''Caterina di Guisa'' is an opera in two acts by

Carlo Coccia Carlo Coccia (14 April 1782 – 13 April 1873) was an Italian opera composer. He was known for the genre of opera semiseria. Life and career Coccia was born in Naples, and studied in his native city with Pietro Casella, Fedele Fenaroli, an ...

to a

libretto A libretto (Italian for "booklet") 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 the t ...

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 betwe ...

based on the 1829 play ''Henry III and His Courts'' by

Alexandre Dumas Alexandre Dumas (, ; ; born Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie (), 24 July 1802 – 5 December 1870), also known as Alexandre Dumas père (where '' '' is French for 'father', to distinguish him from his son Alexandre Dumas fils), was a French writer ...

. ''Caterina di Guisa'' premiered on 14 February 1833 at the

Teatro alla Scala La Scala (, , ; abbreviation in Italian of the official name ) is a famous opera house in Milan, Italy. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778 and was originally known as the ' (New Royal-Ducal Theatre alla Scala). The premiere performan ...

in Milan with triumphal success.Alexander Weatherson, "A masterpiece twice composed: ''Caterina di Guisa''", liner notes of Bongiovanni recording, 1991 A revised version, probably prepared to exploit at its best the different cast, was presented on 15 June 1836 at the

Teatro Carignano The Teatro Carignano (Carignano Theatre) is a theatre in Turin and one of the oldest and most important theatres in Italy. Designed by Benedetto Alfieri, it is located opposite the Palazzo Carignano. Building commenced in 1752 and the theatre was ...

in Turin. This opera is characterized by an "intensely dramatic score, rich in power and originality" and by a "heartrending finale". In modern times, ''Caterina di Guisa'' was revived at the in

Savona Savona (; lij, Sann-a ) is a seaport and ''comune'' in the west part of the northern Italy, Italian region of Liguria, capital of the Province of Savona, in the Riviera di Ponente on the Mediterranean Sea. Savona used to be one of the chie ...

on 30 October 1990. This performance was recorded and published on CD.

Roles

Synopsis

:Time: 1578 :Place: Paris :During the reign of

Henry III of France Henry III (french: Henri III, né Alexandre Édouard; pl, Henryk Walezy; lt, Henrikas Valua; 19 September 1551 – 2 August 1589) was King of France from 1574 until his assassination in 1589, as well as King of Poland and Grand Duke of ...

Henry I, Duke of Guise Henry I, Prince of Joinville, Duke of Guise, Count of Eu (31 December 1550 – 23 December 1588), sometimes called ('Scarface'), was the eldest son of Francis, Duke of Guise, and Anna d'Este. His maternal grandparents were Ercole II d'Este, Du ...

, is the leader of the Catholic League, enemy of the

Huguenot The Huguenots ( , also , ) were a religious group of French Protestants who held to the Reformed, or Calvinist, tradition of Protestantism. The term, which may be derived from the name of a Swiss political leader, the Genevan burgomaster Be ...

s and hostile to the king.

Act 1

A party is going on in a gallery of the

Louvre The Louvre ( ), or the Louvre Museum ( ), is the world's most-visited museum, and an historic landmark in Paris, France. It is the home of some of the best-known works of art, including the ''Mona Lisa'' and the ''Venus de Milo''. A central l ...

(chorus: "Lo vedeste? – Il Dio parea" / "Did you see him? – He acted as a God"). San Megrino and some members of the League are present. San Megrino courts the Duchess Caterina: he has fallen in love with her, although she is the wife of his enemy, the Duke of Guise. Caterina is frightened but returns the attentions of San Megrino (

duet A duet is a musical composition for two performers in which the performers have equal importance to the piece, often a composition involving two singers or two pianists. It differs from a harmony, as the performers take turns performing a solo ...

: "Non fuggirmi: in me destasti" / "Do not shun me: you aroused in me"). When they leave, Caterina loses a handkerchief; the Duke picks it up, but he thinks that it was lost by San Megrino going away and suspects that there can be a relation between him and the Duchess (

aria In music, an aria (Italian: ; plural: ''arie'' , or ''arias'' in common usage, diminutive form arietta , plural ariette, or in English simply air) is a self-contained piece for one voice, with or without instrumental or orchestral accompanime ...

: "Grave, tremendo arcano" / "Grave, terrible secret"). Later the Duke encounters San Megrino and they accuse each other of plotting against the King (duet: "Pera chi vuol turbarla" / "May die who wants to break the peace"). San Megrino challenges his rival to a duel, but the Duke, considering himself of a higher rank, does not accept. The next scene is in the palace of the Duke. Arturo, cousin and equerry of the Duchess, has also fallen in love with her, but knows that his love is without hope (aria and

cavatina Cavatina is a musical term, originally meaning a short song of simple character, without a second strain or any repetition of the air. It is now frequently applied to any simple, melodious air, as distinguished from brilliant arias or recitatives ...

: "Con la luce, con la vita / Un sol momento" / "With light, with life / Only one moment"). Caterina appears, worried for losing her handkerchief, then Arturo reads some love verses of the French poet

Pierre de Ronsard Pierre de Ronsard (; 11 September 1524 – 27 December 1585) was a French poet or, as his own generation in France called him, a "prince of poets". Early life Pierre de Ronsard was born at the Manoir de la Possonnière, in the village of C ...

("Deh! non pensar che spegnere" / "Do not believe that I can extinguish"). Later the Duke forces Caterina to admit to have been courted by San Megrino (duet: "E infierir così potete / Ah! lo veggo, un'imprudenza" / "And you can keep going at me / Ah! I see, an imprudence"). Caterina is forced by the Duke to write a letter to San Megrino to invite him in her rooms and set a trap. Caterina, under surveillance of her husband, asks Arturo to deliver the message. Arturo realizes that it is an invitation for San Megrino and would like not to leave her ( duettino: "Io lasciarti? Sì afflitta" / "That I leave you / So afflicted"). Caterina thinks disconsolate to her destiny, while the Duke anticipates his revenge (finale 1: "Veggo, ah! veggo il destin" / "I see, ah! I see the destiny").

Act 2

The chorus acclaims San Megrino, winner of a joust (march and chorus introduction: "Dunque è ver?" / "Is it true?"). Arturo delivers the letter of Caterina and San Megrino, happy, tells him to go back to the Duchess and to reassure her. (aria: "Torna a lei" / "Go to her"). Arturo returns to the palace of the Duke. The Duke has ordered to allow anyone to enter the palace, such that the trap for San Megrino can work. Arturo, realizing that the letter is a trap set by the Duke, tries vainly to dissuade him appealing to his honor (duet: "Guisa, dirà la terra" / "Guisa, the world will say") but the wish for revenge is stronger ("Da un destin sospinto io sono" / "I am driven by a destiny"). Caterina, segregated in her apartments, is sad because she cannot do anything to inform San Megrino of the danger (aria: "Ah, fidar potessi almeno" / "Ah, could I at least entrust"). A short time later, San Megrino enters in the room without encountering any obstacle. Caterina is frightened and tries to convince him to flee, such that San Megrino doubts about her love. But then he declares his love to Caterina ("Ah questa volta io sento / Dolce la morte rendimi" / "Ah, this time I feel / Make the death sweet to me"). Then San Megrino, with the help of Arturo that provides him with a rope, flees from the window, just in time to avoid the Duke, who enters knocking down the door ("Ov'è desso?" / "Where is he?"). But Arturo and San Megrino have been discovered and now they are fighting against the guards of the Duke. Caterina, terrified, begs her husband to have mercy on them (aria: "Lascia in prima" / "Let at least"). But both Arturo and San Megrino are killed by the soldiers of the Duke. The Duke throws Caterina the handkerchief that aroused his suspects and Caterina curses him (finale: "Ah! m'uccidi" / "You are killing me").

Recordings

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Caterina di Guisa Operas by Carlo Coccia Operas Italian-language operas 1833 operas Operas set in Paris Libretti by Felice Romani Opera world premieres at La Scala Operas based on plays Operas set in the 16th century