Opera "Anne Boleyn": content, video, interesting facts, history

G. Donizetti opera "Anna Bolein"

By his thirty-three years Gaetano Donizetti gained in the theaters of Italy the fame of the popular composer of comic operas. But, obeying the magic of numbers, it was his 33 opera "Anne Boleyn", created in the atypical genre of the tragedy for the author, brought him international fame.

Summary of the opera Donizetti "Ann Bolein", history and interesting facts about this work read on our page.

Summary of "Anne Boleyn"

Windsor and London, 1536

There are rumors in the Windsor Palace: King Henry has lost interest in his wife Anna and spends time with her court lady, Lady Seymour. Did the acting queen suffer the fate of her predecessor, Catherine of Aragon? The mood of others was passed on to the queen herself — she is sad, and the love song reminds her of her former lover. Realizing that the night is nearing the end, and Henry never visited her, Anna sends the courtiers.

The king comes to Jane. She thinks that Anna already suspects something, and she tells Henry only one thing - the relationship between them is impossible until he leads her to the altar. Overwhelmed with passion, Heinrich promises her a crown. Understanding at what price this can be received, Jane asks him not to deal with Anna cruelly.

While hunting, Earl Rochefort meets Henry Percy, who has returned from exile. Percy happily anticipates a meeting with Anna, who was once his beloved. A couple of monarchs appear, Percy kisses Henry’s hand, thanks for mercy, but he says that Anna asked for him. For her, this meeting is also very exciting. Heinrich, seeing the emotions of both, orders to keep an eye on them.

Smeton secretly penetrates Anna's chambers in order to return the medallion stolen by him with her image: he is secretly in love with his queen. The appearance of Anna with his brother makes the young man hide behind the curtains. Rochefort asks her sister to meet with Percy. She apprehensively agrees. Percy prays for her love, exposing her sword and threatening to stab when Anna asks him to leave. Smeton rushes to Percy, wanting to protect the queen. Witness of this scene is Heinrich, who accuses his wife of treason.

Anna is imprisoned in her apartment. Jane comes to her and pleads for guilt. Anna can not choose a shame instead of death, she wondered who her rival, cursing her future marriage with Henry. Jane impersonating herself. Anna forgives her.

Smeton during interrogation confesses in connection with the queen - it seems to him that by doing so he will save her. This is enough for Henrikh - they are not listening to anyone, neither the arguments of Percy and Anna, nor the plea of ​​Jane. The verdict is announced - the king’s marriage has been dissolved, and all the accused will be executed.

On the death row, Rochefort and Percy report on the king’s proposal to keep them alive. Both refuse. Anna is disturbed by visions from her life. They bring her brother, Percy and Smetona to her. They hear the joyful roar of the crowd - people are celebrating the new queen Jane Seymour. Anna is dying.

A photo

Interesting Facts

• For Judith Pasta, heroines were also written in the operas “La Sonnambula” and “Norma” by V. Bellini. She is called the 19th century Maria Callas.
• The Liceu Opera House in Barcelona opened in 1847 with the Anna Boleyn.
• The part of Henry VIII at the premiere was performed by Filippo Galli - the singer of a unique creative biography. The first ten years of his career, he acted as a tenor, then suffered a disease that changed his voice, turning it into bass. Galli became one of D. Rossini’s favorite bass, who wrote parties for his operas especially for him: "Italian in Algeria"(Mustafa)," Turk in Italy "(Selim),"Thieving Magpie"(Fernando) and others.
• In the game of Jane Seymour at the premiere, young Eliza Orlandi shone, who just a few months ago first appeared on the stage. The fate of this talented singer broke off unfairly early - at 23 she suddenly died behind the curtains of the Rovigo Opera Theater before going on stage as Adaldzhizy in "Norme" Bellini.

Three Queens Donizetti

Donizetti repeatedly addressed the dramatic events of English history. A year before Anna Boleyn, he wrote the opera Elizabeth at Kenilworth Castle. The second name of the opera - without the name of the queen - more corresponds to the meaning of its plot, which is focused on the fate of other characters. But Maria Stewart (1834) and Roberto Devereux (1937), together with Anna Bolein, are called the Three Queens of Donizetti.

At the heart of the libretto "Mary Stuart" lies the similar tragedy of F. Schiller about the inflexible queen of Scotland, who challenged Queen Elizabeth and paid for it with her life. Roberto Devereux is the name of a favorite of Elizabeth, around which a multitude of love interweaving is formed. But after a series of intrigues in the finals, Roberto also part with his head. Unlike “Anne Boleyn”, this story had the least relation to real events, however, the opera is quite convincing with its own plot drama.

Top opera arias and duets:

"Piangete voi? ... Al dolce guidami" - Anna Boleyn's aria

"Coppia Iniqua" - Anna Boleyn's aria

"Va ', infelice, e teso reca" - Anne Boleyn and Jane Seymour duet

History of creation and productions

The Opera was commissioned by the Milan Theater Carcano, which was rapidly gaining strength for a successful rivalry with La Scala. The libretto was entrusted to the famous playwright Felice Romani, the creator of most of the lyrics to operas. Vincenzo Bellini. This was the first work of the creative tandem Donizetti - Romani. Looking ahead, a year and a half later, they will create an immortal masterpiece, one of the most popular operas in the world - "Love drink". To work, Romani took advantage of several plays by Italian and French authors about Anne Boleyn.

Having received a libretto, Donizetti conveniently located in the Villa Judith Pasta in the picturesque town of Blevio on the shores of Lake Como. And during the month he wrote a two-part opera - the composer always worked swiftly, which allowed him to create more than 70 operas in 50 years of life. Pasta was an outstanding opera singer of her time, is it worth saying that the title role was meant for her.

The first performance was given on December 26, 1830. This evening Donizetti was among the best composers in Italy. Before him "took off his hat" even his teacher. The performance was visited by M.I. Glinka, who remained in utter delight and on his return from the theater, lost many memorable melodies on the piano.

Of course, England became interested in the work - the royal opera could not boast of such high-level masterpieces on its own history. Already in July 1831, the London premiere took place. After another 8 years - American. In Europe, the opera went on for several decades, until the era was changed. Against the backdrop of dramatic dramatic characters Verdi and, later, the understandable passions of Verism, the experiences of the queen who had sunk into oblivion in the style of bel canto lost relevance.

The opera again became the center of attention in the middle of the 20th century. In many ways, the revival of the story of the Queen of England took place thanks to the opera Queen Maria Callas. It was she who in 1957 gave 12 performances in La Scala, one of which was recorded audio. With her performance, Callas proved that "Anne Boleyn" was created not just to demonstrate vocal abilities (general opinion about belkant operas), but also contains a deep dramatic potential. In the party of Jane Seymour in a number of productions of the time Juliette Simionato performed. Later Anna Boleyn sang opera divas - M. Caballe, R. Scotto, B. Sills, D. Sutherland, E. Gruberova, A. Netrebko, S. Radvanovsky. For them, it became not only an excellent role, but also an excuse to accept the challenge from the author and the competitors in the workshop, as Anna Bolein is one of the most technically challenging games. Records of the opera with the participation of many of them were released on discs.

"Anne Boleyn" on video

There are several videos of the opera:

• Production of the Canadian Opera Company, 1984, dir. L. Mansuri, in the main parties - D. Sutherland (Anna Boleyn), J. Morris (Henry VIII), D. Force (Jane Seymour).
• Production of the Vienna Opera, 2011, dir. E. Genovese, in the main parties - A. Netrebko, I. D'Arkandzhelo, E. Garancha.
• Production Metropolitan Opera, 2012, dir. D. McVicard, in the main parties - A. Netrebko, I. Abdrazakov, E. Gubanova.
• The recording of the rarely performed version of the opera of 1840 made for La Scala is interesting: the production of the Flavius ​​Vespasian Theater in Rieti, 2013, dir. C. Scarton, in the main parties - M. Torbidoni, F. Benetti, L. Polverelli.

Despite the relatively rare appearance on the posters, "Anne Boleyn" for a long time does not drop out of the world repertoire. It is put both separately and as part of the “Queens Trilogy” by Donizetti.