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Edgar DRAMMA LIRICO IN FOUR ACTS
This was the second collaboration between Puccini and Fontana. After almost 4 years of work, Puccini's second opera, "Edgar", was premiered in 1889. However it was not a success due to a weak libretto. Puccini had to revise the score several times.
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Location: Fiandra; Time: 1302 |
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| PROTAGONISTS
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Edgar (tenor) Gualtiero (bass) Frank, his son (baritone) Fidelia, his adughter (soprano) Tigrana (mezzo-soprano) Villagers, Guests, Courtiers, Soldiers, Monks, Crowd, Children |
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| PREMIÈRE | Teatro
alla Scala, Milán, April 21st 1889 (four acts) Edgar: Gregorio Gabrielesco |
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| INSTRUMENTATION | Picc, 2 Fl, 2 Ob, 2 Cl, BCl, 2 Bn,
DBn, 4 Hn, 3 Tpt, Crt, 3 Tbn, BT, Timp, Trg, T-T, GC, Cymb, Car, Camp, Harp, Organ,
Strings on stage: 8 Tpt, 4 Dr. |
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| CHORUS | Medium-Sized chorus part | |
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| SYNOPSIS | ACT I: The farmers return
from the fields in the afternoon. Edgar has been sleeping in a tavern. His girl friend,
Fidelia, awakens him and both go home. At the instigation of Edgar's father, Gualtiero,
Tigrana, a gypsy girl, ridicules him because of his affection for innocent Fidelia.
Fidelia's brother, Frank, is attracted by Tigrana's charm. Tigrana sings a bold song when
the mass is celebrated and arouses the farmers' anger. Edgar defends her, and is seduced
by her beauty. He flees with her. ACT II: Edgar regrets his life with Tigrana and wants to go back to Fidelia. Tigrana is unable to dissuade him from this intention. Frank, now a military commandant, visits them. Edgar joins the army and leaves Tigrana. She swears vengeance. ACT III: Edgar dies in the war and is interred. A monk stirs up sentiment among the people against the dead man. Fidelia, who kneels by the coffin, mourns Edgar's death and defends him. Then she leaves with her father. Tigrana and the mysterious monk still curse at Edgar so much that the aroused townspeople tear open the coffin — inside there is only a suit of armor. The monk takes off his cloak and is recognized — he is Edgar. He threatens Tigrana and she runs away. Edgar embraces Fidelia. Tigrana, who is jealous, appears silently and stabs Fidelia. Edgar takes the dying Fidelia into his arms and Tigrana is arrested by the soldiers. |
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| LIBRETTO | ACT I | |
| ACT II | ||
| ACT III | ||
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