Umberto Giordano wrote 18 operas in all, but only two of them are produced with any regularity: “Fedora” and “Andrea Chenier.” On this week’s Sunday Opera (6/22 3:00 p.m.), we’ll be looking at two of his other operas that, although not unknown, aren’t produced nearly as often, and this came about after a conversation with one of our long-time listeners in Bethlehem, PA. Those operas are “La cena delle beffe” (“The Jester’s Supper”) and “Madame Sans-Gene. (“Madame Carefree”).
We’ll begin our afternoon with the tragedy, “La cena delle beffe.” The libretto for this four-act work is by Sem Benelli and was adapted from Benelli’s play of the same name. It premiered at La Scala in 1924 and was a huge success. Among its many other productions mounted around the world, the opera came to the Metropolitan Opera in 1926, played for twelve performances, and disappeared.
The opera is a revenge piece. Gianetto (Fabio Armiliato) has been wronged by brothers Neri and Gabriello (Marco Chingari & Francesco Piccoli). Not only have they stolen the woman he loves, Ginevra (Rita Lantieri), but they humiliated him by placing him in a sack and “pricking” him with their swords. Through the course of the work, Gianetto carries out his revenge which ends with two deaths and a case of madness, but his victory is not a happy one.
The cast in this live recording from Poggia in 1988 also includes Guide De Julis, Maria Augusta Miceli, Gigliola Caputi, Giovanna Manci, and Enrico Marini. Gian Paolo Sanzogno conducts the Orchestra Sinfonica di Piacenza.
To lighten things a bit, we’re turning to a charming “realistic” comedy that takes place in late 18th century Paris that had its premier at the Met in 1915, was seen nineteen times through 1918, and then it also disappeared.
Caterina (Madame Carefree) (Mirella Freni) is a resourceful laundress who becomes a duchess when her husband, Lefebvre (Giorgio Merighi) receives his title from Napoleon (Mauro Buda). Caterina knew Napoleon when he was an unknown soldier and she, just a simple laundress. About that time, she and Lefebvre (her fiancé at the time) save a wounded Austrian soldier named Count Neipperg (Valter Borin) with whom they forge a lifelong friendship.
Caterina is not a favorite at court, however. Her easy-going ways and lack of sophistication are the cause of scorn from the women of the court. It doesn’t bother her, but Napoleon decides she must divorce her husband and leave court – he doesn’t remember her from his early life. At their meeting, Caterina reminds him of who she is (and that he still owes her 60 francs for the laundry she did for him), and their reminiscences soften Napoleon’s view of her. When Neipperg is caught trying to enter the Empress’ chambers, Napoleon decrees that he is to be executed. Once again, Caterina saves Neipperg by proving his innocence while reminding Napoleon that the Empress is faithful to him. With this, Neipperg is saved, and Caterina and Napoleon leave his chamber arm in arm, much to the chagrin of the court, and announce that they’re “going on a hunt.”
This cast from a 1999 performance stage in Modena (Freni’s hometown) also includes Marzia Giaccaia, Muriel Tomao, Frederica Bragaglia, and Riccardo Ristori. Stefano Ranzani is our conductor on this recording, and he’s leading The Chorus of the Teatro Comunale di Modena and the Orcestra Sinfonica Dell’Emmilia Romanga “Arturo Toscanini.”
