''Francesca da Rimini'' (russian: Франческа да Римини, italic=yes), 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 conductor. Rachmaninoff is widely considered one of the finest pianists of his day and, as a composer, one o ...

to a Russian

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 ...

Modest Ilyich Tchaikovsky Modest Ilyich Tchaikovsky (russian: Моде́ст Ильи́ч Чайко́вский; –) was a Russian dramatist, opera librettist and translator. Early life Modest Ilyich was born in Alapayevsk, Verkhotursky Uyezd, Perm Governorate, the ...

. It is based on the story of

Francesca da Rimini Francesca da Rimini or Francesca da Polenta (died between 1283 and 1286) was a medieval noblewoman of Ravenna, who was murdered by her husband, Giovanni Malatesta, upon his discovery of her affair with his brother, Paolo Malatesta. She was a co ...

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 the ...

Dante Dante Alighieri (; – 14 September 1321), probably baptized Durante di Alighiero degli Alighieri and often referred to as Dante (, ), was an Italian poet, writer and philosopher. His ''Divine Comedy'', originally called (modern Italian: '' ...

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

Divine Comedy The ''Divine Comedy'' ( it, Divina Commedia ) is an Italian narrative poem by Dante Alighieri, begun 1308 and completed in around 1321, shortly before the author's death. It is widely considered the pre-eminent work in Italian literature and ...

''). 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, literally "Big Theater", p=bɐlʲˈʂoj tʲɪˈatər) is a historic theatre in Moscow, Russia, originally designed by architect Joseph Bové, which holds ballet and ope ...

, Moscow, with the composer himself conducting, in a double-bill performance with another Rachmaninoff opera written contemporaneously, ''

The Miserly Knight ''The Miserly Knight'', Op. 24, also ''The Covetous Knight'' (russian: Скупой рыцарь, ''Skupój rýtsar’''), is a Russian opera in one act with music by Sergei Rachmaninoff, with the libretto based on Alexander Pushkin's drama of the ...

''.Steve Griffiths, "Review of vocal scores of Rachmaninoff's ''Francesca da Rimini'' and ''The Miserly Knight''", ''

Musical Times ''The Musical Times'' is an academic journal of classical music edited and produced in the United Kingdom and currently the oldest such journal still being published in the country. It was originally created by Joseph Mainzer in 1842 as ''Mainzer ...

'', 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 Yevgeny Yevgenievich Nesterenko (russian: Евгений Евгеньевич Нестеренко, link=no; 8 January 1938 – 20 March 2021) was a Soviet and Russian operatic bass. He made an international career, based at the Bolshoi Theatre ...

(Lanciotto Malatesta),

Makvala Kasrashvili Makvala Kasrashvili ( ka, მაყვალა ქასრაშვილი, russian: Маквала Филимоновна Касрашвили, ) is a Georgian opera singer ( soprano). Born 13 March 1942 (not 15 March 1948, as some sources ...

(Francesca),

Vladimir Atlantov Vladimir Andreyevich Atlantov (russian: Владимир Андреевич Атлантов; born 19 February 1939), is a Soviet and Russian operatic tenor. Born in Leningrad, Atlantov is the son of bass Andrey Petrovich (1906–1971) who sang ...

(Paolo); Orchestra and Chorus of the Bolshoi Theater;

Mark Ermler Mark Fridrikhovich Ermler (russian: Марк Фридрихович Эрмлер; 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 Fridrik ...

, 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 Sergei Leiferkus (born 4 April 1946) is an operatic baritone from Russia, known for his dramatic technique and powerful voice particularly in Russian and Italian language repertoire. He is most notable for his roles as Scarpia in ''Tosca'', Ia ...

(Lanciotto Malatesta),

Maria Guleghina Maria Agasovna Guleghina, russian: Mapия Aгacoвнa Гулeгинa, uk, Марія Агасівна Гулегіна, hy, Մարիա Գուլեգինա (née Meytardjan (russian: Мейтарджян); born 9 August 1959) is a Soviet-born ope ...

(Francesca),

Sergej Larin Sergej Alekseyevich LarinIn English, his first name is also sometimes spelled as 'Sergey' or 'Sergei' (; russian: Сергей Алексеевич Ларин; March 9, 1956 – January 13, 2008)ObituarySergej Larin, 51, Russian Tenor Who Foun ...

(Paolo); Gothenburg Opera Chorus;

Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra The Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra (GSO; sv, Göteborgs Symfoniker) 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 Orche ...

;

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

, conductor * Russian Season: Nikolai Rechetniak (Virgil's Shade), Nikolai Vassiliev (Dante),

Vladimir Matorin Vladimir Anatolyevich Matorin (russian: Влади́мир Анато́льевич Мато́рин; May 2, 1948) is a famous Russian opera singer. He is considered one of the greatest contemporary bass singer in Russia. Biography Vladimir was ...

(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, Sesto San Giovanni, Italy) is an Italian conductor. Biography Noseda studied piano and composition in Milan. He began conducting studies at age 27. He furthered his conducting studies with Donato Renzett ...

, 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 Music based on poems Operas based on real people Cultural depictions of Francesca da Rimini Operas set in the 13th century Works based on Inferno (Dante) Operas based on works by Dante Alighieri