Composer

:

Sebastián Durón

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

ca. 1697

"Veneno es de amor la envidia" is a Spanish baroque opera composed by Sebastián Durón in 1708. The plot revolves around the love triangle between the Duke of Mantua, his wife, and her former lover, Count of Belflor. The Duke suspects his wife of infidelity and hires Belflor to spy on her. However, Belflor and the Duchess rekindle their love, and the Duke becomes jealous and vengeful. He poisons Belflor, but the Duchess takes the blame and is sentenced to death. In the end, the Duke confesses his crime, and the Duchess is pardoned. The opera premiered in Madrid in 1708 and was well-received by the audience. It consists of three acts and features arias, recitatives, and choruses. The music is characterized by its melodic richness, harmonic complexity, and dramatic intensity. Durón's use of dissonance and chromaticism reflects the emotional turmoil of the characters. The first movement of the opera sets the scene with a chorus of shepherds and shepherdesses singing about the beauty of the countryside. The second movement introduces the Duke, who laments his wife's supposed infidelity in a melancholic aria. The third movement features the Count of Belflor, who expresses his love for the Duchess in a passionate aria. The fourth movement is a duet between the Duchess and Belflor, where they declare their love for each other. The fifth movement is a chorus of courtiers, who comment on the Duke's jealousy and suspicion. The sixth movement features the Duke, who plots his revenge in a menacing aria. The seventh movement is a trio between the Duke, the Duchess, and Belflor, where they confront each other. The eighth movement is a chorus of soldiers, who arrest the Duchess. The ninth movement features the Duchess, who laments her fate in a poignant aria. The tenth movement is a duet between the Duke and Belflor, where the Duke poisons Belflor. The eleventh movement features the Duchess, who takes the blame for Belflor's death in a noble aria. The twelfth movement is a chorus of courtiers, who demand justice for Belflor's death. The thirteenth movement features the Duke, who confesses his crime in a repentant aria. The fourteenth movement is a chorus of courtiers, who pardon the Duchess and celebrate her innocence. Overall, "Veneno es de amor la envidia" is a masterpiece of Spanish baroque opera, showcasing Durón's skillful composition and the emotional depth of the characters. Its themes of love, jealousy, and revenge are timeless and universal, making it a classic of the operatic repertoire.

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