I puritani

	Email		Print
	Bookmark		Link

I puritani

I puritani (The Puritans) 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 three acts, by Vincenzo Bellini

Vincenzo Bellini

Vincenzo Salvatore Carmelo Francesco Bellini was an Italy opera composer. Known for his flowing melodic lines for which he was named "the Swan of Catania", Bellini was the quintessential composer of Bel canto opera....
. Libretto by Count Carlo Pepoli based on Têtes rondes et Cavaliers by Jacques-François Ancelot

Jacques-François Ancelot

Jacques-Ars?ne-Polycarpe-Fran?ois Ancelot was a France dramatist and litterateur....
and Joseph Xavier Saintine. First produced at the Théâtre-Italien in Paris

Paris

Paris is the Capital of France and the country's largest city. It is situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the ?le-de-France Regions of France ....
, January 24, 1835. At the same time, Bellini composed an alternative version intended for the famous Maria Malibran

Maria Malibran

The mezzo-soprano Maria Malibran , was one of the most famous opera singers of the 19th century. Malibran was known for her stormy personality and dramatic intensity, becoming a legendary figure after her death at age 28....
, who was to sing it in Naples

Naples

Naples is a city in southern Italy, the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples. The city is known for its rich history, art, culture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,800 years old....
; in fact, this version was not performed on stage until April 10 1986 at the Teatro Petruzzelli

Bari

Bari is the capital city of the province of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic sea, in Italy. It is the second economic centre of mainland Southern Italy and is well known as a port and university city, as well as the city of Saint Nicholas....
, Bari

Bari

Role

Voice type

Premiere Cast, January 24, 1835
(Conductor: - )

Lord Arturo Talbo

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....

Giovanni Battista Rubini

Giovanni Battista Rubini was an Italian tenor, as famous in his time as Enrico Caruso in a later day. His ringing and expressive coloratura dexterity in the highest register of his voice, the tenorino, inspired the writing of operatic roles which today are almost impossible to cast....

Elvira, betrothed to Arturo

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....

Giulia Grisi

Giulia Grisi , was an Italy opera singer.Born in Milan, she was the daughter of one of Napoleon I of France's Italian officers. She came from a musically gifted family, her maternal aunt Giuseppina Grassini being a favourite opera-singer both on the continent and in London; her mother had also been a singer, and her elder sister Giuditta...

Sir Riccardo Forth

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....

Antonio Tamburini

Antonio Tamburini was an Italian baritone.Born in Faenza, then part of the Papal States, Tamburini studied the horn with his father and voice with Aldobrando Rossi before making his debut aged 18 in La contessa di colle erbose ....

Sir Giorgio Valton

bass

Luigi Lablache

Luigi Lablache was an Italian bass singer of French and Irish heritage, born in Naples. He was most noted for his comic performances, with a powerful bass voice, a wide range, and adept acting: Leporello in Don Giovanni was one of his signature roles....

Lord Gualtiero Valton, Elvira's father and Giorgio's brother

bass

Luigi Profeti

Sir Bruno Robertson

tenor

Discussion

Ask a question about 'I puritani'

Start a new discussion about 'I puritani'

Answer questions from other users

Full Discussion Forum

Encyclopedia

I puritani (The Puritans) is an opera

Opera

Vincenzo Bellini

Jacques-François Ancelot

Jacques-Ars?ne-Polycarpe-Fran?ois Ancelot was a France dramatist and litterateur....
and Joseph Xavier Saintine. First produced at the Théâtre-Italien in Paris

Paris

Maria Malibran

Naples

Bari

Roles

Role	Voice type	Premiere Cast, January 24, 1835 (Conductor: - )
Lord Arturo Talbo	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....	Giovanni Battista Rubini Giovanni Battista Rubini Giovanni Battista Rubini was an Italian tenor, as famous in his time as Enrico Caruso in a later day. His ringing and expressive coloratura dexterity in the highest register of his voice, the tenorino, inspired the writing of operatic roles which today are almost impossible to cast....
Elvira, betrothed to Arturo	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....	Giulia Grisi Giulia Grisi Giulia Grisi , was an Italy opera singer.Born in Milan, she was the daughter of one of Napoleon I of France's Italian officers. She came from a musically gifted family, her maternal aunt Giuseppina Grassini being a favourite opera-singer both on the continent and in London; her mother had also been a singer, and her elder sister Giuditta...
Sir Riccardo Forth	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....	Antonio Tamburini Antonio Tamburini Antonio Tamburini was an Italian baritone.Born in Faenza, then part of the Papal States, Tamburini studied the horn with his father and voice with Aldobrando Rossi before making his debut aged 18 in La contessa di colle erbose ....
Sir Giorgio Valton	bass	Luigi Lablache Luigi Lablache Luigi Lablache was an Italian bass singer of French and Irish heritage, born in Naples. He was most noted for his comic performances, with a powerful bass voice, a wide range, and adept acting: Leporello in Don Giovanni was one of his signature roles....
Lord Gualtiero Valton, Elvira's father and Giorgio's brother	bass	Luigi Profeti
Sir Bruno Robertson	tenor	M. Magliano
Enrichetta di Francia, widow of Charles I	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 ....	Maria Amigo
Soldiers, heralds, armigers, Puritans, lords and ladies, pages, servants

Synopsis

Place: England during the English Civil War

English Civil War

The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Roundhead and Cavalier. The First English Civil War and Second English Civil War civil wars pitted the supporters of Charles I of England against the supporters of the Long Parliament, while the Third English Civil War saw fighting between supporters...

Time: 1640s

Act 1

A fortress near Plymouth
Plymouth

Plymouth is a City status in the United Kingdom and unitary authority on the coast of Devon, England, about south west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers River Plym to the east and River Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound....
, commanded by Lord Gualtiero Valton

At daybreak, the Puritan

Roundhead

"Roundheads" was the nickname given to the Puritan supporters of Parliament of England during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they were the supporters of Oliver Cromwell against Charles I of England ....
soldiers anticipate victory over the Royalists. Riccardo had been promised Elvira's hand in marriage by Lord Valton but, returning to Plymouth, he finds that she is in love with Arturo (a Royalist), and will marry him instead. He confides in Bruno ("Ah! Per sempre ... Bel sogno beato").

In Elvira's apartments, Giorgio reveals that it was he who persuaded Lord Valton to grant Elvira's wish. She is overjoyed.

Arturo arrives for the wedding and celebrates his new-found happiness ("A te, o cara"). Valton is to take a mysterious lady (suspected of being a Royalist spy) to appear before Parliament. Arturo discovers that she is Enrichetta, widow of the executed King Charles I

Charles I of England

Charles I was List of English monarchs, List of monarchs of Scotland and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his capital punishment on 30 January 1649....
. Elvira appears singing a joyful polonaise ("Son vergin vezzosa"), but drops her wedding veil as she departs to make ready for the wedding. Arturo uses the veil to disguise Enrichetta as Elvira and so enabling her to escape. On the way, they encounter Riccardo and, when he discovers that the woman with Arturo is not Elvira, he is content to let them pass. When the escape is discovered, Elvira believes herself deserted and loses her reason ("Oh, vieni al tempio, fedele Arturo").

Act 2

Another part of the fortress

Giorgio describes Elvira's madness ("Cinta di fiori"). Riccardo brings the news that Arturo is now a fugitive who has been condemned to death for allowing Enrichetta to escape. Elvira now appears, still deranged but longing for Arturo ("Qui la voce ...Vien, diletto"). Giorgio and Riccardo argue over whether Arturo's death will mean that Elvira will die of grief, but eventually agree that he must die if he is found fighting for the Royalists in the impending battle ("Il rival salvar tu dei ... Suoni la tromba").

Act 3

The countryside near the fortress, three months later

Arturo is still on the run, but has returned to see Elvira. He hears her singing ("A una fonte afflitto e solo") and they are reunited ("Vieni fra le mie braccie"). But Elvira fears that they will again be parted, and when Riccardo arrives, with Giorgio and the soldiers, to announce Arturo's death sentence, she finally comes to her senses. An ensemble ("Credeasi, misera") develops, during which the unusually high note of an F above high C is required from Arturo, and even Riccardo is moved by the plight of the lovers. The soldiers demand Arturo's execution, but word is brought that, although the Royalists have been defeated, Oliver Cromwell

Oliver Cromwell

Oliver Cromwell was an English people Military history of the United Kingdom and Politics of England leader best known for his involvement in making England into a republican Commonwealth and for his later role as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
has pardoned all prisoners. The lovers are finally united for good.

Selected Recordings

Year	Cast (Elvira, Arturo, Riccardo, Giorgio)	Conductor, Opera House and Orchestra	Label
1953	Maria Callas Maria Callas Maria Callas was an American-born Greeks soprano and one of the most renowned opera singers of the twentieth century. She combined an impressive bel canto technique with great dramatic gifts.... , Giuseppe di Stefano Giuseppe Di Stefano Giuseppe Di Stefano was an Italian operatic tenor whose career lasted from the late 1940s to the early 1970s. He was also known for his long association with the soprano Maria Callas, with whom he performed and recorded many times, and with whom he was romantically involved for a brief period.... , 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.... , Nicola Rossi-Lemeni Nicola Rossi-Lemeni Nicola Rossi-Lemeni, , was a basso opera singer of mixed Italy-Russian parentage.Rossi-Lemeni was born in Istanbul, Turkey, the son of an Italian colonel and a Russian mother....	Tullio Serafin Tullio Serafin Tullio Serafin was an Italy Conducting.... , La Scala La Scala The *Teatro alla Scala* , in Milan, Italy, is one of the world's most famous opera houses. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778, under the name Nuovo Regio Ducal Teatro alla Scala with Antonio Salieri Europa riconosciuta.... Orchestra and Chorus	Audio CD: EMI Classics EMI Classics EMI Classics is a record label of EMI, formed in 1990 in order to reduce the need to create country-specific packaging and catalogs for internationally distributed european classical music releases.... ASIN: B000002RXQ (heavily cut)
1973	Beverly Sills Beverly Sills Beverly Sills was an American operatic soprano who enjoyed success in the 1960s and 1970s. She was famous for her performances in coloratura soprano roles in operas around the world and on recordings.... , Nicolai Gedda Nicolai Gedda The Sweden tenor Nicolai Gedda is a famous opera singer and recitalist. Having made some two hundred recordings, Gedda is said to be the most widely recorded tenor in history.... , Louis Quilico Louis Quilico Louis Quilico, Order of Canada was a Canadian baritone, known as "Mr Rigoletto."... , Paul Plishka Paul Plishka Paul Plishka is a Ukrainian-American opera singer.Mr Plishka comes from Old Forge, Pennsylvania; his parents were American-born children of Ukrainians immigrants....	Julius Rudel Julius Rudel Julius Rudel is a major United States orchestra conductor who emigrated to the US from Austria at the age of 17 to study at the Mannes College of Music in New York City.... , London Philharmonic Orchestra London Philharmonic Orchestra The London Philharmonic Orchestra , based in London, is one of the major orchestras of the United Kingdom, and is based in the Royal Festival Hall.... and Ambrosian Opera Chorus	Audio CD: Millennium Classics Cat: 471 207-2
1973	Joan Sutherland Joan Sutherland Dame Joan Alston Sutherland, Order of Merit, Order of Australia, Order of the British Empire is an Australian voice type soprano noted for her contribution in the renaissance of the bel canto repertoire in the late 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.... , Luciano Pavarotti Luciano Pavarotti Luciano Pavarotti Italian orders of merit was an Italian opera tenor, who also crossed over into popular music. He was the most commercially successful tenor of all.... , Piero Cappuccilli Piero Cappuccilli Piero Cappuccilli was an Italian operatic baritone, particularly associated with Giuseppe Verdi roles, especiallyMacbeth and Simon Boccanegra, he was renowned for his extraordinary breath control and smooth legato.... , Nicolai Ghiaurov Nicolai Ghiaurov Nicolai Ghiaurov was a Bulgarian opera singer and one of the most famous basso singers of the postwar period. He was admired for his powerful, sumptuous voice, and was particularly associated with roles of Giuseppe Verdi....	Richard Bonynge Richard Bonynge Richard Bonynge, Order of the British Empire , is an Australian conductor and pianist.He was born in Sydney, Australia and educated at Sydney Boys High School before studying piano at the Royal College of Music in London.... , London Symphony Orchestra London Symphony Orchestra The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Arts Centre.... and chorus of the Royal Opera House Royal Opera House The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in the London district of Covent Garden. The large building, often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", is the home of Royal Opera, London , Royal Ballet, London and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House....	Audio CD: Decca Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 in music by Edward Lewis . Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; later the link with the British company was broken for several decades.... Cat: 417 588-2
1979	Montserrat Caballé Montserrat Caballé Montserrat Caball? is a Spain Catalan people operaticsoprano. One of the greatest sopranos of the 20th century,she possesses a voice of remarkable beauty and of great range... , Alfredo Kraus Alfredo Kraus Alfredo Kraus Trujillo was a distinguished Spanish people tenor of Austrian descent, particularly known for the artistry he brought to opera's bel canto roles.... , Matteo Manuguerra Matteo Manuguerra Matteo Manuguerra was a Tunisian-born French baritone, one of the leading Verdi baritones of the 1970s.Manuguerra was born in Tunis, Tunisia, to Italian parents, who later moved to Argentina.... , Agostino Ferrin	Riccardo Muti Riccardo Muti Riccardo Muti, Italian orders of merit is an Italian conducting. He is the Music Director Designate of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and will officially start his contract in 2010.... , Philharmonia Orchestra and the Ambrosian Opera Chorus	Audio CD: EMI Classics EMI Classics EMI Classics is a record label of EMI, formed in 1990 in order to reduce the need to create country-specific packaging and catalogs for internationally distributed european classical music releases.... ASIN: B000005GV0

I puritani

Roles

Synopsis

Act 1

Act 2

Act 3

Selected Recordings

External links