Simon Boccanegra

STORY

Prologue

Paolo and Pietro, two influential men from among the ordinary people, decide to propose Simon Boccanegra as the new doge. He consents in the hope that this new position would let him marry his beloved Maria. She is kept hidden from society by her father, the nobleman Jacopo Fiesco, because she and Boccanegra had an illegitimate child.

Fiesco is distraught because his daughter Maria has just died. When Boccanegra offers reconciliation, Fiesco (who does not tell him of Maria’s death) says he will forgive him provided that Boccanegra gives Fiesco his and Maria’s daughter (also called Maria). Boccanegra says this is impossible as his daughter, whom he had sent to Pisa, has disappeared without a trace. Just when Boccanegra discovers the cold corpse of his lover, it is announced that he has been chosen as the new doge.

Act I

Twenty-five years have passed. Simon Boccanegra is the doge and Paolo is his right-hand man. Genoa is still embroiled in political turmoil. Jacopo Fiesco is involved in a conspiracy to bring down the doge.

Fiesco is like a father to the noblewoman Amelia Grimaldi. She is in love with the young noble Gabriele Adorno, who is also one of the conspirators against Boccanegra. Amelia fears for Adorno’s life and urges him to abandon the conspiracy. Then a visit by the doge is announced. Amelia knows he has come on behalf of his confidant Paolo to ask for her hand in marriage.

Adorno asks Fiesco for permission to marry Amelia as soon as possible. Fiesco then reveals that Amelia is not actually a member of the noble Grimaldi family but an orphan of humble origins.

When Boccanegra asks for Amelia’s hand on behalf of Paolo, she refuses. She tells him the truth about her background. When it transpires that they both have an identical portrait of the dead Maria, they realise they are father and daughter. Boccanegra tells Paolo that he will have to give up hope of ever marrying Amelia. Paolo is unable to accept this and he decides to have Amelia kidnapped.

The first act culminates in chaos in the council chamber. Rioting crowds led by Adorno burst in, convinced that the doge ordered Amelia’s kidnapping. When Adorno aims his weapon at Boccanegra, Amelia suddenly appears and places herself between them. Boccanegra restores order with an impassioned plea for peace. He orders Adorno and Fiesco detained until the truth has been uncovered, although he already suspects Paolo. Finally, he forces his confidant to publicly curse the unknown culprit — and therefore himself.

Act II

Paolo wants revenge. He poisons the doge’s water. He also tries to persuade the two prisoners, Gabriele Adorno and Fiesco, to murder Boccanegra. Fiesco refuses because he believes this to be a dishonourable deed. However, Adorno is prepared to kill the doge after Paolo manages to convince him that Amelia is not only staying in the palace with Boccanegra but is also his lover.

Boccanegra is worried he will again lose the daughter he has only just rediscovered, this time to the man she loves. He drinks the poisoned water without suspecting anything, and falls asleep. When Adorno, consumed by jealousy, is on the point of murdering the sleeping Boccanegra, Amelia manages to intervene just in time. Boccanegra is woken up by the tumult. He reveals that Amelia is his long-lost daughter Maria. Adorno remorsefully asks for the doge’s forgiveness and pledges loyalty to him from now on. In exchange, Boccanegra promises him the hand of his daughter in marriage. Meanwhile, the rebellion planned by the conspirators breaks out.

Act III

The rebellion has been quashed. The doge pardons his enemies. Fiesco is released from prison and sees Paolo being led to the scaffold. Paolo tells Fiesco that he poisoned Boccanegra.

As the poison takes hold, Boccanegra reflects on how happy he was before being elected as doge. When he sees Fiesco, Boccanegra reveals that Amelia Grimaldi is his long-lost daughter and therefore Fiesco’s granddaughter. The former enemies become reconciled, but Boccanegra finally succumbs to the poison.