What happens when a “hometown” commissions an opera about their best known resident? A bit of historical fiction, quite a bit actually, will result, and the output is on this week’s Sunday Opera (1/4 3:00 p.m.) in Alberto Franchetti’s homage to Christopher Columbus to celebrate the 400th Anniversary of Columbus’ voyage and the unification of Italy.
Genoa commissioned the work that features a Columbus who is beloved of his men after finding South America where he runs afoul of the natives due to an agent of the church who was sent to disrupt his voyage. This hugely sprawling work had 100 pages of its libretto removed its premier and second production in 1892.
In short: Act one features the intrigue of the Spanish court with many opposing Columbus’ (Renato Bruson) voyage plans which are championed by Queen Isabella (Rosella Rogatzu).
Act two takes place on the Santa Maria where Roldando (Roberto Scandiuzzi) is fueling unrest and an impeding mutiny in the crew. The mutiny is averted with the sighting of land.
Act three: As any European explorer would, Columbus claims the inhabited lands for Spain. At first, he believes the local princess, Anacoana (Gisella Pastino) is helping him, but she and her people resent his presence, and they help Roldando keep Columbus at bay until a Spanish envoy can arrive to arrest and remove Columbus.
Act four features Columbus imprisoned in Spain where he longs to see Isabella to plead his case only to find that she has died. This final loss of hope greatly affects him. His only companion is his true friend Don Guevera (Marco Berti), who left his love, Anacoana’s daughter Iguamota (Rogatzu again) to try to help Columbus.
In the epilogue, the distraught Columbus retreats in his mind and longs for his home in Italy, but he finally succumbs and dies on the crypt of Isabella with only Guevera to mourn him as the final curtain falls.
Marcello Viotti leads the Radio Chorus Budapest and the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra.
Following the opera, we’ll continue the afternoon with more music of Franchetti with the intermezzo from his best known opera “Germania” and his Symphony in E-minor. We’ll conclude the afternoon with music of one of Franchetti’s contemporaries, Ildebrando Pizzetti, and preludes from his incidental music for a production of “Oedipus Rex.”
