La rondine
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La rondine (The Swallow) is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Giuseppe Adami, based on a libretto by Alfred Maria Willner and Heinz Reichert. It was first performed at the Théâtre de l’Opéra (or the Théâtre du Casino) in Monte Carlo on 27 March 1917.
In October 1913, the directors of Vienna's Carltheater asked Puccini to compose an operetta. After confirming that it could take the form of a through-composed comic opera "like Rosenkavalier but more amusing and more organic," he agreed. For two years, the work proceeded slowly. Because of the outbreak of World War I, the contract was revised, the Viennese management released its rights to the opera’s première, and the neutral territory of Monte Carlo was selected for the opening. In Italy Puccini tried to sell the rights to his editor Giulio Ricordi who refused to buy them. Ricordi's rival Sonzogno didn't think twice when he got the chance to finally get the rights to an opera of Italy's most famous living composer, but despite the artistic value of the score, La rondine was, through the years, one of Puccini's least successful operas. Even now performances and recordings are very rare, though slightly more frequent than they used to be until the 1980s.
La rondine also shares some resemblance to Verdi's La Traviata. One critic called it "the poor man's La Traviata".
Roles
| Premiere, March 27, 1917 (Gino Marinuzzi) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Magda de Civry | soprano | Gilda dalla Rizza |
| Lisette, her maid | soprano | Ina Maria Ferraris |
| Ruggero Lastouc | tenor | Tito Schipa |
| Prunier, a poet | tenor | Francesco Dominici |
| Rambaldo Fernandez, Magda's protector | baritone | Gustave Huberdeau |
| Périchaud | baritone/bass | |
| Gobin | tenor | |
| Crébillon | bass/baritone | |
| Rabonnier | baritone | |
| Yvette | soprano | |
| Bianca | soprano | |
| Suzy | mezzo-soprano | |
| A butler | bass | |
| A voice | soprano | |
| Members of the bourgeoisie, students, painters, elegantly dressed ladies and gentlemen, grisettes, flower girls and dancing girls, waiters | ||
Synopsis
- Place: Paris.
- Time: Mid-19th century.
Act II. At Bullier's, everyone is singing and dancing. Magda meets Ruggero, and they dance and fall in love. Lisette recognizes Magda, but Prunier tells her she is mistaken. At the table, Lisette confesses to borrowing Magda's clothing and jewelry. Rambaldo enters, and Magda quietly has Prunier hide Ruggero. Rambaldo demands an explanation, and she explains that this is true love. She wants to stay with Ruggero and leave him. After Rambaldo leaves, Ruggero returns, and the couple confesses their love.
Act III. Magda and Ruggero are living in a cottage by the sea. He has no idea how they will pay their mounting bills. He tells Magda that he has written his parents for permission to marry her. Magda is deeply touched, but knows that she can never marry him because of her past. Prunier and Lisette arrive. She has had a disastrous and brief career as an actress, constantly criticized by Prunier; she begs for her job back, and Magda consents. Prunier delivers the message that Rambaldo wants her back, and tells her that she cannot maintain a life here. Ruggero returns with the letter permitting the marriage, but Magda finally tells all to Ruggero. Like a swallow, she flies back to Rambaldo, leaving Ruggero heart-broken.
Noted arias
- "Chi il bel sogno di Doretta" (Magda)
- "Ore dolce e divine" (Magda)
- "Parigi, e la citta dei desideri" (Ruggero)
- "Dimmi che vuoi seguirmi alla mia casa" (Ruggero)
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