Gianfranco Rota / Festival Donizetti Bergamo

Donizetti

Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848) is a leading composer of the bel canto style. He composed over 65 operas which show his mastery of tragic and comic genres. His compositions reflect influences from the Italian and French traditions, and his operatic achievements earned him a good reputation beyond Italy in his lifetime; he spent long periods in Paris and served as the official composer for the Habsburg Court Theatre in Vienna. OperaVision features a selection of Donizetti’s notable operas such as Lucia di Lammermoor, Maria Stuarda, La Favorite and La Fille du Régiment.

Extract

La fille du régiment

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Pour mon âme

This extract from La Fille du Régiment is one of the most famous tenor arias with its 9 high Cs in only 2 minutes.Here we are in Act I, the Marquise of Berkenfield discovers she is Maries’ aunt and wants to take her with her. When Marie resists, she takes out a letter from her father, claiming it as his last will. Soldiers appear and among them is Tonio (John Osborn), Marie’s sweetheart.

Behind the scenes

Donizetti Opera Festival

Behind the scenes of La fille du régiment

In this behind the scenes of La fille du régiment, we meet an Italian opera journalist, Alberto Mattioli. He introduces us to this ‘opéra comique’ premiered on 11 February 1840 at the theatre in Paris of the same name. Donizetti is described as a ‘glocal’ composer by the journalist since he is both rooted to his city Bergamo, inspiration for his scenarios, and open to international influences. Donizetti was the only Italian composer invited to write for the Opéra Comique and given the succès of the opera, and not without some envy from his French peers. The opera skilfully combines patriotic subjects with a romantic story and a happy ending!

Extract

Lucia di Lammermoor

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Regnava nel silenzio

Act I. Waiting with her servant at a fountain, Lucia (Lisette Oropesa) remembers the night when the ghost of a woman killed at the fountain by Edgardo's ancestor appeared to her and warned her that her romance with Edgardo would end in blood. Conducted by Daniel Oren and directed by David Alden.

Javier del Real

Extract

Lucia di Lammermoor

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Cruda funesta smania

Enrico (Artur Rucinski) is furious that her sister Lucia has had a secret romantic meeting with a family’s enemy. He feels betrayed. Conducted by Daniel Oren and directed by David Alden.

Pietro Paolini | TerraProject-Contrasto

Extract

La Favorite

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Déjà dans la chapelle

Act III. The royal court is gathered to celebrate Fernand and Léonor's wedding. The groom is granted noble titles and feels like all his dreams have come true at once, while his bride can only worry about the King's true intentions. Conducted by Fabio Luisi and directed by Ariel García Valdés.

Pietro Paolini | TerraProject-Contrasto

Extract

La Favorite

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Pour tant d’amour

Act III. Fernand has asked for Léonor’s hand in marriage as a reward for his valour in battle. King Alphonse XI is stunned but immediately grants the young man's request so as to take revenge on Léonor and end his conflict with the Pope. Conducted by Fabio Luisi and directed by Ariel García Valdés.

Maggio Musicale Fiorentino

Extract

La Favorite

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Doux zéphyr / Que moi je t’oublie

Act I. In this excerpt, two scenes follow each other. In the first, Ines, the servant of the king's favourite, Leonor, sings "Sweet zephyr, be faithful to him” accompanied by a chorus of women. They are on the shore of Leon island, where Fernand will disembark some time later, blindfold. When Fernand finally arrives and asks the name of the woman with whom he has fallen in love earlier in the opera, the latter asks him to give up on her on pain of losing her honour ("Heaven, deep in my soul”).

Extract

Maria Stuarda

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Oh! nube che lieve / Nella pace del mesto riposo

Tara Erraught sings Maria Stuarda's aria and cabaletta from Donizetti's opera: ‘Oh! nube che lieve’ and ‘Nella pace del mesto riposo’. Maria and her companion Anna have been allowed to enjoy the freedom of the open air at Fotheringhay Castle, where she has been imprisoned. She is reminded of happier times during her childhood and teenage years in France.

Pat Redmond

Behind the scenes

Irish National Opera

Behind the scenes of Maria Stuarda

Gaetano Donizetti's opera Maria Stuarda takes us to the heart of one of the great conflicts of the Tudor era: the rivalry between Queen Elisabeth I of England and Mary Stuart. High-level political intrigue merges with jealousy and amorous rivalry. The result: one of the most famous confrontations in history.

Joost Milde

Behind the scenes

Opera Zuid | Dutch National Touring Opera | Dutch National Opera

Introduction to L'elisir d'amore

Director Marcos Darbyshire’s contemporary version of Donizetti’s comic opera L’elisir d’amore is a coming-of-age opera exploring identity and loss of innocence. ‘There will be a lot of laughter, but with rather than at the characters’ promises the director. The all-Dutch co-production between Opera Zuid, Dutch National Touring Opera and Dutch National Opera features an excellent young cast from the Dutch National Opera Studio.

Extract

Zoraida di Granata

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Act I Sextet – Il silenzio in cui mi vedi

Matteo Mezzaro (Abenamet), Konu Kim (Almuzir), Claudia Boyle (Zoraida), Rachel Croash (Ines), Julian Henao Gonzalez (Almanzor), Matteo Guerzé (Ali) and the Wexford Festival Opera Chorus (the Soldiers) sing 'Il silenzio in cui mi vedi' - the final of the first Act of Donizetti's opera Zoraida di Granata at Wexford Festival Opera.