Last year on the In Concert Quiz, I asked listeners to name a “one-hit wonder” and included the most famous tune from this week’s opera, La Gioconda.
You’ll probably know the tune as made famous by Allan Sherman:
But there’s a lot more to Amilcare Ponchielli’s La Gioconda than this famous orchestral interlude. Fact is, perhaps I was a bit too quick to declare Mr. Ponchielli a “one-hit wonder.” This four-act opera is a dramatic tour de force and it’s performed in a stunning concert version at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw.
The story of La Gioconda is borrowed from a Victor Hugo drama, Angélo, tyran de Padoue. The play served as inspiration for four operas but Ponchielli’s remains the best known.
The title character, La Gioconda, could well have used the modern day self-help book, He’s Just Not That into You.
She’s hopelessly in love with a Genoese nobleman by the name of Enzo. But Enzo, well he’s pining for the one that got away, Laura, who’s married to Alvise, one of the heads of the state inquisition. Meanwhile the rather evil character Barnaba, an Inquisition spy, is in love with Gioconda and hopes to impress her. Well, she won’t have any of it, she’s too taken with Enzo.
And on with some plot twists and turns: Gioconda’s mother is kidnapped (and eventually murdered); Barnaba strikes a pact with Enzo to reunite with Laura and also to punish Gioconda for not loving him; Alvise forces his wife to commit suicide, only to have Gioconda save the day with a magic potion; and in the end, heartbroken and angry, Gioconda commits suicide. It all seems rather tragic for a relationship that really never was but there you go, another day at the opera house!
Today’s production is particularly sizzling. It’s a concert performance from the famed Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. It features the Dutch soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek in the title role. And leading the whole opera is the famed conductor Bruno Bartoletti, 86, who led the Lyric Opera of Chicago for five decades. The Amsterdam daily Het Parool remarked that the performers “all would have would walked through fire for Bartoletti, and that could be heard.”
Cast:
Eva-Maria Westbroek, soprano, Gioconda
Luciana D'Intino, mezzo-soprano, Laura Adorno
Elena Cassian, contralto, La Cieca, Gioconda's mother
Riccardo Massi, tenor, Enzo Grimaldo
Alberto Gazale, baritone, Barnaba
Luiz-Ottavio Faria, bass, Alvise Badoero
Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus
Bruno Bartoletti, conductor
Synopsis, courtesy of metopera.org
Act 1: The Lion’s Mouth
Barnaba, a spy for the Inquisition, contemptuously watches a crowd of Venetians gathered in the Doge’s courtyard for a regatta on the Grand Canal. When the crowd rushes off to watch the race, he reflects on his passion for the beautiful street singer La Gioconda. The singer leads in her blind mother, La Cieca, who blesses her daughter’s kindness (Figlia, che reggi). Barnaba tries to force himself on Gioconda, but she escapes him.
The crowd returns. Barnaba convinces them that the old lady is a witch who made the popular gondolier Zuane lose the race. The mob threatens the old woman as Gioconda returns with Enzo Grimaldo, a young sea captain she loves, but they are unable to subdue the crowd. Alvise Badoero, the head of the Inquisition, passes with his beautiful wife Laura on their way from a masked ball. They save La Cieca, who, in gratitude, gives Laura her rosary (Voce di donna o di angelo).
All leave for evening services except Barnaba and Enzo, whom the spy recognizes as a banished Genoese nobleman once in love with Laura (Enzo Grimaldo, Principe di Santafior). Barnaba, plotting to prove Enzo faithless to Gioconda, tells Enzo he can arrange for Laura to visit him on his ship that very evening. Enzo cannot resist seeing Laura even though he realizes that Barnaba has evil plans for Gioconda. He hurries to his ship to wait for his lover. Barnaba then dictates a note to the public scribe Isepo telling Alvise of Laura’s impending desertion. He thrusts the note into the Lion’s Mouth (O monumento), the repository for denunciations to the Inquisition. Gioconda overhears the plot, and as vespers sound she leans on her mother, crushed by Enzo’s betrayal.
Act 2: The Rosary
Barnaba, disguised as a fisherman, sings a barcarolle (Pescator, affonda l’esca) while spying on Enzo’s ship in the Lagoon. He leaves, and Enzo appears on board, waiting for Laura and reflecting on the mystical beauty of sky and sea (Cielo e mar). Laura is rowed to the ship by Barnaba, who then disappears with a sneer as the couple embraces.
Enzo prepares for the voyage and Laura prays to the Virgin for protection (Stella del marinar). Gioconda emerges from the shadows: the two women face off in their rivalry for Enzo’s love (L’amo come il fulgor). Gioconda is about to stab Laura when she recognizes her mother’s rosary in Laura’s hand. Realizing it was she who saved La Cieca’s life, Gioconda warns Laura that Alvise is in hot pursuit and sends her rival to safety in her own skiff.
Telling Enzo that Laura has left him, Gioconda tries to convince him to join her on the shore, while cannons are fired from Alvise’s ship. Enzo defiantly affirms his love for Laura, sets fire to his own ship, and leaps into the Lagoon.
Act 3: The Ca’ d’Oro
In the Ca’ d’Oro palace, while music is heard in the distance, Alvise vows to himself that his wife will die (Sì! Morir ella de’!). Laura enters the room and he orders her to drink a vial of poison before the outside song has ended. As soon as he leaves the room, however, Gioconda slips in and exchanges a sleeping potion for the poison. She will restore her rival to her lover.
Alvise greets his guests in the magnificent ballroom. He presents a ballet for their entertainment (The Dance of the Hours). Barnaba drags in La Cieca, who has been found praying in the house. Enzo, believing Laura dead, reveals his true identity. He addresses her memory; Barnaba gloats while Gioconda offers herself to him if he saves Enzo from Alvise. Barnaba agrees but takes La Cieca as hostage. Goaded by Enzo, Alvise reveals Laura’s moribund body to the shocked and disgusted guests.
Act 4: The Orfano Canal
Gioconda’s street-singer friends carry the sleeping Laura into Gioconda’s home in a ruined palace on the island of Giudecca. Alone, Gioconda resolves to kill herself (Suicidio!). Enzo bursts in, accusing Gioconda of stealing Laura’s dead body. He is about to stab Gioconda when he hears the voice of the awakening Laura. Moved by Gioconda’s generosity and self-sacrifice, Enzo and Laura thank and bless her before leaving on a skiff that Gioconda has provided for them (Sulle tue mani l’anima).
As soon as Gioconda is alone, Barnaba appears demanding his reward. Stalling for time, Gioconda sings a casual song as she puts on jewels and ornaments. She then takes the dagger and, daring Barnaba to take her body that he wants so badly, stabs herself. Frustrated and irate, Barnaba screams out that he has murdered her mother, but Gioconda can no longer hear him.
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