''Bianca e Fernando'' (''Bianca and Fernando'') is an

opera Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically ...

in two acts by

Vincenzo Bellini Vincenzo Salvatore Carmelo Francesco Bellini (; ; 3 November 1801 – 23 September 1835) was an Italian opera composer famed for his long, graceful melodies and evocative musical settings. A central figure of the era, he was admired not only ...

. The original version of this opera was presented as ''Bianca e Gernando'' and was set to a

libretto A libretto (From the Italian word , ) is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to th ...

by Domenico Gilardoni, based on ''Bianca e Fernando alla tomba di Carlo IV, duca di Agrigento'' (''Bianca and Ferdinand at the Tomb of Charles IV, Duke of Agrigento''), a play by Carlo Roti which is set in Sicily. In 1826, use of the name ''Fernando'' in the title was forbidden because Ferdinando was the name of the heir to the throne, and no form of it could be used on a royal stage. The 1826 work—Bellini's first professionally staged opera—had its first performance at the

Teatro di San Carlo The Real Teatro di San Carlo ("Royal Theatre of Saint Charles"), as originally named by the Bourbon monarchy but today known simply as the Teatro (di) San Carlo, is a historic opera house in Naples, Italy, connected to the Royal Palace and ...

in Naples on 30 May 1826. Its success resulted in the offer to the young composer from Domenico Barbaia, the intendente at the San Carlo and also part of the management of

La Scala La Scala (, , ; officially , ) is a historic opera house in Milan, Milan, Italy. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778 and was originally known as (, which previously was Santa Maria della Scala, Milan, a church). The premiere performa ...

opera house in Milan, of a commission to write a new opera for La Scala. The revival of ''Bianca e Gernando'', with the title reverting to the original one proposed for the opera, came about after the success of '' Il pirata'' in Milan in October 1827. A commission came from Genoa in early 1828, too late for Bellini to write anything new. However, he did re-arrange the music to suit the singers' voices and in addition (as Galatopoulos states), Romani took on the re-construction of the libretto with the result that "out of the whole of Bianca, the only pieces entirely unchanged are the big duet and the romanza; everything else is altered, and about half of it is new". For this later production, Bellini specifically rejected a request by Gilardoni to revise the libretto, preferring instead

Felice Romani Giuseppe Felice Romani (31 January 178828 January 1865) was an Italian poet and scholar of literature and mythology who wrote many librettos for the opera composers Donizetti and Bellini. Romani was considered the finest Italian librettist betw ...

, whom he regarded as the superior poet.

Performance history

The first version, given as ''Bianca e Gernando'', premiered at the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples on 30 May 1826 with

Henriette Méric-Lalande Henriette Méric-Lalande (4 April 1799 – 7 September 1867) was a French operatic soprano, one of the leading sopranos of the early 19th century. Life and career Henriette Méric-Lalande was born in Dunkirk on 4 April 1799. the daughter and pu ...

and Giovanni Battista Rubini in the title roles. The revised version, given under its original title, ''Bianca e Fernando'', took place on the occasion of the opening of the new Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa on 7 April 1828. It was performed again in the 1829 Autumn season at

in a production designed by Alessandro Sanquirico with Méric-Lalande and Rubini reprising the title roles. Two years after Bellini's death, the opera was revived at Rome's Teatro Valle on 31 July 1837 with Leonilde Franceschini-Rossi and Cirillo Antognini in the title roles. The reception was mixed with the critic for ''Il pirata'' wondering why it had even been resurrected. Antonio Tosi writing in ''Rivista Teatrale di Roma'' had praise for the leading singers, but contrasted ''Bianca e Fernando'' with Bellini's mature works, writing that in this early opera Bellini had

followed the method of those numerous servile imitators of the Rossinian style who, lacking that master's genius and distinction, remained unaware that in the fine arts, not copies, but creations are wanted, not imitations, but originality.

The opera has been rarely performed in modern times. It was revived in a staged performance in Genoa in 1978 with Cristina Deutekom and Werner Hollweg in the title roles and given a concert performance in London in 1981. The first version of the opera, ''Bianca e Gernando'', was given in concert form by the

Rossini in Wildbad Rossini in Wildbad is a bel canto opera festival in Bad Wildbad, Baden-Württemberg, specialising in the lesser-known operas of Gioachino Rossini and his contemporaries. The festival commemorates a stay by Rossini at the town's spa in 1856, whic ...

festival in the summer of 2016. A live recording exists of the latter production, as well as of two previous performances of the second version.

Roles

Synopsis

:Place:

Agrigento Agrigento (; or ) is a city on the southern coast of Sicily, Italy and capital of the province of Agrigento. Founded around 582 BC by Greek colonists from Gela, Agrigento, then known as Akragas, was one of the leading cities during the golden ...

:Late 14th/15th century ''Background'' The ambitious Filippo has secretly imprisoned Carlo, Duke of Agrigento and usurped his throne. Carlo's son Fernando was accordingly forced into exile although he was still only a child. Carlo's daughter, Bianca, the widow of the Duke of Messina, unaware of Filippo's plots agrees to become his wife. Fernando, now an adult, returns home with a desire to avenge his father, who he thinks is dead.

Act 1

Using a false name and pretending to be a soldier of fortune, Fernando comes to the palace of Agrigento and offers his services to the new Duke. He convinces Viscardo, a follower of Filippo, that he saw Fernando die and Filippo receives this news with joy. He hires Fernando without hesitation, thinking of entrusting the task of killing Carlo to him. Bianca comes to the palace to meet her prospective bridegroom. Here she meets Fernando, but after so many years, she does not recognize him. Indeed, she suspects him. Fernando, for his part, is convinced that his sister is an accomplice of the usurper.

Act 2

Filippo orders Fernando go to the prison to kill Carlo. At the same time, he announces his approaching wedding to Bianca. The old and trusted henchman of Fernando, Clemente, informs Bianca that Fernando wants to see her and brother and sister finally meet face to face. But when they recognize each other, Fernando tells Bianca of Filippo's plots. Together, they go to the prison to free Carlo, followed by Fernando's companions in arms. Filippo also arrives at the palace, bringing with him Bianca's infant son whom he threatens to kill if Fernando will not give himself up. But the trusty Clemente disarms him, and the tyrant is finally ousted.Synopsis taken from the translation of the Italian Wikipedia article.

Recordings

References

Notes Cited sources * * *

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bianca E Fernando Italian-language operas Operas by Vincenzo Bellini 1826 operas 1828 operas Operas Opera world premieres at the Teatro San Carlo Libretti by Felice Romani