Françoise de Rimini (Francesca da Rimini) is an opera in four acts with a prologue and an epilogue. The last opera composed by Ambroise Thomas, it sets a French libretto by Michel Carré and Jules Barbier which is based on an episode from Dante's Divine Comedy. The opera was first performed by the Paris Opera on 14 April 1882 but fell into relative obscurity until its revival in 2011.
The opera's world premiere at the Paris Opera was originally planned for 1880. It was to be a highlight of the first season of Auguste Vaucorbeil as director, who also planned to produce Gounod's Le tribut de Zamora.[2] The first performance was finally staged by the Paris Opera on 14 April 1882 at the Palais Garnier.[3] Some of the most notable singers of the time participated in a lavish stage setting by Jean-Baptiste Lavastre to honour the prestigious composer. It received a mixed reception, and despite the efforts of supporters it mostly disappeared from the repertory.[3][4]
The opera was revived in Metz in 2011 at the Opéra-Théâtre de Metz Métropole to mark the bicentenary of the composer's birth. Catherine Hunold [fr] sang the title role and the Orchestre national de Lorraine [fr] was conducted by Jacques Mercier.[5]
Rolesedit
Thomas in a January 1896 by Toulouse-Lautrec which shows him seated behind the conductor listening to the rehearsal of a concert where the opera's Prologue was performed.
The action takes place in Hell (prologue and epilogue) and in Rimini at the end of the 13th century.
In the prologue, Dante and Virgil meet the lovers Paolo and Françoise in Hell, and Virgil suggest that Dante tell their story. During the four acts, their passionate love unfolds against the background of the battles between the Guelphs and Ghibellines. In the epilogue, the lovers still sing their passionate duet in the presence of the poets. Finally a heavenly choir pardons them.[4]
Musicedit
The work is partly still in the style French grand opera, namely the conclusions of the first and third act. The vocal writing shows influence from the Italian opera, while some audacious harmonies and dissonances are part of a more modern style. The duet of the lovers in the fourth act is similar to the duet in Wagner's Tristan und Isolde, in both structure and dramatic function.[5]
Referencesedit
^ (in German). Operone. Archived from the original on 15 April 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
^Fauser, Annegret; Everist, Mark, eds. (2009). Music, Theater, and Cultural Transfer: Paris, 1830–1914. University of Chicago Press. ISBN9780226239286. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
^ abcCasaglia, Gherardo (2005). "Françoise de Rimini,14 April 1882". L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian).
^ abGelli, Piero (ed.) (2001), "Françoise de Rimini". Dizionario dell'Opera. Baldini & Castoldi. ISBN8880899236. Online version retrieved 17 March 2017 via operamanager.com (in Italian).
^ abDegott, Pierre (28 November 2011). "Metz : Françoise de Rimini, dernier opéra d'Ambroise Thomas" (in French). resmusica.com. p. 134. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
Further readingedit
Masson, Georges (2011). "Bicentenaire Ambroise Thomas: Françoise de Rimini, son ultime opéra" 2017-03-20 at the Wayback Machine. Cercle Lyrique de Metz (background essays and complete libretto, in French)
Moreno, H. (16 April 1882). "Françoise de Rimini" 2017-03-20 at the Wayback Machine. Le Ménestrel, pp. 153–157 (detailed review and analysis of the premiere, in French)
françoise, rimini, francesca, rimini, opera, four, acts, with, prologue, epilogue, last, opera, composed, ambroise, thomas, sets, french, libretto, michel, carré, jules, barbier, which, based, episode, from, dante, divine, comedy, opera, first, performed, pari. Francoise de Rimini Francesca da Rimini is an opera in four acts with a prologue and an epilogue The last opera composed by Ambroise Thomas it sets a French libretto by Michel Carre and Jules Barbier which is based on an episode from Dante s Divine Comedy The opera was first performed by the Paris Opera on 14 April 1882 but fell into relative obscurity until its revival in 2011 Francoise de RiminiOpera by Ambroise ThomasPrologue scene from the premiere production where Virgil and Dante first encounter Francesca and her lover Paolo in HellLibrettistJules Barbier Michel CarreLanguageFrenchPremiere14 April 1882 1882 04 14 Palais Garnier Paris Contents 1 Background and performance history 2 Roles 3 Synopsis 4 Music 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksBackground and performance history editFrancoise de Rimini was the last opera by Ambroise Thomas Its French libretto was written by Michel Carre and Jules Barbier based on Dante s Divina commedia where Francesca da Rimini is mentioned in the section Inferno 1 The opera s world premiere at the Paris Opera was originally planned for 1880 It was to be a highlight of the first season of Auguste Vaucorbeil as director who also planned to produce Gounod s Le tribut de Zamora 2 The first performance was finally staged by the Paris Opera on 14 April 1882 at the Palais Garnier 3 Some of the most notable singers of the time participated in a lavish stage setting by Jean Baptiste Lavastre to honour the prestigious composer It received a mixed reception and despite the efforts of supporters it mostly disappeared from the repertory 3 4 The opera was revived in Metz in 2011 at the Opera Theatre de Metz Metropole to mark the bicentenary of the composer s birth Catherine Hunold fr sang the title role and the Orchestre national de Lorraine fr was conducted by Jacques Mercier 5 Roles edit nbsp Thomas in a January 1896 by Toulouse Lautrec which shows him seated behind the conductor listening to the rehearsal of a concert where the opera s Prologue was performed Roles voice types premiere cast Role Voice type Premiere cast 14 April 1882 3 Conductor Ernest Eugene Altes Paolo Malatesta tenor Henri Sellier Ascanio his page mezzo soprano Renee Richard Malatesta Giancotto Paolo s brother baritone Jean Louis Lassalle Francesca soprano Caroline Salla Guido da Polenta Francesca s father bass Pierre Gailhard Beatrice soprano Dante bass Alfred Auguste Giraude Virgile contralto Madeleine Philippine Barbot An officer bass Leon Melchissedec Choir of angelsSynopsis editThe action takes place in Hell prologue and epilogue and in Rimini at the end of the 13th century In the prologue Dante and Virgil meet the lovers Paolo and Francoise in Hell and Virgil suggest that Dante tell their story During the four acts their passionate love unfolds against the background of the battles between the Guelphs and Ghibellines In the epilogue the lovers still sing their passionate duet in the presence of the poets Finally a heavenly choir pardons them 4 Music editThe work is partly still in the style French grand opera namely the conclusions of the first and third act The vocal writing shows influence from the Italian opera while some audacious harmonies and dissonances are part of a more modern style The duet of the lovers in the fourth act is similar to the duet in Wagner s Tristan und Isolde in both structure and dramatic function 5 References edit Francoise de Rimini in German Operone Archived from the original on 15 April 2013 Retrieved 17 March 2017 Fauser Annegret Everist Mark eds 2009 Music Theater and Cultural Transfer Paris 1830 1914 University of Chicago Press ISBN 9780226239286 Retrieved 17 March 2017 a b c Casaglia Gherardo 2005 Francoise de Rimini 14 April 1882 L Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia in Italian a b Gelli Piero ed 2001 Francoise de Rimini Dizionario dell Opera Baldini amp Castoldi ISBN 8880899236 Online version retrieved 17 March 2017 via operamanager com in Italian a b Degott Pierre 28 November 2011 Metz Francoise de Rimini dernier opera d Ambroise Thomas in French resmusica com p 134 Retrieved 17 March 2017 Further reading editMasson Georges 2011 Bicentenaire Ambroise Thomas Francoise de Rimini son ultime opera Archived 2017 03 20 at the Wayback Machine Cercle Lyrique de Metz background essays and complete libretto in French Moreno H 16 April 1882 Francoise de Rimini Archived 2017 03 20 at the Wayback Machine Le Menestrel pp 153 157 detailed review and analysis of the premiere in French External links editFrancoise de Rimini Thomas Scores at the International Music Score Library Project Francoise de Rimini opera en quatre actes avec prologue et epilogue piano vocal score Internet Archive Francoise de Rimini at the Bibliotheque nationale de France Portal nbsp Opera Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Francoise de Rimini amp oldid 1221783373, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
