It's safe to say that without his opera Francesca da Rimini, Riccardo Zandonai would be but a footnote in the history of music. Was he a one-hit wonder? Perhaps, but calling Francesca da Rimini a hit might be an overstatement. It has held on in terms of complete performances, but only just. It's the recitals that have kept this opera alive, with a few plumb arias.
The Met trots out Francesca da Rimini this week, but only after having shelved it for nearly three decades.
But get set for a particularly sensational remount. In the title role of Francesca is the Dutch soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek. Westbroek is sensational, a soprano who's firing on all cylinders these days, really at the top of her game.
How big is Ms. Westbroek? Well, she's singing the role of Sieglinde in Wagner's Bayreuth birthday bash on May 22. If ever there was a place to be on Wagner's 200th birthday, Bayreuth would be it. I imagine she didn't hesitate in saying yes to that particular gig!
Starring opposite her in Francesca da Rimini is the Italian tenor Marcello Giordani.
The story of Francesca da Rimini has inspired some 19 operas and the fantastic symphonic poem by Tchaikovsky. Among the operatic inspirations, only the Zandonai and a short opera by Rachmaninoff have managed to stay in the repertory.
In fact, Bunny Watson-like, we could traipse all the way from Francesca, the historical 13th-century figure, to Ren and Stimpy and the films of Alfred Hitchcock.
Related:
NPR's The World of Opera provides a synopsis and a bit more info on this opera
Eva-Maria Westbroek discusses the role of Sieglinde