Cristoforo Colombo (opera)

Cristoforo Colombo (Christopher Columbus, Italian pronunciation: [kriˈstɔːforo koˈlombo]) is an opera in four acts and an epilogue by Alberto Franchetti to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica. It was written in 1892 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' arrival in America.

Commissioned by the city of Genoa, Columbus' birthplace, the opera deals with the voyage of discovery, its opposition by the Spanish authorities, Columbus' encouragement by Queen Isabella, and finally, after his difficulties and triumph, his anguish when he learns of her death.[1]

An essentially melodic opera only tangentially influenced by the emerging verismo style, it is harmonically rich, with obvious references to the work of Richard Wagner and Meyerbeer. The Act 2 monologue contains a Rhine-like motif; after cries of Terra! Terra! the orchestra replies with Tristan-like ecstasy, and then a rainbow bridge-like triumph.[2] Its anti-church elements have been noted, particularly in the opera's earlier versions: it is the clerics who oppose the voyage initially, and who violently attempt to evangelise the South American natives.[3]

Performance history

Adolf Hohenstein's original costume design for Christopher Columbus, Act II

The opera premiered at Genoa's Teatro Carlo Felice on October 6, 1892 conducted by Luigi Mancinelli with sets designed by Ugo Gheduzzi and costumes by Adolf Hohenstein. The same year, it was performed in a revised version at La Scala, Milan. It had a number of performances throughout Italy, many of them conducted by Arturo Toscanini, and in Buenos Aires. The opera's North American premiere was presented by the Philadelphia-Chicago Grand Opera Company at the Philadelphia Metropolitan Opera House on November 20, 1913, with Titta Ruffo in the title role, Rosa Raisa as Queen Isabella of Spain, Amedeo Bassi as Don Fernan Guevara, and Gustave Huberdeau as Don Roldana Ximenes.

Poster for the world premiere of Cristoforo Colombo, Teatro Carlo Felice, Genoa, 1892

Despite initial stage success, a massive cut of the first version, of some 100 pages of orchestral score, led to the published version; a set of adventures in America in acts 3 and 4 having been considered too long. The final version of 1923 contained three acts, omitting the American content altogether, although containing much of its music. One of Luigi Illica's first librettos, it had a difficult gestation due to difficulties with the composer. Illica withdrew his name from the project after the first performance.[4]

Roles

Role Voice type Premiere cast[5]
6 October 1892
(Conductor: Luigi Mancinelli)
Cristoforo Colombo, Christopher Columbus baritone Giuseppe Kaschmann
Isabella de Aragona, Queen Isabella I of Spain soprano Elvira Colonnese
Don Fernando Guevara, Captain of the Royal Guards tenor Edoardo Garbin
Don Roldano Ximenes, a Spanish knight bass Francesco Navarrini
Matheos, foreman of the ship's crew tenor Giovanni Paroli
Anacoana, an Indian queen mezzo-soprano Giulia Novelli
Iguamota, her daughter soprano Elvira Colonnese
Bobita, the old chieftain bass Vittorio Cesarotto
Bobadilla, false messenger of the King of Spain bass Raffaele Terzi

Selected recordings

Individual arias

Complete opera

References

  1. ↑ Opera at Home, Gramophone Co. Ltd, 3ed, 1925
  2. ↑ Mike Richter, Franchetti: Cristoforo Colombo selections. Accessed 14 May 2008.
  3. ↑ Luca Zoppelli and Arthur Groos, 'Twilight of the True Gods: "Cristoforo Colombo", "I Medici" and the Construction of Italian History', Cambridge Opera Journal, Vol. 8, No. 3, (Nov., 1996), pp. 251-269; Cambridge University Press.
  4. ↑ Luca Zoppelli and Arthur Groos, 'Twilight of the True Gods: "Cristoforo Colombo", "I Medici" and the Construction of Italian History', Cambridge Opera Journal, Vol. 8, No. 3, (Nov., 1996), pp. 251-269; Cambridge University Press.
  5. ↑ "Almanacco 6 October 1892" (in Italian). AmadeusOnline. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
  6. ↑ Robert Levine, Review: Cristoforo Colombo, Classics Today. Accessed 13 May 2008.

Further Sources

External links

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