Gianni Schicchi

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Gianni Schicchi

Gianni Schicchi is an opera

Opera

Opera is an Performing arts in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work which combines a text and a musical score. Opera is part of the Western classical music tradition....
in one act by Giacomo Puccini

Giacomo Puccini

Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini was an Italians composer whose operas, including La boh?me, Tosca, Madama Butterfly and Turandot, are among the most frequently performed in the List of important operas....
to an Italian libretto

Libretto

A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, sacred or secular oratorio and cantata, Musical theater, and ballet....
by Giovacchino Forzano

Giovacchino Forzano

Giovacchino Forzano was an Italy playwright, librettist, stage director, and film director. A resourceful writer, he produced opera librettos for most of the major Italian composers of the early twentieth century, including the librettos for Giacomo Puccini's Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi....
, based on a story that is referred to in Dante's

DANTE

DANTE is a not-for-profit organisation that plans, builds and operates the international networks that interconnect the various National Research and Education Networks in Europe and surrounding regions....
The Divine Comedy
The Divine Comedy

The Divine Comedy , written by Dante Alighieri between 1308 and his death in 1321, is widely considered the central epic poem of Italian literature, and is seen as one of the greatest works of world literature....
. It is the third of the trio of operas known as Il trittico
Il trittico

Il trittico is the title of a collection of three one-act operas, Il tabarro, Suor Angelica, and Gianni Schicchi, by Giacomo Puccini....
. Its first performance was at the Metropolitan Opera

Metropolitan Opera

The Metropolitan Opera Association of New York City, founded in April 1880, is a major presenter of all types of opera including Grand Opera. Peter Gelb is the company's general manager and James Levine is music director....
in 1918. The opera is best known for the soprano aria, O mio babbino caro
O mio babbino caro

O mio babbino caro is an aria from the opera Gianni Schicchi by Giacomo Puccini and Giovacchino Forzano . It is sung by Lauretta after tensions between Schicchi and his prospective in-laws have reached a breaking point that threatens to separate her from Rinuccio, the boy she loves....
(Oh, my dear papa), which has featured in a number of movies and other works.
ianni Schicchi was first performed at the Metropolitan Opera

Metropolitan Opera

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Encyclopedia

Gianni Schicchi is an opera

Opera

Giacomo Puccini

Libretto

A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, sacred or secular oratorio and cantata, Musical theater, and ballet....
by Giovacchino Forzano

Giovacchino Forzano

DANTE

Metropolitan Opera

Performance history

Gianni Schicchi was first performed at the Metropolitan Opera

Metropolitan Opera

The Metropolitan Opera Association of New York City, founded in April 1880, is a major presenter of all types of opera including Grand Opera. Peter Gelb is the company's general manager and James Levine is music director....
on December 14, 1918 with the other two operas of Il trittico. It premiered in Rome on January 11, 1919 and eventually became the most frequently performed of the three one-act operas that make up Il trittico.

In September 2008, film director Woody Allen

Woody Allen

Woody Allen is an Cinema of the United States film director, writer, actor, comedian, musician and playwright.Allen's distinctive films, which run the gamut from dramas to Screwball comedy film, have made him one of the most respected living American directors....
made his operatic debut with Gianni Schicchi. The production starred baritone Sir Thomas Allen

Thomas Allen

Thomas Allen may refer to:...
, soprano Laura Tatulescu and tenor Saimir Pirgu. The role of the deceased Buoso Donati was played by comic actor Brently Heilbron

Brently Heilbron

Brently Heilbron is an American comedian. In 2007, he hosted Sir Paul McCartney's special live appearance at Amoeba Music. His verbatim performance of R....
.

Literary sources

A man named Gianni Schicchi is only briefly referred to in Dante's Inferno Canto XXX:

E l'Aretin che rimase, tremando,

mi disse: 'Quel folletto è Gianni Schicchi,

e va rabbioso altrui così conciando.'

The text states that Schicchi

per guadagnar la donna de la torma,

falsificare in sè Buoso Donati,

testando e dando al testamento norma

That grim vignette is not the real source of the opera's action. A work entitled, "Commentary on the Divine Comedy by an Anonymous Florentine of the 14th Century", first published in 1866, elucidating Dante's terse references, is the actual source to the familiar plot set-up. In this, Buoso has wished to make a will, but was put off with words by his son, Simone. Once it is too late, Simone fears that Buoso may have made a will before his illness, unfavorable to Simone. Simone calls on Schicchi for counsel, and Schicchi coins the idea of the impersonation. Simone promises Schicchi he will be well rewarded, but Schicchi takes no chances, "leaving" a hefty sum to himself (though most goes to Simone), including the mule, and makes the bequests conditional on Simone's distributing the estate within fifteen days, otherwise everything shall go to charity.

Dante was no doubt somewhat biased in his description, having married into the Donati family himself, marrying Gemma Donati in 1295, five years after the death of his adored Beatrice.

Roles

Role	Voice type	Premiere Cast, 14 December 1918 (Conductor: Roberto Moranzoni)
Gianni Schicchi,	baritone Baritone Baritone is a type of European classical music male voice type that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice....	Giuseppe de Luca Giuseppe de Luca Giuseppe De Luca , was a prominent Italy baritone who achieved his greatest operatic triumphs at the New York Metropolitan Opera.De Luca was born in Rome, Italy....
Lauretta, his daughter	soprano Soprano A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four part chorale style harmony the soprano takes the highest part which usually encompasses the melody....	Florence Easton Florence Easton Florence Easton was a popular English lyric dramatic soprano in the early 20th century. She was one of the most versatile singers of all time....
Zita, cousin of Buoso Donati	contralto Contralto In music, a contralto is a type of European classical music female voice type with a vocal range somewhere between a tenor and a mezzo-soprano. The term is used to refer to the deepest female singing voice....	Kathleen Howard Kathleen Howard Kathleen Howard was a former opera singer and magazine editor who played character roles in US films from the mid-1930s through the 1940s....
Rinuccio, Zita's nephew	tenor Tenor The tenor is a type of male voice type and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between the C one octave below middle C to the A above in choral music, and up to high C in solo work....	Giulio Crimi Giulio Crimi Giulio Crimi was an Italian operatic tenor.Crimi was born in Patern?, Italy. He studied in Catania with Adern? and made his debut in Palermo, as Manrico in Il trovatore, in 1910, later appearing in Treviso as Hagenbach in La Wally....
Gherardo, Buoso's nephew	tenor	Angelo Bada
Nella, Gherardo's wife	soprano	Marie Tiffany
Gherardino, their son	soprano or treble Boy soprano A boy soprano is a young male singer with an unchanged Human voice in the soprano range. Although a treble, or choirboy, may also be considered to be a boy soprano, the more colloquial term boy soprano is generally only used for boys who sing, perform, or record as soloists, and who may not necessarily be choristers who sing in a boys' ch...	Mario Malatesta
Betto di Signa, Buoso's brother-in-law	bass	Paolo Ananian
Simone, cousin of Buoso	bass	Adamo Didur Adamo Didur Adamo Didur was a top-class Poland bass . He sang extensively in opera in Europe and appeared at New York's Metropolitan Opera from 1908 to 1932....
Marco, Simone's son	baritone	Louis D'Angelo
La Ciesca, Marco's wife	mezzo-soprano Mezzo-soprano A mezzo-soprano is a type of European classical music female voice type whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above ....	Marie Sundelius
Maestro Spinelloccio, a doctor	bass	Pompilio Malatesta
Ser Amantio di Nicolao, a notary	baritone	Andrea de Segurola
Pinellino, a cobbler	bass	Vincenzo Reschiglian
Guccio, a dyer	bass	Carl Schlegel

Synopsis

Place: Florence

Florence

Florence is the Capital city of the Italy Regions of Italy of Tuscany and of the provinces of Italy Province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany and has a population of 364,779 ....
.

Time: 1299.

Buoso Donati has died in bed. His relatives mourn melodramatically, until they hear the rumor that he has left all his money to the local monastery. They frantically search for the will. Rinuccio finds it, but refuses to release it to his aunt Zita until she agrees to his terms. If the will is favorable to them, she must allow him to marry Schicchi's daughter, Lauretta. Schicchi is looked down on by the Donati family since he is a relatively new arrival in Florence. Zita consents (she does not care whom Rinuccio marries so long as the will leaves them rich), and reads the will, as Rinuccio quietly sends for Schicchi. When the will confirms the rumor, everyone is furious. They refuse to allow Rinuccio to marry, and angrily turn down his suggestion that Schicchi, who is known for his clever schemes, can aid them.

Schicchi and Lauretta arrive to a cold reception. Schicchi, seeing how downcast the relatives are, uncharitably assumes that Donati must be better. He is informed otherwise, and attempts to console the relatives by mentioning their inheritances. Zita, touched to the quick by Schicchi's condolences, angrily explains the situation, and refuses to hear of a marriage. Rinuccio begs Schicchi to help. However, Schicchi, angered by his reception, refuses to help such people. He is persuaded to try by his daughter (O mio babbino caro
O mio babbino caro

O mio babbino caro is an aria from the opera Gianni Schicchi by Giacomo Puccini and Giovacchino Forzano . It is sung by Lauretta after tensions between Schicchi and his prospective in-laws have reached a breaking point that threatens to separate her from Rinuccio, the boy she loves....
). Schicchi reads the will, and proclaims that nothing can be done. But then, he has a thought, and Schicchi sends his daughter away so that she may be innocent of the knowledge of what he will suggest. Schicchi first orders the body to be moved to another room, and tells the women to make up the bed. He ensures that no one else knows of the death--but before he can explain, Donati's doctor arrives. The doctor is prevented from entering by the relatives, while Schicchi imitates Donati's voice, telling the doctor that Donati is feeling better. The doctor departs, praising his own skill. Schicchi explains, taking advantage of the darkened room and desguised as Buoso, he will impersonate Donati and dictate a new will.

Rinuccio goes to get the notary. The relatives mostly agree on the division of the property, except for Donati's mule (the best in Tuscany), some windmills in Signa

Signa

Signa is a comune in the Province of Florence in the Italy region Tuscany, located about 12 km west of Florence. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 16,809 and an area of 18.8 km?....
and the house they are in, the best assets. After a big fight they agree to let Schicchi decide who will inherit those items, but, one by one, they return to promise him a reward if he selects that person. Schicchi agrees to each bribe. Before the notary arrives Schichi reminds all of the penalty for impersonation and forgery of a will

Will (law)

In common law, a will or testament is a document by which a person regulates the rights of others over his or her property or family after death....
: loss of a hand and permanent exile from Florence.

The notary arrives with the witnesses. Schicchi dictates a will that provides for a very modest funeral, a minuscule sum to the monastery and the agreed-upon division, as the relatives speak approvingly. But one by one, Schicchi grants the mule, mills, and house to himself, to the relatives' outrage. After the notary leaves, he throws everyone out and they are helpless to do anything except grab what they can on the way out the door. Now that Schicchi can give Lauretta a dowry, there is no obstacle to her marriage to Rinuccio. The lovers embrace, as Schicchi watches, moved. Schicchi turns to the audience and asks if this was not a fine use of Donati's money. He then requests the audience's indulgence, even if he did not receive Dante's, pleading extenuating circumstances.

Noted arias

Firenze è come un albero fiorito - (Rinuccio)
O mio babbino caro
O mio babbino caro

O mio babbino caro is an aria from the opera Gianni Schicchi by Giacomo Puccini and Giovacchino Forzano . It is sung by Lauretta after tensions between Schicchi and his prospective in-laws have reached a breaking point that threatens to separate her from Rinuccio, the boy she loves....
(Oh, my dear papa) - (Lauretta) This aria has appeared in a variety of works including the 1986 film A Room with a View
A Room with a View (film)

A Room with a View is a 1986 Merchant Ivory Productions' feature film, with a screenplay by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala. The film was directed by James Ivory and produced by Ismail Merchant....
where it was performed by Kiri Te Kanawa
Kiri Te Kanawa

Dame Kiri Janette Te Kanawa, Order of New Zealand, Order of the British Empire, Order of Australia, is a New Zealand soprano who had a highly successful international opera career between 1968-2004....
.
Si corre dal notaio - (Gianni Schicchi)

Selected recordings

Year	Cast (Gianni Schicchi, Lauretta, Zita, Rinuccio)	Conductor, Opera House and Orchestra	Label
N/Y	Tito Gobbi Tito Gobbi Tito Gobbi was an Italian baritone.... , Victoria de los Ángeles Victoria de los Ángeles Victoria de los ?ngeles was a Spanish operatic soprano and recitalist from Catalonia whose career began in the early 1940s and reached its height in the mid 1960s.... , Ana Maria Canali, Carlo del Monte	Gabriele Santini, Orchestra del Teatro dell'Opera di Roma	Audio CD: EMI
1962	Fernando Corena Fernando Corena Fernando Corena was a Swiss Bass , one of the greatest buffo of the post-war era, enjoyed a long and successful career at the Metropolitan Opera, heralded as the true successor to comic Italian bass Salvatore Baccaloni.... , Renata Tebaldi Renata Tebaldi Renata Tebaldi was an Italian lirico-spinto soprano, popular in the post-World War II period. Acclaimed as one of the most beloved opera singers of all time, she primarily focused on the verismo roles of the lyric and dramatic repertoires.... , Lucia Danieli, Agostino Lazzari	Lamberto Gardelli Lamberto Gardelli Lamberto Gardelli was an Italian conductor, particularly associated with the Italian opera repertory, especially the works of Giuseppe Verdi.... , Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino	Audio CD: DECCA Cat: 411 665-2
1987	Rolando Panerai Rolando Panerai Rolando Panerai Italian baritone, particularly associated with the Italian repertory, he enjoyed a long and distinguished career in both comic and dramatic roles.... , Helen Donath Helen Donath Helen Donath is an American soprano.She was born in Corpus Christi, Texas and studied at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi and with Paola Novikova in New York.... , Wiera Baniewicz, Peter Seiffert Peter Seiffert Peter Seiffert is a German tenor....	Giuseppe Patané Giuseppe Patanè Giuseppe Patan? was an Italian list of conductors. He was the son of the conductor Franco Patan? and studied in Naples, where he also made his debut in 1951.... , Munich Radio Symphony Orchestra	Audio CD: Eurodisc Cat: 7751
1994	Leo Nucci Leo Nucci Leo Nucci is an Italian operatic baritone, one of the leading baritones of the 1980s and 1990s, particularly admired in Giuseppe Verdi roles.... , Mirella Freni Mirella Freni Mirella Freni is an Italian opera soprano much admired for the youthful quality of her voice, her phrasing and thoughtful character interpretations and acting skills.... , Eva Podles, Roberto Alagna Roberto Alagna Roberto Alagna is a France operatic tenor of Sicilian descent. He was born in Clichy-sous-Bois, Seine-Saint-Denis, France....	Bruno Bartoletti, Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino	Audio CD: DECCA Cat: 436 261-2
2002	Alberto Rinaldi, Tatiana Lisnic, Mabel Perelstein, Stafano Secco	Alexander Rahbari, Malaga Philharmonic Orchestra	Audio CD: NAXOS Classical Cat: 8.660111

Note: "Cat:" is short for catalogue number by the label company

Gianni Schicchi

Performance history

Literary sources

Roles

Synopsis

Noted arias

Selected recordings

External links