the score was even close to completion. He failed to complete the music, and friends of his, Vincenzo Tommasini and Antonio Smareglia prepared the score for production after his death, with the help of Arturo Toscanini. The drama is lengthy, involved, and highly poetic, making use of psychological drama and stark contrasts. Rich and unusual harmonies color the music of the Romans, led by Nero and Simon the Paraclete, while simple diatonicism gives the music of the Christians clarity, direction, and lightness. The opera contains many dramatic moments, such as the opening, when haunting canonic entrances of shades from the dead torment Nero, and accuse him of the murder of his mother, while he turns for succor to Simon. Act II opens with an extensive and dramatic temple scene which begins the act with mystery and supernatural elements, only to lead to violence, and exhibitions of Nero's madness. The temple music is a majestic passacaglia, with variations and interludes and a repeating bass which binds the music of the act together. The opera premiered at the Teatro alla Scala on May 1, 1924, in Milan. ~ Rita Laurance, Rovi

Albums with Complete Performances of the Work

Title	Date
Arrigo Boito: Nerone	2005
Boito: Nerone
Boito: Nerone
Boito: Nerone
Boito: Nerone
Boito: Nerone	2005
Boito: Nerone

Albums with Excerpt Performances of the Work

Title	Date
Arturo Toscanini: Boito Memorial	2004
Arturo Toscanini: Il Mito [Box Set]	2002
Aureliano Perile The Early Rare Acoustic Recordings (1923 - 1925)
Aureliano Pertile- Volume II	1996
Aureliano Pertile-The First Legendary Acoustic Recordings
Aureliano Pertile: Le Ténor de Toscanini
Boito: Mefistofele / Nerone [Excerpts]
Great Singers in Original Roles in Toscanini's Productions
Harold Wayne Collection Volume 39	2000
La Scala Edition, Volume 2	1993
Lebendige Vergangenheit: Carlo Galeffi, Vol. 2
Lebendige Vergangenheit: Enrico Molinari
Lebendige Vergangenheit: Marcel Journet II
Lebendige Vergangenheit: Maria Caniglia, Vol. 2
Lebendige Vergangenheit: Mariano Stabile
Les Trois Tenors de la Scala
My First Record	2002
Opera's SuperVillains	2002
Prima Voce: Marcel Journet	1998
The Complete Solo Gramophone Recordings, 1909-1933	1998
The Harold Wayne Collection, Vol.2	1990
The Italian Vocal Tradition, Vol.1: The Voices of Toscanini (1921-1935)
The Young Pertile: The Acoustic Records
Toscanini e l'Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala	2001

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