Remove ads
Françoise de Rimini (Francesca da Rimini) is an opera in four acts with a prologue and an epilogue. The last opera composed by Ambroise Thomas, it sets a French libretto by Michel Carré and Jules Barbier which is based on an episode from Dante's Divine Comedy. The opera was first performed by the Paris Opera on 14 April 1882 but fell into relative obscurity until its revival in 2011.
| Françoise de Rimini | |
|---|---|
| Opera by Ambroise Thomas | |
 Prologue scene from the premiere production where Virgil and Dante first encounter Francesca and her lover Paolo in Hell | |
| Librettist | |
| Language | French |
| Premiere | |
Remove ads
Françoise de Rimini was the last opera by Ambroise Thomas. Its French libretto was written by Michel Carré and Jules Barbier based on Dante's Divina commedia, where Francesca da Rimini is mentioned in the section Inferno.[1]
The opera's world premiere at the Paris Opera was originally planned for 1880. It was to be a highlight of the first season of Auguste Vaucorbeil as director, who also planned to produce Gounod's Le tribut de Zamora.[2] The first performance was finally staged by the Paris Opera on 14 April 1882 at the Palais Garnier.[3] Some of the most notable singers of the time participated in a lavish stage setting by Jean-Baptiste Lavastre to honour the prestigious composer. It received a mixed reception, and despite the efforts of supporters it mostly disappeared from the repertory.[3][4]
The opera was revived in Metz in 2011 at the Opéra-Théâtre de Metz Métropole to mark the bicentenary of the composer's birth. Catherine Hunold sang the title role and the Orchestre national de Lorraine was conducted by Jacques Mercier.[5]
Remove ads
_Les_grands_concerts_de_l'Opéra._Ambroise_Thomas_assistant_à_une_répétition_de_Françoise_de_Rimini_1896_-_Toulouse-Lautrec.jpg)
| Role | Voice type | Premiere cast, 14 April 1882[3] Conductor: Ernest Eugène Altès |
|---|---|---|
| Paolo (Malatesta) | tenor | Henri Sellier |
| Ascanio, his page | mezzo-soprano | Renée Richard |
| Malatesta (Giancotto), Paolo's brother | baritone | Jean-Louis Lassalle |
| Francesca | soprano | Caroline Salla |
| Guido da Polenta, Francesca's father | bass | Pierre Gailhard |
| Beatrice | soprano | |
| Dante | bass | Alfred-Auguste Giraude |
| Virgile | contralto | Madeleine-Philippine Barbot |
| An officer | bass | Léon Melchissédec |
| Choir of angels | ||
Remove ads
The action takes place in Hell (prologue and epilogue) and in Rimini at the end of the 13th century.
In the prologue, Dante and Virgil meet the lovers Paolo and Françoise in Hell, and Virgil suggest that Dante tell their story. During the four acts, their passionate love unfolds against the background of the battles between the Guelphs and Ghibellines. In the epilogue, the lovers still sing their passionate duet in the presence of the poets. Finally a heavenly choir pardons them.[4]
Remove ads
The work is partly still in the style French grand opera, namely the conclusions of the first and third act. The vocal writing shows influence from the Italian opera, while some audacious harmonies and dissonances are part of a more modern style. The duet of the lovers in the fourth act is similar to the duet in Wagner's Tristan und Isolde, in both structure and dramatic function.[5]
Remove ads
Remove ads
Wikiwand in your browser!
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.
Remove ads