''Fra Gherardo'' is an opera in three acts composed by

Ildebrando Pizzetti Ildebrando Pizzetti (20 September 1880 – 13 February 1968) was an Italian composer of classical music, as well as a musicologist and a music critic. Biography Pizzetti was born in Parma in 1880. He was part of the "Generation of 1880" alon ...

who also wrote the

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 ...

. Set in

Parma Parma (; ) is a city in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna known for its architecture, Giuseppe Verdi, music, art, prosciutto (ham), Parmesan, cheese and surrounding countryside. With a population of 198,986 inhabitants as of 2025, ...

at the end of the 13th century, the opera's story is based on the life and death of Gherardino Segalello as chronicled by Salimbene of Parma. Pizzetti composed the work, his fifth opera, between 1925 and 1927. The world premiere took place at

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 ...

, Milan on 16 May 1928 in a performance conducted by

Arturo Toscanini Arturo Toscanini (; ; March 25, 1867January 16, 1957) was an Italian conductor. He was one of the most acclaimed and influential musicians of the late 19th and early 20th century, renowned for his intensity, his perfectionism, his ear for orche ...

with Antonin Trantoul and in the leading roles of Fra Gherardo and Mariola."The synopsis of Fra Gherardo by Ildebrando Pizzetti"
''Opera Manager site''. Retrieved 18 July 2018

Roles

Synopsis

Act 1

''Parma, 1260'' Gherardo, a rich man, announces that he has sold all his properties to give money to the poor. He then distributes the money to them, and praising poverty. While many people rushes to witness, a blonde woman and a gentleman intervene mocking and insult his kindness. A young and poor girl, Mariola, speaks up defending him. Later, Gherardo defended that same young woman from the harassment of two drunken soldiers: and invited her to his house. He can’t resists her beauty, and at that night, they spend the night together and make love. The dawn of the next morning, he feels guilty and accuses Mariola for diverting him from the choice to dedicate his life to God; convinced that he had committed a serious sin.

Act 2

''July 16, 1269'' Gherardo has become a friar and leads a revolt against the corrupt city and religious authorities. His harsh and offensive methods, however, created discontent even among his supporters. The night of that same day, Mariola meets Gherardo and tells him about the life full of deprivation that he led in those years, and of the death of his son, born from their union. In spite of everything, she still loves him, and encourages him to continue on his mission. Gherardo, full of remorse, is arrested by the guards of the Podestà.

Act 3

''July 18, 1269'' The bishop and the mayor told Gherardo that Mariola has also been arrested but he can save her by making public confession. Gherardo agrees to confess of heretic and will give up his battles, thinking that it is the only way to save Mariola. But when Gherardo was taken in the crowd, he saw her, his heart lights up. Shortly after, Mariola was killed by a woman who had lost a son in the previous unrest. Before he was sentenced to death (burn at the stake), Gherardo reminds everyone that "... one is the law / one Truth: / Give without asking, / and love, love, love!".

Recordings

*1958 - Mirto Picchi (''Gherardo''),

Clara Petrella Clara Petrella (28 March 1914 – 19 November 1987) was an Italian operatic soprano, particularly associated with the Italian repertory, an outstanding singing-actress nicknamed the "Duse of Singers". Born in Greco Milanese to a musical famil ...

(''Mariola''),

Enzo Sordello Enzo Sordello (20 April 1927 - 15 April 2008) was an Italian operatic baritone. Biography Enzo Sordello born in Pievebovigliana, he went on to study at the Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi in Turin and privately with Carlo Tagliabue. In 1952, he ...

(''Guido Putagio''), Mario Carlin (''Frate Simone''), Silvio Maionica (''Il podestà''), Piero Guelfi (''Il vescovo''). Conductor: Angelo Questa, ''Orchestra e Coro di Milano della RAI''. Label: La Maison de la Lirique; Fiori; House of Opera CD16831. *1972 - Angelo Mori (''Gherardo''),

Gabriella Tucci Gabriella Tucci (4 August 19299 July 2020) was an Italian operatic soprano who was particularly associated with the Italian repertory and performed at notable opera houses worldwide. She appeared at the Metropolitan Opera in 11 Verdi roles acro ...

(''Mariola''),

Giovanni Antonini Giovanni Antonini (born 1965) is an Italian conductor and soloist on the recorder and baroque transverse flute. He studied in his native Milan, and attended the Civica Scuola di Musica in that city and the Centre de Musique Ancienne in Geneva. In ...

(''Guido Putagio''), Florindo Andreolli (''Frate Simone''),

Silvano Carroli Silvano Carroli (22 February 1939 – 4 April 2020) was an Italian baritone. Biography Carroli was born in Venice. Orphaned as a result of his father's death at only six years of age, he began to attend the oratory of the Basilica of San Marco ...

(''Il podestà''),

Domenico Trimarchi Domenico Trimarchi is an Italian bass-baritone opera singer. He was born in Naples (21 December 1938), where he studied singing at the Naples Conservatory.Bruno Bartoletti Bruno Bartoletti ( Sesto Fiorentino, 10 June 1926 – Florence, 9 June 2013) was an Italian operatic conductor. His active international career lasted from 1953 to 2007, and he specialized in the Italian repertory and contemporary works. He wa ...

, ''Orchestra e Coro di Roma della RAI''. Label: Omega Opera Archive 2218.

References

External links

Complete libretto
published for the La Scala premiere (Department of Musicology, University of Pavia) {{Ildebrando Pizzetti Operas by Ildebrando Pizzetti Italian-language operas 1928 operas Operas Opera world premieres at La Scala