Opera night: Lucrezia Borgia - Donizetti

The infamous Borgia family rose to power during the Italian Renaissance, acquiring a reputation for corruption, scandal, and political rivalry.

Lucrezia (1480-1519)--the illegitimate daughter of Pope Alexander VI and the sister of Cesare Borgia--was a central figure of the family. She was instrumental in extending her family's power through advantageous political marriages, while being dogged by accusations of incest, infidelity, and murder. One especially prevalent rumor was that she wore a ring with which she surreptitiously poisoned the food and drinks of unsuspecting victims.

In 1833, Victor Hugo wrote a play based on her character, and Donizetti adapted it into an opera. Full of high-tension situations and dark atmosphere, Lucrezia Borgia musically forges ruthless politics, illicit love, and supernatural portents.

For a detailed synopsis of the opera (recommended), see here.

Prior to Verdi, Donizetti (1797-1848) was the dominant figure in Italian opera, especially known for his Bel canto compositions. Bel canto emphasizes beautiful, lyrical singing, and virtuosic vocal technique. It is closely associated with the development of the operatic tradition and is a symbol of Italian national pride.

This meetup will consist of a live viewing, accompanied by discussion and analysis.

About the production:

• In Italian with English subtitles
• Runtime: 2h 7m
• Stage Director: Frank Zamacona, John Pascoe
• Recorded live at the San Francisco Opera, September 2011

Lucrezia Borgia:

• YouTube

Supplemental:

• "Lucrezia Borgia" Peabody's Improbable History (1959)

Trivia:

• Melville saw a performance of Donizetti's Lucrezia Borgia on 4 February 1848.

Extracts:

• "This reminds us that in a garden originated the dread sentence, Death--that it was amidst such perfumed grottoes, bowers, and walks that the guests of a Lucretia Borgia were welcomed to a feast, but received with a pall." ("Statues in Rome")
• "Be Borgia Pope, be Bomba King, / The roses blow, the song-birds sing." ("At the Hostelry")
• "Launching my yawl no more for fairy-land, I stick to the piazza. It is my box-royal; and this amphitheatre, my theatre of San Carlo." ("The Piazza")

This meetup is part of the series The Risorgimento.