Composer

:

Luigi Mancinelli

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Average_duration

:

67:20

'Paolo e Francesca' is an opera in four acts composed by Luigi Mancinelli. The opera is based on the tragic love story of Paolo Malatesta and Francesca da Rimini, which is narrated in Dante's 'Divine Comedy'. The libretto was written by Luigi Illica and premiered on February 16, 1896, at the Teatro Regio in Turin, Italy. The first act of the opera opens with the wedding of Francesca to Gianciotto Malatesta, Paolo's brother. Francesca is unhappy in her marriage and falls in love with Paolo, who is also in love with her. The second act sees the two lovers confessing their love for each other and planning to elope. However, they are caught by Gianciotto, who kills them both in a fit of rage. The third act takes place in Hell, where Paolo and Francesca are punished for their sin of adultery. They are condemned to be forever trapped in a whirlwind, symbolizing their eternal torment. The final act sees Gianciotto haunted by the ghosts of his victims and ultimately meeting his own tragic end. The music of 'Paolo e Francesca' is characterized by lush orchestration and lyrical melodies. Mancinelli's use of leitmotifs, recurring musical themes associated with specific characters or ideas, adds depth and complexity to the score. The opera also features a number of ensemble pieces, including a powerful trio in the second act and a haunting chorus in the third act. Despite its initial success, 'Paolo e Francesca' fell out of favor in the early 20th century and is now rarely performed. However, the opera remains an important example of Italian verismo opera, a style characterized by realistic depictions of everyday life and emotions.

More....