''Francesca da Rimini'' (), Op. 25, is an opera in a prologue, two tableaux and an epilogue by

Sergei Rachmaninoff Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff; in Russian pre-revolutionary script. (28 March 1943) was a Russian composer, virtuoso pianist, and Conducting, conductor. Rachmaninoff is widely considered one of the finest pianists of his day and, as a compos ...

to a Russian

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 ...

Modest Ilyich Tchaikovsky Modest Ilyich Tchaikovsky (; –) was a Russian people, Russian dramatist, opera librettist and translator. Early life Modest Ilyich was born in Alapayevsk, Verkhotursky Uyezd, Perm Governorate, the younger brother of the composer Pyotr Ilyich ...

. It is based on the story of Francesca da Rimini in the fifth

canto The canto () is a principal form of division in medieval and modern long poetry. Etymology and equivalent terms The word ''canto'' is derived from the Italian word for "song" or "singing", which comes from the Latin ''cantus'', "song", from th ...

Dante Dante Alighieri (; most likely baptized Durante di Alighiero degli Alighieri; – September 14, 1321), widely known mononymously as Dante, was an Italian Italian poetry, poet, writer, and philosopher. His ''Divine Comedy'', originally called ...

's epic poem '' The Inferno'' (the first part of the ''

Divine Comedy The ''Divine Comedy'' (, ) is an Italian narrative poetry, narrative poem by Dante Alighieri, begun and completed around 1321, shortly before the author's death. It is widely considered the pre-eminent work in Italian literature and one of ...

''). The fifth canto is the part about the Second Circle of Hell (Lust). Rachmaninoff had composed the love duet for Francesca and Paolo in 1900, but did not resume work on the opera until 1904. The first performance was on 24 January (O.S. 11 January) 1906 at the

Bolshoi Theatre The Bolshoi Theatre ( rus, Большо́й теа́тр, r=Bol'shoy teatr, p=bɐlʲˈʂoj tʲɪˈat(ə)r, t=Grand Theater) is a historic opera house in Moscow, Russia, originally designed by architect Joseph Bové. Before the October Revolutio ...

, Moscow, with the composer himself conducting, in a double-bill performance with another Rachmaninoff opera written contemporaneously, '' The Miserly Knight''.Steve Griffiths, "Review of vocal scores of Rachmaninoff's ''Francesca da Rimini'' and ''The Miserly Knight''", '' Musical Times'', 136 (1825), 148 (1995).

Roles

Synopsis

''The setting is the Malatesta castle around the end of the 13th century''

Prologue

The ghost of Virgil leads the poet Dante to the edge of the first circle of the Inferno. They descend into the second, where the wordless chorus of the damned souls is heard. Virgil tells Dante that this is the realms where sinners given over to lust are punished, buffeted by an eternal whirlwind. Dante asks two such souls, Francesca and Paolo, to tell their story.

Tableau 1

In the castle courtyard, Lanciotto Malatesta is about to go off to war, but he admits that he no longer takes pleasure in war. Lanciotto is deformed, and knows that his wife, Francesca, does not love him. She had been tricked into marrying Lanceotto by being led to think that she would marry Paolo Malatesta, Lanciotto's handsome younger brother. Lanciotto is suspicious of Francesca and envious of Paolo. He plans to set a trap to catch them in adultery. Francesca then enters, affirming obedience to Lanciotto, but saying that she cannot love him. She asks when he will return, and Lanciotto says that he will not return until after the end of battle. When Francesca leaves, Lanciotto laughs.

Tableau 2

Paolo and Francesca are together, alone, in a room in the castle. Paolo tells the story of Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere, which parallels their own feelings. While doing so, Paolo declares his love for Francesca. Francesca resists initially, trying to remain faithful to Lanciotto. However, her own resistance erodes at Paolo's continued expressions of love, and her own desire for him. They sing of their secret love, and embrace. Lanciotto has returned, and sees the lovers together. He fatally stabs Paolo and Francesca.

Epilogue

Paolo and Francesca recede into the whirlwind of the second circle. Dante is overcome with pity and terror, and he and Virgil remain with the thought: 'There is no greater sadness in the world than to remember a time of joy in a time of grief'.

Recordings

* Melodiya: Mikhail Maslov (Virgil's Shade), Alexander Laptev (Dante), Yevgeny Nesterenko (Lanciotto Malatesta), Makvala Kasrashvili (Francesca), Vladimir Atlantov (Paolo); Orchestra and Chorus of the Bolshoi Theater;

Mark Ermler Mark Fridrikhovich Ermler (; 5 May 193214 April 2002) was a Russian conductor. Biography Mark Ermler was born in Leningrad in 1932. His parents were Vera Bakun, a film set designer, and Fridrikh Ermler, a film director. He began to study piano ...

, conductor *

Deutsche Grammophon Deutsche Grammophon (; DGG) is a German classical music record label that was the precursor of the corporation PolyGram. Headquartered in Berlin Friedrichshain, it is now part of Universal Music Group (UMG) since its merger with the UMG family of ...

453 455–2 (1997): Sergei Aleksashkin (Virgil's Shade), Ilya Levinsky (Dante), Sergei Leiferkus (Lanciotto Malatesta),

Maria Guleghina Maria Agasovna Guleghina (née Meytardjan (); born 9 August 1959) is a Soviet-born operatic soprano singer, particularly associated with the Italian repertory. Biography Maria Guleghina was born in Odesa, Ukrainian SSR, to an Armenian father and ...

(Francesca),

Sergej Larin Sergej Alekseyevich LarinIn English, his first name is also sometimes spelled as 'Sergey' or 'Sergei' (; ; March 9, 1956 – January 13, 2008)ObituarySergej Larin, 51, Russian Tenor Who Found Acclaim in European and American Houses, Has Died' ...

(Paolo); Gothenburg Opera Chorus;

Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra (GSO; ) is a Swedish symphony orchestra based in Gothenburg. The GSO is resident at the Gothenburg Concert Hall at Götaplatsen. The orchestra received the title of the National Orchestra of Sweden () in 1997. Ba ...

;

Neeme Järvi Neeme Järvi (; born 7 June 1937) is an Estonian Americans, Estonian American conductor. Early life Järvi was born in Tallinn. He initially studied music there, and later in Saint Petersburg, Leningrad at the Leningrad Conservatory under Yevge ...

, conductor * Russian Season: Nikolai Rechetniak (Virgil's Shade), Nikolai Vassiliev (Dante), Vladimir Matorin (Lanciotto Malatesta), Marina Lapina (Francesca), Vitaly Taraschenko Paolo); Russian State Choir; Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra; Andrey Chistiakov, conductor * Chandos (CHAN10442): Gennady Bezzubenkov (Virgil's Shade), Evgeny Akimov (Dante), Sergey Murzaev (Lanciotto Malatesta), Svetla Vassileva (Francesca), Misha Didyk (Paolo); BBC Singers; BBC Philharmonic;

Gianandrea Noseda Gianandrea Noseda (born 23 April 1964) is an Italian conductor. He is currently the music director of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C.; general music director (''Generalmusikdirektor)'' of Zurich Opera; principal guest condu ...

, conductor

References

External links

Boosey & Hawkes page on Rachmaninoff's ''Francesca da Rimini''

Andrew Huth, Notes and synopsis on Rachmaninoff's ''Francesca da Rimini'' for May 2007 BBC Philharmonic performance

Julian Grant, Doomed Lovers, programme note on Rachmaninoff's ''Francesca da Rimini'' for Opera North's 2004 production
{{Authority control Operas by Sergei Rachmaninoff Operas 1906 operas Russian-language operas Operas set in Italy

Rachmaninoff Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff; in Russian pre-revolutionary script. (28 March 1943) was a Russian composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor. Rachmaninoff is widely considered one of the finest pianists of his day and, as a composer, one of ...

Operas set in the 13th century Operas based on Inferno (Dante)