Giovanna d'Arco
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| Operas by Giuseppe Verdi |
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Oberto (1839) |
Giovanna d'Arco (Joan of Arc) is an operatic dramma lirico with a prologue and three acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Temistocle Solera.
The opera partly reflects the story of Joan of Arc and appears to be loosely based on the play Die Jungfrau von Orleans by Friedrich von Schiller, Solera denied this assertion in letters to Verdi's publisher, and claimed that the work was "an entirely original Italian drama."
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[edit] Performance history
The opera, Verdi's seventh, had its first performance at Teatro alla Scala, Milan, on February 15, 1845. The original Giovanna was Erminia Frezzolini, who had previously appeared in Verdi's (and Solera's) I Lombardi alla prima crociata two years earlier. She was paired with her husband, tenor Antonio Poggi, as Charles, King of France. Baritone Filippo Colini portrayed Giovanna's father Giacomo.
Notable performances in the United States include two concert versions at Carnegie Hall: with Teresa Stratas (1966)[1] and June Anderson (1996).[2] The opera was also performed in concert at Avery Fisher Hall in 1985, with Welsh soprano Margaret Price, Carlo Bergonzi and Sherrill Milnes.[3] A fully staged production was mounted by New York City Opera in 1999, with Lauren Flanigan.[4]
[edit] Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, November 3, 1844[5] (Conductor: - ) |
|---|---|---|
| Giovanna | soprano | Erminia Frezzolini |
| Carlo VII, King of France | tenor | Antonio Poggi |
| Giacomo, shepherd and father of Giovanna | baritone | Filippo Colini |
| Talbot, an English Commander | bass | Francesco Lodetti |
| Delil, a French officer | tenor | Napoleone Marconi |
| French and English soldiers, French courtiers, villagers, nobles, angels, demons - Chorus | ||
[edit] Synopsis
[edit] Prologue
Scene 1: The French village of Domremy
Charles (the not-yet-crowned King of France) describes to his officers and the villagers his vision of the Virgin Mary commanding him to surrender to the invading English army and laying down his weapons at the foot of a giant oak tree.
Scene 2: A forest
By a giant oak tree, Giacomo prays for the safety of his daughter Giovanna, who lies sleeping by a nearby shrine. Suddenly, Charles arrives, prepared to lay down his arms at the base of the tree. Meanwhile, the sleeping Giovanna has visions in which angels ask her to become a soldier and lead France to victory. She cries out that she is ready to do so. Charles overhears her and thrills at her courage. Her father Giacomo weeps, believing that his daughter has given her soul to the Devil out of her devotion to the future King.
[edit] Act 1
Scene 1: Near Rheims
Commander Talbot of the English army tries to convince his discouraged soldiers that their imminent surrender to the French is not due to forces of evil. Giacomo arrives and offers up his daughter, believing her to be under the influence of the Devil.
Scene 2: The French court at Rheims
Preparations are under way for Charles' coronation. Giovanna longs for her simple life back home. Charles confesses his love for Giovanna. She withdraws despite her feelings toward the King, because her voices have warned her against earthly love. Charles is taken to the Cathedral at Rheims for his coronation.
[edit] Act 2
The Cathedral square
The villagers of Rheims have gathered in the Cathedral square to celebrate Giovanna's victory over the English army. The French soldiers lead Charles into the Cathedral. Giacomo has decided he must repudiate his daughter who, he believes, has entered a pact with the Devil. He denounces her to the villagers and they are persuaded, although the King refuses to listen. Charles pleads with Giovanna to defend herself, but she refuses.
[edit] Act 3
At the stake
Giovanna has been captured by the English army and is awaiting her death at the stake. She has visions of battlefield victories and begs God to stand by her, explaining how she has shown her obedience by forsaking her worldly love for the King as the voices had commanded. Giacomo overhears her pleas and recognizes his error. He loosens his daughter's bonds and she escapes. She rushes to the battlefield to turn French defeat into victory once more.
Giacomo pleads with the King, first for punishment and then for forgiveness, which Charles grants. Charles learns of the French victory on the battlefield but also of Giovanna's death. As her body is carried in, Giovanna suddenly revives. Giacomo reclaims his daughter, and the King professes his love. The angels sing of salvation and victory, as Giovanna dies and ascends into heaven.
[edit] Noted arias
- "Pondo è letal martirio" - Carlo VII in Prologue, Scene 1
- "Sotto una quercia parvemi" - Carlo VII in Prologue, Scene 1
- "Sempre all'alba ed alla sera" - Giovanna in Prologue, Scene 2
- "So che per via dei triboli" - Giacomo in Act I, Scene 1
- "Franco son io" - Giacomo in Act I, Scene 1
- "O fatidica foresta" - Giovanna in Act I, Scene 2
- "Comparire il ciel m'ha stretto" - Giacomo in Act II
- "Quale al più fido amico" - Carlo VII in Act III
- "Speme al vecchio ora una figlia" - Giacomo in Act II
[edit] Selected recording
- EMI - 1972 - Montserrat Caballé, Placido Domingo, Sherrill Milnes - Ambrosian Opera Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra - James Levine
[edit] References
- ^ J. Warrack and E. West, The Oxford Dictionary of Opera (1992).
- ^ Bernard Holland, "Music Review: A Young Verdi's Bold and Vivid Joan of Arc", The New York Times, May 11, 1996.
- ^ Donal Henahan, "Opera: Verdi's Giovanna D'Arco", The New York Times, October 28, 1985.
- ^ Anthony Tommasini, "Music Review: A Daredevil Soprano Tackles Early Verdi", The New York Times, May 18, 1999.
- ^ List of singers taken from Budden, Julian: The Operas of Verdi (Cassell), vol 1, p. 204.
