Composer

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Henry Février

Genre

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Opera

Style

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Opera

Monna Vanna is an opera in four acts composed by Henry Février. The opera was composed in 1909 and premiered on March 13, 1909, at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo. The libretto was written by Maurice Maeterlinck, a Belgian playwright, poet, and essayist. The plot of Monna Vanna revolves around the character of Vanna, who is the wife of Guido, the governor of Pisa. The opera is set in the 15th century during the war between Pisa and Florence. The Florentine army has surrounded Pisa, and Guido is forced to surrender the city to the enemy. The Florentine commander, Prinzivalle, is attracted to Vanna and offers to spare the lives of the Pisan soldiers if she spends the night with him. Vanna agrees to the deal to save her husband and the soldiers. The first act of the opera takes place in the palace of Guido, where Vanna is waiting for her husband to return from the war. The second act takes place in the tent of Prinzivalle, where Vanna has gone to fulfill her part of the bargain. In the third act, Guido returns to the palace and discovers what has happened. He is torn between his love for Vanna and his duty as a governor. In the final act, Guido and Prinzivalle engage in a duel, and Vanna sacrifices herself to save her husband's life. The music of Monna Vanna is characterized by its lush orchestration and lyrical melodies. The opera features several memorable arias, including Vanna's "L'amour est un oiseau rebelle" and Guido's "O souverain, ô juge, ô père." The opera also includes several choral numbers, including the stirring "Gloire à Pise" in the first act. Monna Vanna was well-received at its premiere and was subsequently performed in several other European cities, including Paris and Brussels. However, the opera has fallen out of the repertoire in recent years and is rarely performed today. Despite this, Monna Vanna remains an important work in the history of French opera and is a testament to Février's skill as a composer.

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