Composer

:

Alberto Ginastera

Genre

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1966-1967

Average_duration

:

31:13

Bomarzo is an opera composed by Alberto Ginastera, with a libretto by Manuel Mujica Láinez. The opera was composed between 1964 and 1967 and premiered on May 16, 1967, at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The plot of Bomarzo is based on the life of Pier Francesco Orsini, an Italian nobleman who lived in the 16th century. Orsini was born with a disfigured face and was known for his cruelty and sadism. He built a garden in Bomarzo, Italy, filled with grotesque sculptures and structures that reflected his twisted mind. The opera is divided into three acts, each representing a different phase of Orsini's life. The first act portrays his childhood and youth, where he is shown as a victim of his physical deformity and the cruelty of his family. The second act shows Orsini as a young man, where he indulges in his sadistic tendencies and builds the garden of monsters. The third act shows Orsini as an old man, where he reflects on his life and the consequences of his actions. The music of Bomarzo is characterized by its use of atonality and dissonance, reflecting the twisted and grotesque nature of the story. The opera also features a large orchestra, including percussion instruments such as the marimba and vibraphone, which add to the eerie and unsettling atmosphere. Bomarzo was a critical success and is considered one of Ginastera's most important works. The opera has been performed in major opera houses around the world, including the Metropolitan Opera in New York and the Royal Opera House in London. Its themes of cruelty, power, and the consequences of one's actions continue to resonate with audiences today.

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