''La hija de Rappaccini'' (''Rappaccini's Daughter'') is an opera in two acts composed by

Daniel Catán Daniel Catán Porteny (April 3, 1949 – April 9, 2011) was a Mexican composer, writer and professor known particularly for his operas and his contribution of the Spanish language to the international repertory. With a compositional style ...

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. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major li ...

by Juan Tovar based on the play by

Octavio Paz Octavio Paz Lozano (March 31, 1914 – April 19, 1998) was a Mexican poet and diplomat. For his body of work, he was awarded the 1977 Jerusalem Prize, the 1981 Miguel de Cervantes Prize, the 1982 Neustadt International Prize for Literature, and ...

and the 1844 short story by

Nathaniel Hawthorne Nathaniel Hawthorne (July 4, 1804 – May 19, 1864) was an American novelist and short story writer. His works often focus on history, morality, and religion. He was born in 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts, from a family long associated with that t ...

. It premiered at the

Palacio de Bellas Artes The Palacio de Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine Arts) is a prominent cultural center in Mexico City. It has hosted notable events in music, dance, theatre, opera and literature in Mexico and has held important exhibitions of painting, sculpture and p ...

in Mexico City in 1991 and had its US premiere in 1994 at San Diego Opera. Upon its premiere in San Diego, ''Rappaccini's Daughter'' became the first work by a Mexican composer to be produced by a major opera house in the United States. Although Catán's second opera, ''Rappaccini's Daughter'' was his first commercial success. The success of ''Rappaccini's Daughter'' brought Catán international attention, launching his musical career in the United States and sealing the commission of his next opera, '' Florencia en el Amazonas'' by the

Houston Grand Opera Houston Grand Opera (HGO) is an American opera company located in Houston, Texas. Founded in 1955 by German-born impresario Walter Herbert and three local Houstonians,Giesberg, Robert I., Carl Cunningham, and Alan Rich. ''Houston Grand Opera at ...

Roles

Synopsis

Act 1

''Scene 1''
On the streets of Padua, Italy, Dr. Baglioni argues with Dr. Rappaccini over his research and methods. Baglioni believes Rappaccini's practices should be stopped. Rappaccini defends his work and dismisses Baglioni's criticism. The two men depart. ''Scene 2''
Giovanni, a young medical student, arrives from Naples. While on the street, Isabela approaches, asking him if he is the student that will be renting her spare room. Giovanni confirms and Isabela shows him to his room. ''Scene 3''
Once in Giovanni's room, Isabela tells the student that from his terrace he can see the garden of Dr. Rappaccini. She then explains that the doctor has a beautiful daughter named Beatriz and that he won't let anyone near her. Soon Dr. Baglioni arrives and warns Giovanni of Rappaccini's questionable practices. ''Scene 4''
In his garden, Dr. Rappaccini sings of the healing and poisonous nature of his plants. Beatriz enters and Rappaccini shares his vision with her, then leaves. Once alone, Beatriz laments her solitary life. She picks a rose and it withers in her hands. ''Scene 5''
Giovanni watches the rose wither in Beatriz's hands from his window. In disbelief, he questions what he saw. He expresses his infatuation for Beatriz then goes to sleep. ''Scene 6''
In his dream, Giovanni enters Dr. Rappaccini's garden. Hearing voices of the flowers, he finds the doctor who tells him that ‘the gardener never sleeps’. Rappaccini wanders away. Giovanni sings of his desire for Beatriz.

Act 2

''Scene 1'' Time has passed and Dr. Baglioni runs into Giovanni on the street. Giovanni has little interest in talking and Baglioni realizes the young man is pale and looks ill. Baglioni questions if Giovanni is being used in one of Dr. Rappaccini's experiments. Giovanni becomes defensive and denies being involved with the doctor. ''Scene 2'' Giovanni is in his room. Isabela rushes to him and reveals that there is a secret entrance to Dr. Rappaccini's garden. The two leave towards the entrance. ''Scene 3'' Giovanni enters the garden alone and finds Beatriz, who is startled. She reveals that she had been waiting for him. Sharing their emotions in duet, Giovanni goes to touch a tree in the garden. Beatrice stops him, telling him that the tree is dangerous. She touches his hand in the process. Dr. Rappaccini arrives and Beatriz runs away. The doctor tells Giovanni that he wishes to be friends. Giovanni departs. ''Scene 4'' Rappaccini Opera Naples

Giovanni is back his in room nursing the hand that was touched by Beatriz. Dr. Baglioni arrives and tells a story of a beautiful woman who turned out to be a deadly trap. He then accuses Beatriz of administering deadly potions and being a danger. Giovanni becomes agitated. Baglioni states that there is still time to free Beatriz from her father and return her to a normal life. He gives a vial of antidote to Giovanni who agrees to give it to Beatriz. ''Scene 5'' Giovanni returns to the garden, aware that he has been poisoned. First upset with Beatriz, he then tells her that all is not lost and that they can take the antidote. Dr. Rappaccini rushes in and tells them that his scientific work has cured them and they may safely leave the garden. He adds that taking any antidote will result in death. Beatriz takes the antidote from Giovanni and against the will of both men, drinks it and dies.

Recordings

* 2011:

Manhattan School of Music The Manhattan School of Music (MSM) is a private music conservatory in New York City. The school offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in the areas of classical and jazz performance and composition, as well as a bachelor's in m ...

Newport Classic Newport Classic, Ltd, is a record label of classical music, founded by Larry Kraman, and is located in Newport, Rhode Island. In its catalog are recordings of both familiar and unusual works, including ''Casanova's Homecoming'', ''A Waterbird Talk ...

. Conductor

Eduardo Diazmuñoz Eduardo Diazmuñoz is a highly prolific Mexican-Spanish-American conductor, composer and arranger, performer and educator. He studied piano, cello, percussion, and conducting at the National Conservatory of Music (Mexico). In 1978, 1979 he became a ...

. NPD85623/2 * 2002:

Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra The Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra ( es, Orquesta Filarmónica de la Ciudad de México) is an orchestra of international rank founded and underwritten by the National Government of Mexico. The home venue is the Silvestre Revueltas Hall at the ...

Naxos Records Naxos comprises numerous companies, divisions, imprints, and labels specializing in classical music but also audiobooks and other genres. The premier label is Naxos Records which focuses on classical music. Naxos Musical Group encompasses about 1 ...

. Excerpts. Conductor

. 8.557034.

References

Notes Sources * Bernheimer, Martin (March 7, 1994)
"'La Hija de Rappaccini': Venturing a Mexican Fantasy"
''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the ...

''. * Smith, Patrick J. (March 1998)
Recording review: Catan: ''La Hija de Rappaccini''
''

Opera News ''Opera News'' is an American classical music magazine. It has been published since 1936 by the Metropolitan Opera Guild, a non-profit organization located at Lincoln Center which was founded to engender the appreciation of opera and also suppor ...

'' * Tommasini, Anthony (April 25, 1997)
"A Mad Botanist's Idea of Fathering"
''New York Times'' *

External links

Official Website of Daniel Catán

''La Hija de Rappaccini''
details at

G. Schirmer Inc. G. Schirmer, Inc. is an American classical music publishing company based in New York City, founded in 1861. The oldest active music publisher in the United States, Schirmer publishes sheet music for sale and rental, and represents some well-know ...

/AMP {{Rappaccini's Daughter Operas by Daniel Catán Spanish-language operas Operas Operas based on plays Operas set in Italy 1991 operas category:Adaptations of works by Nathaniel Hawthorne