Oberto conte di San Bonifacio synopsis

Korsaren Av Roberto Focosi, 1842 - https://www.neh.gov/divisions/research/featured-project/giuseppe-verdi%E2%80%99s-attila, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35653162
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Oberto var Verdis första opera och han skrev den vintern 1837-38. Den blev antagen för uppförande vid en välgörenhetskonsert på Teatro alla Scala i Milano våren 1839. Tyvärr måste framförandet avlysas, men Oberto sattes upp på programmet på hösten samma år (17 november) tack vare sopranen Giuseppina Strepponi, som längre fram blev Verdis livsledsagerska. Trots det svaga librettot blev operan väl mottagen och partituret gavs ut av det berömda musikförlaget Ricordi i Milano, och så upprättades en förbindelse som skulle vara resten av Verdis långa liv.Oberto conte di San Bonifacio
Akt I
Den landsflyktige greve Oberto di San Bonifacios dotter Leonora har blivit förförd av greve Riccardo, som nu skall gifta sig med Cuniza, syster till Ezzelino da Romano.Oberto har förskjutit sin dotter, men då han får veta att hon nu enbart vill hämnas på sin trolöse älskare beslutar han göra gemensam sak med henne, och de beger sig till Ezzelinos slott.

Leonora uppsöker Cuniza och berättar sin historia för henne, och Oberto bekräftar att Riccardo har förfört hans dotter och sedan övergett henne. Cuniza är skakad, och inför alla gästerna konfronterar hon Riccardo med Leonora.
Akt II
Cunizas väninna Imelda försöker trösta henne, men hon är orubbligt besluten att Riccardo skall gifta sig med Leonora. Oberto har utmanat sin dotters förförare på duell, fastän han därigenom har satt sitt liv på spel i dubbel bemärkelse eftersom han har återvänt till det han är förvisad från. Cuniza har emellertid vädjat för hans skull och landsförvisningen har upphävts, men Riccardo vill inte duellera med den gamle. Dessutom är han rörd över Leonoras trogna kärlek och Cunizas hållning.

Oberto uppmanar honom att låtsas gå med på Cunizas krav på att han skall äkta Leonora, men då kvinnorna har dragit sig tillbaka går han och Riccardo ut i skogen och utkämpar sin duell. Riccardo dödar Oberto och flyr från Italien. För att göra bot lämnar han allt han äger till Leonora.

IN ENGLISH

Time: 1228
Place: Northern Italy, Bassano, at Ezzelino da Romano’s castle and nearby

Before the action takes place, a battle has been fought between Oberto, Count of San Boniface, and the Salinguerra, led by Ezzelino da Romano. Oberto has lost and has retreated to Mantua. Meanwhile, his daughter Leonora has been seduced and abandoned by Riccardo, Count of Salinguerra, and Riccardo is about to marry Cuniza, Ezzelino’s sister. Leonora makes her way to Bassano on Riccardo’s wedding day, intent on confronting him.
Act 1
Scene 1: The countryside near Bassano

Riccardo is welcomed by a chorus as he is about to enter Ezzelino’s palace. He sings of his joy at being close to Cuniza (Son fra voi! Già sorto è il giorno…Già parmi udire il fremito – “Here I am amongst you! The day hasted by my desire has now arrived”). They enter the castle. Leonora arrives swearing to avenge Riccardo’s desertion and she sings of the love which she had and a hope of recovering those innocent days (Sotto il paterno tetto…Oh potessi nel mio core– “Beneath my father’s roof an angel appeared to me”).

She leaves to go towards the village. Her father, Oberto, arrives, pleased to be back in his home country but unsure of Leonora’s whereabouts. When Leonora returns, each is aware of the other’s presence and father and daughter are reunited. They express amazement at having found each other again. But Oberto’s initial anger at Leonora’s actions quickly turns to fatherly affection as the pair makes plans to disrupt the wedding.

Scene 2: A room in Ezzelino’s palace

The chorus sings a welcome to the happy bride but, alone with Riccardo, Cuniza expresses some forebodings in spite of expressing her love for him. (Questa gioia che il petto m’inonda – “This joy that overwhelms my breast is mingled with a mysterious fear”).

After the couple leaves, Leonora enters and is questioned by Imelda. Leonora tells her that her father, Oberto, is also in the palace and, when he enters, she tells Cuniza about her betrayal by Riccardo. Cuniza agrees to help them.

She then hides Oberto in a nearby room and invites Riccardo and his guests to join her. Upon entering, Cuniza reveals Leonora’s presence and accuses her lover of infidelity. Riccardo’s accusations against Leonora prompt her father to enter and challenge Riccardo to a duel.
Act 2
Scene 1: The princess’s private apartments

Cuniza and Imelda are alone and the servant announces that Riccardo wishes to speak to her mistress. Cuniza laments the love she had, but following her aria, Oh, chi torna l’ardente pensiero – “Oh, who can turn my fevered thoughts”, she instructs Imelda to tell Riccardo that he should return to Leonora, concluding in Più che i vezzi e lo splendore – “More persuasive to my conscience” that she has made the right decision.

Scene 2: A remote place near the castle gardens

The courtiers gather and express their sympathy for Leonora’s plight. As they leave, Oberto enters, waiting for his rival to appear. He proclaims that he will seek vengeance: (Aria: L’orror del tradimento – “The horror of his betrayal”). The courtiers return to tell him that Cuniza has interceded on his behalf and that he has nothing to fear from Riccardo, but Oberto’s thoughts still focus on vengeance. Riccardo finally arrives and they begin to fight, but are soon stopped by Cuniza who arrives with Leonora. Cuniza insists that Riccardo admit his infidelity and agrees to marry Leonora.

Still determined to fight his rival, Oberto extracts an agreement from Riccardo that they will soon meet in the woods. Oberto leaves the group to go into the woods; all leave. Offstage, the sound of a duel in progress can be heard and it is followed by Riccardo’s arrival. He realizes that he has killed Oberto (Aria: Ciel che feci? – “Heavens, what have I done!”) and he is filled with remorse. Then Imelda and Cuniza appear explaining that Leonora is prostrate over the dead body of her father. Soon a letter arrives from Riccardo explaining that he has gone into exile leaving everything he possesses to Leonora. In her grief, she announces that she will become a hermit.

UPPHOVSPERSONER

Musik: Giuseppe Verdi

Text: Temistocle Solera

LIBRETTO

Tid och plats: Slottet Ezzalino i Bassano med dess omnejd år 1228
PREMIÄR
Uruppförande La Scala den 17 november 1839.

Roller och rösttyper

Roll Rösttyp
Cuniza,Ezzalino da Romanos syster mezzosopran
Riccardo, greve av Salinguerra tenor
Oberto, greve av San Bonifacio bas
Leonora, hans dotter sopran
Imelda, Cunizas förtrogna mezzosopran
Riddare,adelsdamer och vasaller kör