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Il Tabarro OPERA IN ONE ACT The idea of joining various works in an only one constitute an expression of originality. The beginnings belong to a slow process to abandon little by little the conservative world from which Puccini had arisen. "Il Tabarro", "Suor Angelica" and "Gianni Schicchi" remain, with all their harsh realism, sentiment and calmness, a fascinating theatrical idea. For the composer, who started work on "Il Tabarro" in his 50s and completed the project happily with "Gianni Schicchi" in his 60s, this opera represented an important expression of his art.The premičre took place in New York because the majority of the artists in Italy were in military service, and operatic life suffered because of this. How he wished that his opera could have been premiered "at home"! He could not travel to the United States, since travel in Europe was dangerous because of mines, and it was also difficult to get a visa. In spite of the absence of the composer, the premiere of "Il Trittico" was a triumphant success, especially "Gianni Schicchi". |
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Location : París, a barge on the river Seine and the quayside; Time: the early 20th century |
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| PROTAGONISTS
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Giorgetta,
Michele’s wife, 25 years of age(soprano) Michele, Michele, a barge owner, 50 years of age (baritone) Luigi,stevedore, 20 years of age, Giorgetta's lover (tenor) il Tinca (tenor) and il Talpa (bass), stevedores Frugola, Talpa's wife (mezzo-soprano) A Song-seller, Two lovers, Stevedores |
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| PREMIČRE | Metropolitan
Opera House, Nueva York, December 14th 1918 Giorgetta:
Claudia Muzio
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| INSTRUMENTATION | Picc, 2 Fl, 2 Ob, Eng hn, 2 Cl, BCl,
2 Bn, 4 Hn, 3 Tpt, 3 Tbn, BTbn, Timp, Trg, Tamb, GC, Cymb, Glock, Cel, Harp, Strings; on
stage: Crt, car horn, Harp, siren, low Camp. |
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| CHORUS | Small chorus part | |
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| SYNOPSIS | On Michele's barge, on the Seine. Luigi, Tinca and Talpa, the stevedores, are finishing a job on the boat. Giorgetta, Michele's beautiful wife, offers them a drink. Michele notices how Giorgetta looks at Luigi and dances with him. While a song-seller peddles his ballads and sings a song, Frugola, Talpa's wife, arrives. Before he leaves, Luigi promise to meet Giorgetta at night. Giorgetta will light a match as a signal that it is safe to come. Michele remembers regretfully how happy they once were. He lights his pipe with a match. Luigi, seeing the agreed sign, boards the barge. Michele seizes him and forces out his confession. Then he strangles him and seizes his wife and pushes her against her dead lover's face. | |
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| LIBRETTO | ACT I | |
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