"Lamento
di Federico"
From L'arlesiana by Francesco Cilea (1866-1950)
The Girl from Arles,
was first performed in 1897
Based on Alphonse Dauder’s French play L’Arlesienne
Libretto: Leopoldo Marenco
Federico is enamored with Rosa, a girl from Arles.
He realizes she is unfaithful when love letters to a rival, Metifio,
surface. Nevertheless, he would like nothing better than to marry her, but
Federico’s family has different designs and arranges for him to wed his
neighbor Vivetta. That unwanted fate and what the prospects hold brew this
celebrated and melancholic lament. (When the parents prove intransigent,
Federico kills himself.)
Parle-moi de ma mere (Tell me about my mother)
From Carmen, first act, By composer George Bizet (1938-1875)
First performed in 1875
Librettists: Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halevy
In Sevilla, outside the tobacco factory, Micaëla, a
peasant girl is looking for her fiance, the soldier Don Jose. She has a letter
and a kiss to deliver from his mother. In the duet, Don Jose expresses his
filial feelings for his mother while timidly, Micaëla struggles to deliver the
kiss.
Quando le sere placida (When the quiet evenings glimmer in the
starlit sky)
From Luisa Miller
Composer: Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
Librettist: Salvadore Cammarano, after Schiller, Kabale und Liebe (Intrigue and
Love)
First performed in 1849
Wurm, a retainer to the local aristocrat Count Walther
is in love with Luisa Miller, daughter of a retired soldier. Luisa loves
Rodolfo, Walther’s son, who his family wants to marry to Federica, Duchess of
Ostheim. After arresting her father under false accusations, Wurm tells Luisa
he will release him in exchange for a letter to Rodolfo in which Luisa must tell
him that she has only pretended to love him for his fortune only. Wurm himself
dictates the letter and leaves it where Rodolfo finds it. As he reads it,
Rodolfo is overcome by the memories of his love with Luisa and a feeling of
betrayal from his beloved one.
Sempre Libera, Act I
From La Traviata
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
First performed in Venice, 1853
Libretto: Franceso Maria Piave, based on Dumas’ La Dame aux Camelias
After her party guests have gone to another room, the
young courtesan Violetta Valéry wonders if the young admirer she was introduced
to that night, Alfredo Germont, could actually be the man she could love. She
vacillates between her unattached way of life until then and the promises of
tender love with the young admirer. But she decides that love means nothing to
her and wants to stay forever free ("Sempre libera"), while Alfredo's
voice, heard outside, sings in favor of romance.
Improviso
From Andrea Chénier
Composer: Umberto Giordano (1867-1948)
First performed in 1896
Libretto: Luigi Illica
With the French Revolution underway, Maddalena,
daughter of the Countess de Coigny, teases one of her house guest, the
young poet Andrea Chénier, into improvising a poem about the theme of love. But
Chénier scandalizes the guests by singing about the love for his country’s
natural beauty ("Un dì all'azzurro spazio" ) and deploring the
avarice and indifference of the clergy and the aristocracy to the suffering of
the impoverished.
Letter Scene, first act
From Eugene Onegin, after Alexandre Pushkin’s Eugene Onegin
Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
Libretto: K. Shilovsky and Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovky
The night she was introduced to the worldly Eugene
Onegin, the young, country girl Tatyana Larina, falls in love at first sight
with the stranger. Alone in her room, Tatyana, like the heroines of her
favorite romantic novels, is exploring her sudden feelings towards the
sophisticated acquaintance. And despite her mixed emotions about its outcome,
resolved to reveal her feelings Tatyana decides to write a letter to Onegin.
She falters and tears the letter up and starts again, full of fear and
shame. She finishes it, closing with a plea for Onegin’s mercy and
understanding.
Duet, Act II
From Un ballo in Maschera (A Masked Ball)
Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
librettist: Antonio Soma, after Eugene Scribe, Gutsave III
First performed in 1859
Amelia, married to Renato, secretary to king Gustavo,
is in love with her husband’s boss. She goes to see a fortuneteller, Ulrica, to
help her get over her forbidden love. Ulrica directs Amelia to go at midnight
to look for a magic herb that will release her from the spell. Gustavo
plans to meet her at the gallows, where the magical plant can be found. Heavily
disguised, Amelia arrives at the place and is shocked by the unexpected arrival
of the king. Gustavo persuades her to confess her love for him, upon which both
begin to release their passions in this glorious duet.
Plot synopsis by Marvin G. Pérez