AUTHORITATIVE | CURATED | First 500 words Free

• Stage & Scene
• Early & Middle Baroque
• Opera

A libretto – Italian for ‘small book’ – enabled audiences to read the words of an opera or, in the case of a foreign language, a translation. Some of the earliest libretti were quite substantial in size, around 21.6 cm. However, they were not too unwieldy and were read by members of the audience, in ...

• Major Operas
• Early Romantic
• Opera

Composed: 1836 Premiered: 1836, St Petersburg Libretto by Baron Yegor Fyodorovich Rozen and others Background The years of turmoil following the death of Tsar Fyodor I in 1598 might finally be coming to an end. The revolt of the ‘False Dmitri’ in 1605 has led to Polish intervention. In 1613, after an interregnum of nearly three years, Mikhail ...

• Major Operas
• Modern Era
• Opera

highlight is the move to the court of Theseus and we see the play-within-the-play as a highly structured operatic gem within the larger work. Composed: 1959–60 Premiered: 1960, Aldeburgh Libretto by the composer and Peter Pears, after William Shakespeare’s play Act I Oberon and Tytania, King and Queen of the Fairies, are quarrelling. Oberon orders Puck, ...

• Major Operas
• Late Baroque
• Opera

musical contributor to a distinguished literary circle including the poets John Gay, Alexander Pope (1688–1744) and John Hughes (1677–1720). It is believed that all three authors contributed to the libretto of Acis and Galatea, which was given a private staged performance that probably required only a dozen performers. One observer noted in his diary that it was ‘a little ...

• Major Operas
• Opera
• Turn of the Century

Composed: 1902 Premiered: 1902, Milan Libretto by Arturo Colautti, after Eugène Scribe and Ernest Legouvé’s play Adrienne Lecouvreur Act I Backstage at the Comédie-Française, the stage manager Michonnet tries to propose to the actress Adriana Lecouvreur, but she loves Maurizio, who is the Count of Saxony in disguise. She gives Maurizio some violets. An intercepted letter ...

• Major Operas
• High Romantic
• Opera

keeper of monuments to the Egyptian government, suggested the opera to the Khedive as a suitable celebration for the canal, but was thwarted by delays in getting the libretto to Verdi. Written by Antonio Ghislanzoni, from a text by Camille du Locle, the libretto did not reach the composer until 1870 and the Cairo Opera House did ...

• Major Operas
• Classical Era
• Opera

described it as ‘the most passionate, the most energetic, the most theatrical music ever heard in Europe’. Composed: 1767 (revised 1776) Premiered: 1767, Vienna (revised version 1776) Libretto by Raniero de’ Calzabigi (French version by François Louis Gand Leblanc Roullet) Act I A herald tells the grieving crowd gathered in the square next to the palace of Admetus ...

• Major Operas
• Early & Middle Baroque
• Opera

in 1674, Lully’s Alceste, ou le triomphe d’Alcide, a tragédie lyrique with a prologue and five acts, had a double link with ancient Greek culture. The libretto, by Philippe Quinault, was based on Alcestis, a tragedy by the ancient Greek dramatist Euripides that in turn derived from the legend of Alcestis, wife of ...

• Major Operas
• Late Baroque
• Opera

woman, although all the characters in the opera reveal complicated emotions and relationships that are examined by some of Handel’s finest operatic music. Composed: 1735 Premiered: 1735, London Libretto unknown, after Antonio Fanzaglia and Lodovico Ariosto Act I Bradamante, disguised as her brother Ricciardo, has arrived with her confidant Melisso in the realm of Alcina, ...

• Major Operas
• Opera
• Turn of the Century

Composed: 1896 Premiered: 1896, Milan Libretto by Luigi Illica Act I During the early days of the French Revolution, Gérard, a servant, is secretly in love with Maddalena, daughter of the Contessa de Coigny. Among the guests at the contessa’s soirée is the poet Andrea Chénier. The other guests are offended by his call for liberty ...

• Major Operas
• Opera
• Turn of the Century

surprise. It remains a difficult piece to stage and is regarded by many as extravagant and over-written, both musically and dramatically. Composed: 1911–12; rev. 1916 Premiered: 1912, Stuttgart Libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal Prologue A large drawing room belonging to the richest man in Vienna has been turned into a theatre. He has commissioned varied entertainment to follow dinner: ...

• Major Operas
• Late Baroque
• Opera

Ariodante also derives from Ariosto, but it is a serious opera. Thanks to a fine text, adapted from an old Italian libretto by Antonio Salvi, Handel was able to explore potent tragic situations, such as the King of Scotland being forced to contemplate executing his much-loved daughter Ginvera. The opera is best known for ‘Scherza infida’, an ...

• Major Operas
• Modern Era
• Opera

‘Rise and Fall of the city of Mahagonny’ Composed: 1927–29 Premiered: 1930, Leipzig Libretto by Bertolt Brecht Act I Leokadja Begbick, Trinity Moses and Fatty, all wanted by the police, found Mahagonny. They recruit men in search of whisky, gambling and women to join them in the ‘city of gold’. Jenny’s price, thirty bucks, ...

• Major Operas
• High Romantic
• Opera

Composed: 1844–53 Premiered: 1861, Pest Libretto by Béni Egressy after József Katona’s play Prologue King Endre of Hungary is away at war and his wife Gertrud and her corrupt followers have taken control at court. Act I At Gertrud’s instigation, her brother Otto intends to seduce Bánk’s wife Melinda. Rebels opposed to Gertrud have sent a message to Bánk ...

• Major Operas
• Early Romantic
• Opera

Composed: 1834–37 Premiered: 1838, Paris Libretto by Léon de Wailly and Auguste Barbier, after Cellini Act I The Pope has commissioned Cellini to make a statue of Perseus. Balducci, the treasurer, is annoyed; he wants the commission to go to Fieramosca, who he also wants to marry his daughter Teresa; she is in love with Cellini. ...