8.110119-20 bk Boccanegra_EU 12/12/08 1:42 PM Page 12 VERDI Also Available Simon Boccanegra O GOB TIT BI 8.111334-35 8.111240-41 1 g 957 Recordin Tito Gobbi • Boris Christoff Victoria de los Angeles • Giuseppe Campora 8.111284-85 8.111332-33 Rome Opera House Chorus and Orchestra Gabriele Santini 8.110119-20 12 8.110119-20 bk Boccanegra_EU 12/12/08 1:42 PM Page 2 Great Opera Recordings pleads for death and Amelia is moved by his great love, whom he had thought dead. Boccanegra forgives him, seeking to heal old enmities. £ He returns, as a ghost, to avenge outrage. The lights & Shouts are heard outside and calls to arms, the start of begin to go out in the piazza outside. Boccanegra, Giuseppe the rebellion against the Doge, who bids Gabriele join his however, is relieved at Fiesco’s appearance and can friends. The latter demurs, now loyal to Boccanegra and announce peace between them. He tells him that his own VERDI rewarded with the hand of Amelia. daughter and Fiesco’s grand-daughter is Amelia Grimaldi. (1813 - 1901) Act 3 ¢ Fiesco weeps at the revelation. He hears in Boccanegra’s words the voice of Heaven. Boccanegra * From the Doge’s palace Genoa can be seen, seeks to embrace him, the father of his beloved Maria. Simon Boccanegra illuminated as for a festival. The shouts of the crowd are Fiesco tells Boccanegra of the poison. The latter is Opera in a Prologue and Three Acts heard, praising the Doge. growing weaker and collapses onto a seat, as Amelia, Text by Franceso Maria Piave as modified by Arrigo Boito ( A captain of the bowmen gives Fiesco back his sword Gabriele, ladies, gentlemen, senators and pages with and tells him he is free. Asked about the rest of the torches come in. Guelph faction, he tells him that they have been defeated. – Amelia is surprised to see Fiesco, whom she has Simon Boccanegra . Tito Gobbi (baritone) Paolo is brought in, under guard, condemned to torture known as Andrea, but Boccanegra now reveals the latter Jacopo Fiesco / Andrea . Boris Christoff (bass) and death. He tells Fiesco that Boccanegra too will die, as the father of Amelia’s mother, Maria. Amelia rejoices Amelia Grimaldi / Maria Boccanegra . Victoria de los Angeles (soprano) poisoned by him, and to his horror hears the sound of at the end of old enmities, but Boccanegra tells her that Gabriele Adorno . Giuseppe Campora (tenor) wedding celebrations for Amelia and Gabriele. Paolo everything is coming to an end and that he is dying. With Paolo Albiani . Walter Monachesi (bass) further appals Fiesco by declaring his responsibility for Gabriele she kneels at his feet. He rises, lays his hands on Pietro . Paolo Dari (baritone) the abduction of Amelia. In anger Fiesco draws his their heads and raises his eyes to Heaven. Captain of the Crossbowmen . Paolo Caroli (tenor) sword, but then desists, as Paolo is destined for a worse § He calls for God’s blessing on them. Amelia pleads Amelia’s Maidservant . Silvia Bertona (mezzo-soprano) fate. The guards drag him away. Fiesco resolves that the with him not to die and Gabriele joins her in lamenting search for revenge is not ended yet and, as the Doge the swift passing of happiness. Boccanegra bids her approaches, hides himself in the shadows. embrace him, as he dies. Rome Opera House Chorus and Orchestra ) The captain enters, with a trumpeter, and announces to ¶ Turning to the senators, he commands them to make (Chorus Director: Giuseppe Conca) the people that, by command of the Doge, lights should Gabriele Adorno the next Doge. His voice fails and he Gabriele Santini be extinguished, in honour of the dead. can say no more, but stretches his hands out over Amelia ¡ Boccanegra enters, feverish and suffering the effects and Gabriele, as he dies. Fulfilling his final command, of poison, cooled by the sea breeze. The sea reminds him Fiesco calls on the people of Genoa to acclaim their new Recorded 25th – 30th September and 1st November, 1957 in the Opera House, Rome of his former life and there he would happily have died. Doge, Gabriele Adorno, and to pray for the one who has First issued on HMV ALP 1634 through 1636 Fiesco emerges, threatening a better death. Boccanegra died. calls for his guards, but no-one comes. ™ Fiesco reveals himself as the Doge’s old enemy, Keith Anderson Reissue Producer and Audio Restoration Engineer: Mark Obert-Thorn 8.110119-20 211 8.110119-20 8.110119-20 bk Boccanegra_EU 12/12/08 1:42 PM Page 10 2 Shouts are heard from outside. The disturbance is palace, mistress of Boccanegra. CD 1 62:12 ^ Vieni a me, ti benedico 2:18 watched from the window by Paolo and Pietro, and 9 Paolo hurries out, leaving Gabriele appalled at what (Andrea, Gabriele) Boccanegra too looks out to see that the crowd are he has heard: Boccanegra has killed his father, stolen his Prologue & Il Doge vien 2:09 pursuing Gabriele Adorno. Pietro, in an aside, tells beloved Amelia. He is inflamed by jealousy and calls on 1 Allegro moderato 1:18 (Gabriele, Andrea, Simon, Paolo, Amelia) Paolo to make his escape, since they are discovered. God to pity his suffering. He begs Heaven to give him (Orchestra) * Dinne, perché in quest’eremo 2:05 They are observed by Boccanegra, who orders none to Amelia again and that she remains his, in her purity. 2 Che dicesti? 4:01 (Simon, Amelia) leave. There is discord in the council chamber, as the 0 Amelia comes into the room, surprised to find plebeians call for the death of the nobles, who draw their Gabriele there. (Paolo, Pietro, Simon) ( Orfanella il tetto umile 4:40 swords, and the plebeians then do likewise, before there ! He is anxious to learn the reason for her presence, 3 All’alba tutti qui verrete? 1:56 (Amelia, Simon) are shouts against the Doge himself, who orders the accusing her of faithlessness. She rejects his charges but (Pietro, Chorus, Paolo) ) Dinne, alcun là non vedesti? 1:22 doors of the palace to be opened to the people. The cannot give a fuller explanation. 4 L’altra magion vedere? 3:48 (Simon, Amelia) herald’s trumpet quietens the mob, who have dragged in @ The Doge is heard approaching and she tells Gabriele (Paolo, Chorus, Pietro) ¡ Figlia! a tal nome palpito 3:44 Gabriele and Andrea. Gabriele has killed Lorenzino, to hide, begging him with increasing urgency, while he 5 A te l’estremo addio, palagio altero 2:15 (Simon, Amelia) Pietro’s accomplice in the abduction of Amelia, and as still vows death on Boccanegra. Eventually he hides on (Fiesco) ™ Che rispose? 1:31 he died he had implicated Boccanegra, whom Gabriele the balcony. 6 Il lacerato spirito 4:12 now accuses and would kill, but for the intervention of # The Doge enters, reading a paper, and addressing her (Paolo, Simon, Pietro) Amelia, who now enters. The Doge asks Amelia what as daughter, and she him as father. She tells him the (Fiesco, Chorus) happened. name of her lover, Adorno, his enemy, his name written 7 Suona ogni labbro il mio nome 3:58 CD 2 78:09 3 She tells him how she was abducted by Lorenzino’s on the paper he holds, listing those conspiring against (Simon, Fiesco) men. Before she can reveal the name of the instigator of him. He cannot pardon Gabriele, in spite of Amelia’s 8 Del mar sul lido fra gente ostile 2:53 Act 1 the plot, the factions break out in recrimination, one of pleas. Boccanegra is in despair, having found his (Simon, Fiesco) Scene 2 the other. daughter only to have her stolen by his enemy. He tells 9 Oh de’ Fieschi implacata, orrida razza! 4:18 1 Messeri, il re di Tartaria voi porge 2:59 4 The tumult is quelled again by Boccanegra. her to go, although she wants to watch by his side. (Simon, Fiesco, Chorus, Paolo, Pietro) (Simon, Chorus, Paolo) 5 Gabriele surrenders his sword to Boccanegra, who $ He must exercise clemency, unless it is weakness that tells him he will be detained, until the matter is cleared motivates him. He pours the water Paolo has poisoned 2 Oh! … Qual clamor! 5:48 up. The Doge turns to Paolo, whose guilt he well knows, into a cup and drinks, ironically finding water Act 1 (Chorus, Pietro, Paolo, Simon, Gabriele, Amelia) and forces him to join in cursing the villain behind the sometimes bitter to the lips of one who rules. He sits Scene 1 3 Nell’ora soave che all’estasi invita 2:40 plot, a curse in which all join. down and in a moment is overtaken by sleep, calling on 0 Lento assai 2:54 (Amelia, Chorus, Simon, Gabriele) the name of Amelia. (Orchestra) 4 Plebe! Patrizi! Popolo! 5:26 Act 2 % Gabriele steals in from the balcony, held back from ! Come in quest’ora bruna 4:15 (Simon, Chorus, Amelia, Pietro, Paolo, murdering the Doge either by respect or fear. He draws (Amelia) Gabriele, Fiesco) 6 Paolo and Pietro are together in a room in the Doge’s his dagger and is about to strike the sleeping man, when @ Cielo di stelle orbato 2:06 5 palace. Paolo sees himself rejected by all, cursed, but Amelia intervenes. The Doge wakens and sees Gabriele Ecco la spada 4:11 determines to take revenge on Boccanegra, through about to murder him, a defenceless victim. He asks who (Gabriele, Amelia) (Gabriele, Simon, Paolo, All) poison and the dagger, as he empties a vial of poison opened the palace doors to him and threatens Gabriele # Vieni a mirar la cerula marina tremolante 2:57 into a jug of water on the table.