Composer

:

Giuseppe Verdi

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1845

Average_duration

:

99:31

Movement_count

:

37

Movement ....

Giovanna d'Arco, also known as Joan of Arc, is an opera composed by Giuseppe Verdi. The opera was composed in 1845 and premiered on February 15, 1845, at La Scala in Milan. The libretto was written by Temistocle Solera, based on Friedrich Schiller's play The Maid of Orleans. The plot of Giovanna d'Arco revolves around the story of Joan of Arc, a young French peasant girl who claimed to have received divine visions instructing her to lead the French army to victory against the English during the Hundred Years' War. The opera begins with Joan being visited by an angel who tells her that she has been chosen by God to lead the French army. Joan's father, Giacomo, is skeptical of her visions and tries to dissuade her from going to war. However, Joan is determined to follow her divine calling and sets out to lead the French army. As the war progresses, Joan becomes a hero to the French people and gains the admiration of the Dauphin, the future King Charles VII. However, her success also attracts the attention of the English, who capture her and put her on trial for heresy. Despite her protests of innocence, Joan is found guilty and sentenced to death. In the final act of the opera, Joan is burned at the stake, but her spirit is seen ascending to heaven. Giovanna d'Arco is divided into three acts and features some of Verdi's most memorable music. The opera is notable for its use of choral music, particularly in the opening scene where the French and English armies are preparing for battle. The opera also features several arias and duets, including Joan's aria "Sempre all'alba ed alla sera" and her duet with the Dauphin, "O mio castel paterno." One of the characteristics of Giovanna d'Arco is its focus on the character of Joan of Arc. Verdi and Solera were interested in exploring the psychological and emotional aspects of Joan's story, rather than simply retelling the historical events. As a result, the opera is more of a character study than a historical drama. Giovanna d'Arco was not initially well-received by critics, who found the libretto to be weak and the music to be overly sentimental. However, the opera was popular with audiences and has since become a staple of the operatic repertoire. Verdi himself considered it to be one of his best works, and it paved the way for his later, more mature operas such as La Traviata and Rigoletto.

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