Composer

:

Pietro Mascagni

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1911

Publication Date

:

1910

First Performance

:

Jun 2, 1911

Average_duration

:

105:45

Isabeau is an opera in three acts composed by Pietro Mascagni. The opera was composed in 1911 and premiered on June 2, 1911, at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The libretto was written by Luigi Illica, who also wrote the libretti for Puccini's Tosca and Madama Butterfly. The plot of Isabeau is based on a medieval French legend. The story revolves around the beautiful Princess Isabeau, who is cursed by her father to be invisible to all men. The curse can only be broken if a man can guess her name correctly. Isabeau falls in love with a handsome knight named Folco, who is unaware of her curse. The two fall in love, but Isabeau is afraid to reveal her true identity to Folco. Meanwhile, the King is determined to find a husband for his daughter and arranges a tournament to determine her suitor. Folco enters the tournament, but is injured and unable to compete. Isabeau reveals her identity to Folco and he correctly guesses her name, breaking the curse. The two are able to marry and live happily ever after. The music of Isabeau is characterized by lush melodies and rich orchestration. The opera features a number of memorable arias and duets, including Isabeau's aria "Non piangere, Lieta" and the duet between Isabeau and Folco "Ah! Tu sei la mia speranza." The opera also features a number of choral passages, including the opening chorus "O Signore, dal tetto natio" and the chorus of knights in Act III. Isabeau is divided into three acts, each with its own distinct musical and dramatic characteristics. The first act introduces the characters and sets up the conflict between Isabeau and her father. The second act features the tournament and the revelation of Isabeau's identity to Folco. The third act resolves the conflict and ends with the marriage of Isabeau and Folco. Overall, Isabeau is a beautiful and romantic opera that showcases Mascagni's talent for melody and orchestration. While it is not as well-known as some of his other works, such as Cavalleria Rusticana, it is still a beloved opera among fans of Italian opera.

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