Fiesque
Encyclopedia
Fiesque is an opera
by the French composer Édouard Lalo
. The libretto
, by Charles Beauquier, is based on Schiller's 1784 play, Die Verschwörung des Fiesco zu Genua, an account of the conspiracy in 1547 led by Fiesque against the ruling Doria family.
It had its first staged performance at the Nationaltheater, Mannheim
on 16 June 2007.
The concert premiere was on 27 July 2006 at the Festival de Radio France et Montpellier
with Roberto Alagna
in the title role. The UK premiere took place on 10 March 2008, in a production by University College Opera
.
Leonore, Fiesque’s wife, confides that her marriage is in ruins: she has seen her husband with another woman. Fiesque’s enemy, (Gianettino Doria), instructs the assassin Hassan to murder Fiesque. Fiesque declares his love for the princess Julie Doria, Gianettino’s sister. Verrina, Fiesque’s old friend and ally, worries that Fiesque has gone off the rails and now prizes pleasure above his country’s honour. Hassan accosts Fiesque but Fiesque easily overpowers him. Hassan, fearful for his life, offers to do anything Fiesque asks, and Fiesque instructs him to mix with the townspeople and report what they are saying about the Dorias.
Hassan plies the townspeople with drink and incites gossip.Verrina enters and whips the public up into a frenzy of rebellion.
Scene 2: A chamber in Fiesque’s palace
Fiesque reflects on a dream he had the night before: the image of his wedding day was shattered by visions of him being crowned Doge and celebrated by crowds of adoring subjects. Leonore arrives, worn down by the tension in her marriage. Fiesque reassures her that within two days she will have proof of his enduring love for her. Hassan enters and recounts to the audience the events of the market place. He reports that Julie has engaged him to poison Leonore; he will betray her intentions to Fiesque and have twice the money! Verrina visits Fiesque at home with the painter Romano and the activists Borgonino and Sacco. He wants to test whether Fiesque is still committed to rebelling against the Dorias or if he has become concerned only with his own pleasure.To test this Verrina brings a painting of the death of Virginius to see if it elicits a reaction in Fiesque. By the end of the scene Verrina’s confidence in Fiesque is restored, and the building blocks for the revolution set in place.
Borgonino organises an underground gathering of Fiesque’s supporters to plan the revolution. Leonore tries to soothe her own anxiety and sense of foreboding. She hears a woman approaching and hides. Julie enters and sings about the pleasures of being a coquette, but eventually confesses her genuine love for Fiesque. Fiesque arrives and begins an impassioned love scene with Julie. At its climax, however, Fiesque reveals his fidelity to Leonore, and denounces Julie for being guilty of intent to murder. Fiesque and Leonore are reunited; Julie swears vengeance, but Fiesque has her captured.
Scene 2: The port of Genoa
The sacking of Genoa, and victory for the Fieschi: the Dorias are overthrown. Fiesque is made ruler of Genoa and Leonore begs Fiesque’s forgiveness for mistrusting him. Fiesque invites Verrina to join in the celebrations, but Verrina is reluctant, troubled by Fiesque's display of ambition and taste for celebrity. Verrina pleads with Fiesque to renounce his regal trappings in favour of leading a true republic, but Fiesque makes light of Verrina’s concerns. Eventually, disillusioned by the change in his friend and fearful for the future of the country, Verrina kills Fiesque.
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
by the French composer Édouard Lalo
Édouard Lalo
Édouard-Victoire-Antoine Lalo was a French composer.-Biography:Lalo was born in Lille , in northernmost France. He attended that city's music conservatory in his youth. Then, beginning at age 16, Lalo studied at the Paris Conservatoire under Berlioz's old enemy François Antoine Habeneck...
. The libretto
Libretto
A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
, by Charles Beauquier, is based on Schiller's 1784 play, Die Verschwörung des Fiesco zu Genua, an account of the conspiracy in 1547 led by Fiesque against the ruling Doria family.
It had its first staged performance at the Nationaltheater, Mannheim
Mannheim
Mannheim is a city in southwestern Germany. With about 315,000 inhabitants, Mannheim is the second-largest city in the Bundesland of Baden-Württemberg, following the capital city of Stuttgart....
on 16 June 2007.
The concert premiere was on 27 July 2006 at the Festival de Radio France et Montpellier
Festival de Radio France et Montpellier
The Festival de Radio France et Montpellier is a summer festival of opera and music held in Montpellier, France created in 1985. The music festival concentrates on classical music and jazz with about 100 events, including opera, concerts, films, and talks, most of which are free and located in the...
with Roberto Alagna
Roberto Alagna
Roberto Alagna is a French-Italian tenor. He was born in Clichy-sous-Bois, Seine-Saint-Denis, France.-Early years:Alagna was born outside of the city of Paris in 1963 to a family of Sicilian immigrants . As a teenager, the young Alagna began busking and singing pop in Parisian cabarets for tips...
in the title role. The UK premiere took place on 10 March 2008, in a production by University College Opera
University College Opera
University College Opera, or UCOpera, is the student opera company of University College London. UCOpera is a semi-professional company, distinguishing it from other student opera societies. The operas are staged by professional singers, directors and designers, with the orchestra and chorus drawn...
.
Act 1
Fiesque’s palace, an evening partyLeonore, Fiesque’s wife, confides that her marriage is in ruins: she has seen her husband with another woman. Fiesque’s enemy, (Gianettino Doria), instructs the assassin Hassan to murder Fiesque. Fiesque declares his love for the princess Julie Doria, Gianettino’s sister. Verrina, Fiesque’s old friend and ally, worries that Fiesque has gone off the rails and now prizes pleasure above his country’s honour. Hassan accosts Fiesque but Fiesque easily overpowers him. Hassan, fearful for his life, offers to do anything Fiesque asks, and Fiesque instructs him to mix with the townspeople and report what they are saying about the Dorias.
Act 2
Scene 1: A crowded market placeHassan plies the townspeople with drink and incites gossip.Verrina enters and whips the public up into a frenzy of rebellion.
Scene 2: A chamber in Fiesque’s palace
Fiesque reflects on a dream he had the night before: the image of his wedding day was shattered by visions of him being crowned Doge and celebrated by crowds of adoring subjects. Leonore arrives, worn down by the tension in her marriage. Fiesque reassures her that within two days she will have proof of his enduring love for her. Hassan enters and recounts to the audience the events of the market place. He reports that Julie has engaged him to poison Leonore; he will betray her intentions to Fiesque and have twice the money! Verrina visits Fiesque at home with the painter Romano and the activists Borgonino and Sacco. He wants to test whether Fiesque is still committed to rebelling against the Dorias or if he has become concerned only with his own pleasure.To test this Verrina brings a painting of the death of Virginius to see if it elicits a reaction in Fiesque. By the end of the scene Verrina’s confidence in Fiesque is restored, and the building blocks for the revolution set in place.
Act 3
Scene 1: A vault in Fiesque’s palaceBorgonino organises an underground gathering of Fiesque’s supporters to plan the revolution. Leonore tries to soothe her own anxiety and sense of foreboding. She hears a woman approaching and hides. Julie enters and sings about the pleasures of being a coquette, but eventually confesses her genuine love for Fiesque. Fiesque arrives and begins an impassioned love scene with Julie. At its climax, however, Fiesque reveals his fidelity to Leonore, and denounces Julie for being guilty of intent to murder. Fiesque and Leonore are reunited; Julie swears vengeance, but Fiesque has her captured.
Scene 2: The port of Genoa
The sacking of Genoa, and victory for the Fieschi: the Dorias are overthrown. Fiesque is made ruler of Genoa and Leonore begs Fiesque’s forgiveness for mistrusting him. Fiesque invites Verrina to join in the celebrations, but Verrina is reluctant, troubled by Fiesque's display of ambition and taste for celebrity. Verrina pleads with Fiesque to renounce his regal trappings in favour of leading a true republic, but Fiesque makes light of Verrina’s concerns. Eventually, disillusioned by the change in his friend and fearful for the future of the country, Verrina kills Fiesque.
Recordings
- Roberto AlagnaRoberto AlagnaRoberto Alagna is a French-Italian tenor. He was born in Clichy-sous-Bois, Seine-Saint-Denis, France.-Early years:Alagna was born outside of the city of Paris in 1963 to a family of Sicilian immigrants . As a teenager, the young Alagna began busking and singing pop in Parisian cabarets for tips...
(Fiesque), Michelle Canniccioni (Léonore), Béatrice Uria-Monzon (Julie), Franck Ferrari (Verrina). Radio Latvia Choir, Orchestra of Montpellier, dir. Alain AltinogluAlain AltinogluAlain Altinoglu is a French conductor.His association with the Festival de Radio France et Montpellier has led to premiere performances, and premiere recordings, of operas including Pascal Dusapin's Perelà uomo di fumo, Lalo's Fiesque and the French premiere of Bernard Herrmann's Wuthering...
. A recording of the 27 July 2006 concert performance. DGDG-Fiction:*Delta Green*DG , the main protagonist in the science fiction channel miniseries Tin Man-Locations:* Diego Garcia, an atoll in central Indian Ocean* Downers Grove, Illinois* Danilovgrad, a municipality in Montenegro...
, 2011.
External links
- University College Opera, performers of the British premiere.
- Nicolas Pierchon, 'Création concertante de Fiesque, premier opéra de Lalo', Res Musica, Review (in French) of the concert performance in Montpellier.