La forza del destino

La Forza Del Destino

	Email		Print
	Bookmark		Link

La forza del destino

La forza del destino (The Force of Destiny) is an Italian 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....
by Giuseppe Verdi

Giuseppe Verdi

Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian Romantic music composer, mainly of opera. He was one of the most influential composers in the 19th century....
. The 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....
was written by Francesco Maria Piave

Francesco Maria Piave

Francesco Maria Piave was an Italy libretto who was Giuseppe Verdi's life-long friend and collaborator. Like Verdi, Piave was an ardent Italian patriot, and in 1848, during Milan's "Cinque Giornate," when Joseph_Radetzky_von_Radetz Austrian troops retreated from the city, Verdi's letter to Piave in Venice was addressed to "Citizen Piav...
based on a Spanish drama, Don Álvaro, o La fuerza del sino (1835), by Ángel de Saavedra, Duke of Rivas

Ángel de Saavedra, Duke of Rivas

Don ?ngel de Saavedra y Ram?rez de Baquedano, Duke of Rivas , was a Spain poet, dramatist and politician born in C?rdoba, Spain. He is best known for his play Don ?lvaro; o, La fuerza del sino , the first Spanish Romance literature success in the Spanish theater....
, with a scene adapted from Friedrich Schiller

Friedrich Schiller

Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller [johan/jo?han kr?st?f fri?t??? f?n ??l??/??l?] was a Germany poet, philosopher, historian, and playwright....
's Wallensteins Lager. It was first performed in the Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre

Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre

The Saint Petersburg Imperial Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre was a Theater in Saint Petersburg....
of St. Petersburg

Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg is a types of inhabited localities in Russia and a federal subjects of Russia of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea....
, Russia

Russia

Russia , or the Russian Federation , is a list of countries spanning more than one continent country extending over much of northern Eurasia....
, on 10 November 1862.

r some further revisions, performances in Rome

Rome

Rome is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city, with 2,724,347 residents in an urban area of some ....
in 1863 (as Don Alvaro) and Madrid

Madrid

Madrid is the Capital and largest city of Spain. It is the Largest cities of the European Union by population within city limits in the European Union after Greater London and Berlin, and its Madrid metropolitan area is the Largest urban areas of the European Union in the European Union after Paris aire urbaine, Greater London Urban Area, a...
(with the Duke of Rivas, the play's author, in attendance) followed shortly afterwards, and the opera subsequently travelled to New York

New York

The State of New York is a U.S. state in the Mid-Atlantic States and Northeastern United States regions of the United States and is the nation's List of U.S....
and Vienna

Vienna

Vienna is the Capital of Republic of Austria and also one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.7 million...
(1865), Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is the Capital and largest city of Argentina. It is located on the southern shore of the R?o de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent....
(1866) and London

London

London is the capital of both England and the United Kingdom, and the most populous municipality in the European Union. An important settlement for two millennia, History of London goes back to its founding by the Roman Empire....
(1867).

Verdi made other revisions, with additions by Antonio Ghislanzoni

Antonio Ghislanzoni

Antonio Ghislanzoni was an Italy journalist, poet, and novelist who wrote librettos for Giuseppe Verdi, among other composers, of which the best known are Aida and the revised version of La forza del destino....
.

Discussion

Ask a question about 'La forza del destino'

Start a new discussion about 'La forza del destino'

Answer questions from other users

Full Discussion Forum

Encyclopedia

La forza del destino (The Force of Destiny) is an Italian opera

Opera

Giuseppe Verdi

Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian Romantic music composer, mainly of opera. He was one of the most influential composers in the 19th century....
. The libretto

Libretto

Francesco Maria Piave

Ángel de Saavedra, Duke of Rivas

Friedrich Schiller

Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre

The Saint Petersburg Imperial Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre was a Theater in Saint Petersburg....
of St. Petersburg

Saint Petersburg

Russia

Russia , or the Russian Federation , is a list of countries spanning more than one continent country extending over much of northern Eurasia....
, on 10 November 1862.

Performance history

After some further revisions, performances in Rome

Rome

Rome is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city, with 2,724,347 residents in an urban area of some ....
in 1863 (as Don Alvaro) and Madrid

Madrid

New York

The State of New York is a U.S. state in the Mid-Atlantic States and Northeastern United States regions of the United States and is the nation's List of U.S....
and Vienna

Vienna

Vienna is the Capital of Republic of Austria and also one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.7 million...
(1865), Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires

London

Antonio Ghislanzoni

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....
, Milan

Milan

Milan is the second largest city of Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy. It is the capital in the Province of Milan, as well as the Regions of Italy capital of Lombardy....
, on 27 February 1869, has become the "standard" performance version. The most important changes were a new overture (replacing a brief prelude); the addition of a final scene to Act 3, following the duel between Carlo and Alvaro; and a new ending, in which Alvaro remains alive, instead of throwing himself off a cliff to his death.

Recent critical editions of the opera

A critical edition of all versions of the opera (including material from the original 1861 score which was never performed as written) has been prepared by musicologist Philip Gossett of the University of Chicago

University of Chicago

The University of Chicago is a private university located principally in the Hyde Park, Chicago neighborhood of Chicago. Although an older university by the same name existed prior to its founding, the modern University of Chicago credits its founding to the oil magnate John D....
. The critical edition of the 1869 version was performed by the San Francisco Opera

San Francisco Opera

San Francisco Opera is the second largest opera company in North America after the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. It was founded in 1923 by Gaetano Merola ....
in November 2005 while the Caramoor International Music Festival

Caramoor International Music Festival

The Caramoor International Music Festival is a summer music festival founded in 1945 that is held on the estate of the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts Inc., which includes a Mediterranean-style stucco villa and is located about north of New York City in Katonah, New York....
gave a concert performance of the 1862 version plus never-performed vocal pieces from the 1861 version at the July 2008 festival. Gossett's essay on differences between the versions is included on Caramoor's website.

La forza del destino is frequently performed and there are a number of recordings.

Roles

Role	Voice type	Premiere cast 10 November 1862 (Conductor: - )	Revised version premiere cast 27 February 1869 (Conductor: - )
The Marquis of Calatrava	bass	Meo	Giuseppe Vecchi
Leonora, 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....	Caroline Barbot	Teresa Stolz Teresa Stolz Teresa Stolz was a Bohemian soprano, long resident in Italy, who was associated with significant premieres of the works of Giuseppe Verdi, and may have been his mistress....
Don Carlo di Vargas, his son	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....	Francesco Graziani Francesco Graziani (baritone) Francesco Graziani was an Italian operatic baritone and voice teacher. He has been called the first modern baritone....	Luigi Colonnese
Don Alvaro, Leonora's suitor	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....	Enrico Tamberlik Enrico Tamberlik Enrico Tamberlik was an Italian operatic tenor. He was particularly associated with heroic roles of the Italian and French repertories and noted for his powerful declamation and ringing top notes....	Mario Tiberini
Curra, Leonora's maid	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 ....	Lagramante	Ester Neri
Preziosilla, a young gypsy	mezzo-soprano	Constance Nantier-Didier	Ida Benzi
Mayor	bass	Ignazio Marini	Luigi Alessandrini
Maestro Trabuco, a muleteer and peddler	tenor	Geremia Bettini	Antonio Tasso
Padre Guardiano, a Franciscan	bass	Gian-Francesco Angelini	Marcello Junca
Fra Melitone, a Franciscan	baritone	Achille De Bassini Achille De Bassini 'Achille De Bassini' was an Italians baritone, particularly noted for his performances in Verdi's operas. He created the roles of Francesco Foscari in I due Foscari , Pasha Seid in Il corsaro , Miller in Luisa Miller and Fra Melitone in La forza del destino' ....	Giacomo Rota
A surgeon	bass	Alessandro Polonini Alessandro Polonini Alessandro Polonini was an Italian bass-baritone. He created the roles of Beno?t and Alcindoro in Puccini's opera, La boh?me, as well as Geronte de Ravoir in his Manon Lescaut ....	Vincenzo Paraboschi
Peasants, servants, pilgrims, soldiers and friars

Synopsis

Place: Spain and Italy

Time: around 1750

Act 1

The mansion of Leonora's family, in Seville

Don Alvaro is a young nobleman from South America (presumably Peru) who is part Indian and who has settled in Seville, where, however, he is not very well thought of. He falls in love with Donna Leonora, the daughter of the Marquis of Calatrava, who, notwithstanding his love for his daughter, is determined that she shall marry only a man of the highest origin. Leonora, knowing her father’s aversion to and deeply in love with Alvaro, determines to give up her home and country in order to elope with him, aided by her confidante, Curra.("Me pellegrina ed orfana" - Exiled and oprhaned far from my childhood home).

Her father unexpectedly enters and discovers Alvaro; he threatens him with death, and, in order to remove any suspicion as to Leonora’s purity, Alvaro offers to surrender himself to the Marquis. He flings down his pistol which goes off and mortally wounds the Marquis who dies cursing his daughter.

Act 2

Scene 1: An inn in the village of Hornachuelos

The Alcalde, several peasant muleteers, and Don Carlo of Vargas, the brother of Doña Leonora, are gathered in the kitchen of an inn. Don Carlo, disguised as a student of Salamanca, under the fictitious name of Pereda, is seeking revenge against Alvaro and Leonora ("Son Pereda son ricco d'onore" - Iam Pereda, of honorable descent). During the supper, Preziosilla, a young gypsy, tells the young men’s fortunes and exhorts them to enlist in the war ("Al suon del tamburo" - When side drums rattle) for Italy’s freedom, which all agree to do. Having become separated from Alvaro, Leonora arrives in male attire, but slips away without being discovered by Carlo.

Scene 2: A monastery nearby Leonora takes refuge in the monastery ("Sono giunta! . . . Madre, pietosa Vergine" - I've got here! Oh, thank God!) where she tells the abbot, Padre Guardiano, her true name and that she intends to spend the remainder of her life in a hermitage. The abbot recounts the trials she will have to undergo. Leonora, Padre Guardiano, Fra Melitone, and the other monks join in prayer.

Act 3

Scene 1: A forest near Velletri, in Italy

Meanwhile Don Alvaro has joined the Spanish army under the name of Don Federico Herreros ("La vita è inferno . . . O tu che in seno agli angeli" - Life is a hell to those who are unhappy....Oh, my beloved, risen among the angels). One night he saves the life of Don Carlo who is serving in the same army under the name of Don Felix Bornos. They become close friends and go into battle side by side.

Scene 2: The officers' quarters

In one of these engagements Don Alvaro is, as he supposes, mortally wounded, and confides to Don Carlo’s care a valise containing a bundle of letters which he is to destroy as soon as Don Alvaro dies. ("Solenne in quest'ora" - Swear to me, in this solemn hour). Don Carlo has sworn not to look at the contents of the letters; but he becomes suspicious of his friend. ("Morir! Tremenda cosa! . . . Urna fatale del mio destino" - To die! What an awesome thought...Get away, fatal lot sent to my Destiny!). He opens the valise, finds his sister’s picture, and realizes Alvaro's true identity. At that moment a surgeon brings word that Don Alvaro may recover. Don Carlo is overjoyed at the idea of avenging his father’s death.

Scene 3: A camp near the battleground

Alvaro, having recovered, is confronted by Carlo. They begin to duel but are pulled away from each other by the soldiers. As they restrain Carlo, the anguished Don Alvaro vows to enter a monastery.

The soldiers gather. Trabucco, the peddler, tries to sell them his wares; Fra Melitone chastises them for their godless ways; and Preziosilla leads them in a chorus in praise of the military life ("Rataplan, rataplan, della gloria" - Rum-tum-tum on the drum is the music that makes a soldier's martial spirit rise).

Act 4

Scene 1: The monastery

Don Alvaro has entered the monastery at Hornachuelos, near which is Leonora’s cave, under the name of Father Raphael. Don Carlo arrives and forces him to fight ("Le minacci, i fieri accenti" - May the winds carry off with them).

Scene 2: A desolate spot near Leonora's hermitage

Leonora prays that she may find peace in death ("Pace, pace mio Dio!" - Peace, O mighty Father, give me peace!). Alvaro runs in, calling for help, having mortally wounded Carlo in their duel. The two lovers recognize each other. Leonora runs offstage to see her brother, who, when she bends over him, stabs her to the heart. Leonora returns with Padre Guardiano; he and Alvaro pray to heaven as she dies.

Selected recordings

Year	Cast (Leonora, Alvaro, Carlo, Preziosilla, Fra Melitone, Padre Guardiano)	Conductor, Opera House and Orchestra	Label
1954	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.... , Richard Tucker Richard Tucker Richard Tucker was a highly regarded American operatic tenor.Tucker was born Rivn Ticker in Brooklyn, New York, into a family of immigrants from Bessarabia .... , Carlo Tagliabue Carlo Tagliabue Carlo Tagliabue was an Italian baritone.After studies with Leopoldo Gennai and Annibale Guidotti he made his debut in Lodi, Italy, in Loreley and Aida.... , Elena Nicolai Elena Nicolai Stoyanka Savova Nikolova, more famous by her stage name Elena Nicolai , was a Bulgarian mezzo-soprano and opera singer.Nicolai was born in 1905 in the village of Tzerovo, Pazardzhik region, in Bulgaria.... Renato Capecchi Renato Capecchi 'Renato Capecchi' was an Italy baritone, actor, and opera director.He sang in the Italian premiere of Shostakovich's The Nose and Prokofiev's War and Peace , and in the world premieres of Gian Francesco Malipiero's La donna ? mobile, Giorgio Federico Ghedini's Billy Budd and Lord Inferno, and Sylvano Bussotti's L'ispir... , 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....	Tulio Serafin, Teatro alla Scala orchestra and chorus	Audio CD: EMI EMI The EMI Group is a United Kingdom music company comprising the major record label EMI Music ? which operates several labels and is based in Kensington in London, England, United Kingdom ? and EMI Music Publishing, based in New York City....
1955	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.... , Mario del Monaco Mario del Monaco Mario Del Monaco was an Italian tenor and is regarded by his admirers as being one of the greatest dramatic tenors of the 20th Century.Del Monaco was born Florence to a musical upper-class family.... , Ettore Bastianini Ettore Bastianini Ettore Bastianini was an Italian opera singer who began his professional career as a Bass , then earned worldwide acclaim as a baritone, particularly in Giuseppe Verdi roles, before dying of throat cancer at the age of forty-four.... , Giulietta Simionato Giulietta Simionato Giulietta Simionato is an Italy mezzo-soprano and one of the great singers of the post-war operatic stage. Her career spanned from the 1930s until her retirement in 1966.... 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.... , Cesare Siepi Cesare Siepi Cesare Siepi is an Italy opera singer, generally considered to be one of the finest Basso of the post-war period. His voice was characterised by a deep, warm timbre, and a ringing, vibrant upper register....	Francesco Molinari-Pradelli Francesco Molinari-Pradelli Francesco Molinari-Pradelli was a prominent Italian opera conductor . He studied piano and composition at Bologna, and graduated from the Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Rome in 1938.... , Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia The Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia is one of the best-known orchestras in Italy. It is based at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome....	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.... :
1958	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.... , Franco Corelli Franco Corelli Franco Corelli was an Italian tenor active in opera from 1951 to 1976. Associated in particular with the big spinto and dramatic tenor roles of the Italian repertory, he was celebrated internationally for his handsome stage presence and thrilling upper register.... , Ettore Bastianini Ettore Bastianini Ettore Bastianini was an Italian opera singer who began his professional career as a Bass , then earned worldwide acclaim as a baritone, particularly in Giuseppe Verdi roles, before dying of throat cancer at the age of forty-four.... , Oralia Dominguez Oralia Dominguez Oralia Dominguez is a Mexico operatic mezzo-soprano who has performed at many of the world's leading opera houses.She was born in the city of San Luis Potos?, San Luis Potos? in northern Mexico and studied at the National Conservatory of Music where she made the acquaintance of the composer Carlos Chavez who championed her career.... Renato Capecchi Renato Capecchi 'Renato Capecchi' was an Italy baritone, actor, and opera director.He sang in the Italian premiere of Shostakovich's The Nose and Prokofiev's War and Peace , and in the world premieres of Gian Francesco Malipiero's La donna ? mobile, Giorgio Federico Ghedini's Billy Budd and Lord Inferno, and Sylvano Bussotti's L'ispir... , Boris Christoff Boris Christoff Boris Christoff was a Bulgarian opera singer, one of the greatest bassoes of the 20th century....	Francesco Molinari-Pradelli, Orchestra e coro del Teatro di San Carlo Napoli	Video DVD: Hardy Classic
1964	Leontyne Price Leontyne Price Mary Violet Leontyne Price in Laurel, Mississippi in the United States is one of America's most beloved and widely recorded operatic sopranos.... , Richard Tucker Richard Tucker Richard Tucker was a highly regarded American operatic tenor.Tucker was born Rivn Ticker in Brooklyn, New York, into a family of immigrants from Bessarabia .... , Robert Merrill Robert Merrill Robert Merrill was an American operatic baritone. While there has been dispute regarding his birth year , the Social Security Death Index, his family, and his gravestone state that he was born in 1917.... , Shirley Verrett Shirley Verrett Shirley Verrett is an American operatic mezzo-soprano and soprano. Verrett enjoyed great fame from the late 1960s and was much admired for her radiant voice, beauty, and great versatility.... Giorgio Tozzi Giorgio Tozzi Giorgio Tozzi was for many years a leading basso with the Metropolitan Opera, and was seen playing lead roles in nearly every major opera house world-wide.... , Ezio Flagello Ezio Flagello Ezio Flagello is an Italian-American bass , particularly associated with the Italian repertory, he sang at the Metropolitan Opera from 1957 to 1984....	Thomas Schippers Thomas Schippers Thomas Schippers was an United States conducting. He was highly-regarded for his work in opera.... , RCA Italiana Opera orchestra and chorus	Audo CD: RCA Victor Cat:
1969	Martina Arroyo Martina Arroyo Martina Arroyo is an American soprano, best known for her performances of the Italian spinto repertoire.... , Carlo Bergonzi, 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.... , Bianca Maria Casoni, Ruggero Raimondi Ruggero Raimondi Ruggero Raimondi is an Italian bass-baritone opera singer and sometime screen actor.... , Geraint Evans Geraint Evans Sir Geraint Llewellyn Evans was a Wales baritone noted for operatic roles including Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro, Papageno in Die Zauberfl?te, and the title roles in Falstaff and Wozzeck....	Lamberto Gardelli Lamberto Gardelli Lamberto Gardelli was an Italian conductor, particularly associated with the Italian opera repertory, especially the works of Giuseppe Verdi.... , Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Royal Philharmonic Orchestra The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It tours widely, and is sometimes referred to as "Britain's national orchestra".... and the Ambrosian Opera Chorus Ambrosian Singers The Ambrosian Singers are one of the best-known London choral groups, particularly appreciated for its great variety of recorded repertory.They were founded after World War II in England....	Audo CD:EMI EMI The EMI Group is a United Kingdom music company comprising the major record label EMI Music ? which operates several labels and is based in Kensington in London, England, United Kingdom ? and EMI Music Publishing, based in New York City.... Cat:
1987	Rosalind Plowright Rosalind Plowright Rosalind Anne Plowright OBE is an English opera singer who spent much of her career as a soprano but later returned to the stage in mezzo-soprano roles.... , José Carreras José Carreras Josep Maria Carreras i Coll , better known as Jos? Carreras, is a Spain Catalonia tenor. One of the most prominent opera singers of his generation, and particularly eminent in the operas of Verdi and Puccini, his career has encompassed over 60 roles on stage and in the recording studio.... , Renato Bruson Renato Bruson Renato Bruson is an Italian operatic baritone. Bruson is widely considered one of the most important Baritone#Verdi_baritone of the late 20th and early 21st century.... , Agnes Baltsa Agnes Baltsa Agnes Baltsa is a leading Greeks mezzo-soprano.She began playing piano at the age of six, before moving to Athens in 1958 to concentrate on singing.... , Paata Burchuladze Paata Burchuladze Paata Burchuladze is a Georgia Bass opera singer.Born in Tbilisi, Georgian SSR, he graduated from the Tbilisi State Conservatory and began his operatic career at Tbilisi and Moscow, with subsequent appearances at Covent Garden , Salzburg Festival under Herbert von Karajan , Metropolitan Opera in New York City, Verona , Hamburg , etc.... , Juan Pons Juan Pons Joan Pons ?lvarez , is a Spanish dramatic baritone, known internationally as Juan Pons....	Giuseppe Sinopoli Giuseppe Sinopoli Giuseppe Sinopoli was an Italy conducting and composer.... , Philharmonia Orchestra Philharmonia The Philharmonia is an orchestra based in London. Since 1995 it has been based in the Royal Festival Hall. In Britain it is also the resident orchestra at De Montfort Hall, Leicester and the Corn Exchange, Bedford, as well as The Anvil, Basingstoke.... and the Ambrosian Opera Chorus Ambrosian Singers The Ambrosian Singers are one of the best-known London choral groups, particularly appreciated for its great variety of recorded repertory.They were founded after World War II in England....	Audo CD:Deutsche Grammophon Deutsche Grammophon Deutsche Grammophon is a Germany classical record label, now part of the Universal Music Group. The company has long been known for its high standards of high fidelity.... Cat:
	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.... , Plácido Domingo Plácido Domingo Jos? Pl?cido Domingo Embil Order of the British Empire , better known as Pl?cido Domingo, is a Spanish tenor, known for his versatile and strong voice, possessing a ringing and dramatic tone throughout its range.... , Giorgio Zancanaro Giorgio Zancanaro Giorgio Zancanaro is an Italian baritone, particularly associated with the Italian repertory, especially Verdi.Quickly invited to sing at all the major opera houses of Italy, establishing himself as the eminent "Verdi baritone" of his generation, notably in I masnadieri, Luisa Miller, La traviata.... , Dolora Zajick Dolora Zajick Dolora Zajick is an United States mezzo-soprano who specializes in the Giuseppe Verdi repertoire. Zajick is arguably the leading exponent in the dramatic Verdian mezzo-soprano repertoire.... , 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.... , Sesto Bruscantini Sesto Bruscantini Sesto Bruscantini was an Italian bass-baritone, one of the greatest buffo singers of the post-war era, especially renowned in Mozart and Rossini....	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.... , Teatro alla Scala orchestra and chorus	Audo CD: EMI EMI The EMI Group is a United Kingdom music company comprising the major record label EMI Music ? which operates several labels and is based in Kensington in London, England, United Kingdom ? and EMI Music Publishing, based in New York City.... Classics Cat: 47485

The so-called "curse"

"Forza" is an opera that many old school Italian singers felt was "cursed" and brought bad luck. The very superstitous 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....
avoided the part of Alvaro for this reason.

On 1960-03-04 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 a performance of La Forza del Destino with 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....
, the American baritone Leonard Warren

Leonard Warren

Leonard Warren was a famous United States opera singer. A baritone, he was associated for many years with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City....
was about to launch into the vigorous cabaletta

Cabaletta

A Cabaletta is a form of aria within 19th century Italian opera. It is not usually found in isolation but as part of a double aria. The cabaletta is the last part of the double aria, with the scena, cantabile and the tempo di mezzo preceeding it....
to Don Carlo's Act 3 aria, which begins "Morir, tremenda cosa" ("to die, a momentous thing"), when he started coughing and gasping. His final words were "Help me, help me!", then he pitched face-forward down to the floor. A few minutes later he was pronounced dead of a massive heart attack, and the rest of the performance was canceled. Warren was only forty-eight.