Simon Boccanegra Broadcast Live in HD from the Met at Town Hall Theater

Verdi's "Simon Boccanegra" Live in HD from the Metropolitan Opera, starring Plácido Domingo in the title role, will be broadcast at Town Hall Theater, Middlebury on Saturday, February 6 at 1 pm.

Composer: Giuseppe Verdi

Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, revised by Arrigo Boito, based on the play Simón Bocanegra by Antonio García Gutiérrez
World premiere: Venice, Teatro La Fenice, March 12, 1857. Premiere of revised version: Milan, Teatro alla Scala, March 24, 1881

Prologue
Genoa, 14th century. Paolo and Pietro, leaders of the plebeian party, conspire to overthrow the aristocracy. They name the popular former pirate Simon Boccanegra as their candidate for the office of doge, the chief magistrate of the republic. Boccanegra accepts, hoping that his position will enable him to marry Maria. Her father, the patrician Fiesco, keeps her prisoner because she bore Boccanegra an illegitimate child. Fiesco appears alone, mourning Maria's sudden death ("Il lacerato spirito"). Unaware she has died, Boccanegra tries to make peace with the patrician. Fiesco demands that he first be given his granddaughter, but Boccanegra explains that the infant has disappeared (Duet: "Del mar sul lido"). Entering the palace, Boccanegra discovers Maria's body. The crowd proclaims him doge.

Act I
Twenty-five years have passed. Boccanegra has exiled many of his political opponents and Fiesco lives outside Genoa under the assumed name of Andrea Grimaldi. He is the guardian of a certain Amelia Grimaldi. Abandoned as an orphan, she has been brought up in place of the real Grimaldi daughter, who died at a young age, in order to provide the family with an heiress. Amelia is in reality Maria Boccanegra, the doge's daughter and Fiesco's granddaughter, but neither man knows her true identity. Amelia's lover is the patrician Gabriele Adorno. Together with Fiesco, whom he knows only under his assumed name, Gabriele has been plotting against Boccanegra.

At the Grimaldi palace, Amelia waits for Gabriele ("Come in quest'ora bruna"). She warns him against the dangers of his political activities and tells him that the doge wants her to marry his courtier Paolo. Gabriele hopes to marry her himself and is undeterred by her revelation that she is not a Grimaldi but an orphan of unknown background. He leaves, determined to overthrow the doge. Boccanegra arrives to tell Amelia he has pardoned her foster brothers. Impressed by his generosity, she admits her love for Gabriele and talks about her lonely past (Duet: "Orfanella il tetto umile"). From the matching portraits they have of Amelia's mother, Boccanegra realizes that Amelia is his long-lost daughter and they embrace. When he tells Paolo to forget his dream of marrying Amelia, Paolo plots with Pietro to kidnap her.

Boccanegra urges the city council to preserve peace with Venice. Gabriele runs in, chased by a mob for killing a man who was attempting to abduct Amelia. He accuses Boccanegra of plotting the abduction and tries to stab him. Amelia intervenes. She describes her abduction and escape, hinting at Paolo's complicity. A new argument erupts and Boccanegra again urges peace (Ensemble: "Plebe! Patrizi!"). He commands Paolo to curse the man behind the kidnapping. The terrified Paolo is forced to obey, even though he is cursing himself.

Act II
Paolo reflects on the curse and pours poison into Boccanegra's drink ("Me stesso, ho maledetto!"). Fiesco and Gabriele are led in, and Paolo tries to convince the old man to assassinate the doge, while inciting Gabriele with insinuations about Boccanegra's relationship with Amelia. Gabriele breaks into a fit of jealousy ("Sento avvampar nell'anima"). Amelia enters, but before she can explain, Boccanegra appears. Gabriele hides while Amelia asks her father to pardon her lover. Boccanegra agrees. Left alone, he drinks the poisoned water and falls asleep. Gabriele, who has heard nothing of the preceding conversation, enters and is about to stab Boccanegra when Amelia rushes in. The doge reveals that he is Amelia's father and forgives the repentant Gabriele. A rebellious mob gathers outside, and Gabriele vows to fight at Boccanegra's side.

Act III
Genoa is celebrating Boccanegra's victory over the rebels. Fiesco, set free, encounters Paolo on his way to execution. Paolo admits that he poisoned the doge. Boccanegra enters, mortally ill, thinking about his beloved Genoese sea ("Oh refrigerio! la marina brezza!"). Fiesco reveals his identity and learns from the doge that Amelia is his granddaughter. The old man breaks into tears and tells Boccanegra of the poison. Dying, the doge blesses the young couple and names Gabriele as his successor (Ensemble: "Gran Dio, li benedici").

Tickets, $22, are available through the THT Box Office by calling 802-382-9222, online at www.townhalltheater.org, or in person on Merchants Row, Middlebury (Mon-Sat, noon-5 pm)

 

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