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La Fanciulla del West OPERA IN THREE ACTS When Puccini went to America in 1907 to attend the rehearsals and premières of his four operas at the Metropolitan Opera, he was looking for a new subject for his next opera and took the opportunity to see several plays while staying in New York, including three by David Belasco. One was "Madama Butterfly" and the other was "La Fancuilla del West". The history of the West impressed him, and after his friend Sybil Seligman had translated the play into Italian, he decided to use it as the basis for his new opera. At that time, one of his old librettists, Giuseppe Giacosa, had died, and conflicts with the other, Luigi Illica, led him to engage a new collaborator, Carlo Zangarini. Nevertheless, Zangarini completed only two acts and Puccini had to seek help from Guelfo Civinini, who wrote the third act according to the composer´s suggestions and revised all that Zangarini had written. The orchestration was finished in July, 1910, and Puccini and his son, Tonio, sailed to New York for the première, which was a great success. The music of "La Fanciulla del West" is the most progressive and most modern that Puccini had written. Within a short time, the opera was premiered in Chicago, Baltimore, Philadelphia, etc. and was performed at the Met in the following three seasons. |
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LIBRETTO by Guelfo Civinini and Carlo Zangarini, after David Belasco 'The Girl of the Golden West' |
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Location: At the foot of the Cloudy Mountains in California-a miners' camp ; Time: during the Gold Rush, 1849-1850 |
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| PROTAGONISTS
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Minnie, keeper of the Tavern Polka
(soprano) Dick Johnson/Ramerrez, a bandit (tenor) Jack Rance, sheriff (baritone) Nick, bartender the Polka (tenor) Ashby, Wells-Fargo agent o (bass) Sonora (baritone), Trin (tenor), Sid (baritone), Bello (baritone), Harry (tenor), Joe (tenor), Happy (baritone), Larkens (bass), Miners Billy Jackrabbit, a Red Indian (bass) Wowkle, his squaw (mezzo-soprano) Jake Wallace, a Travelling camp minstrel (baritone) Castro, one of Ramerrez’s band (bass), the Pony Express Rider (tenor)
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| PREMIÈRE | Metropolitan Opera House,
Nueva York, December 10th 1910 Minnie: Emmy Destinn |
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| INSTRUMENTATION | Picc, 3 Fl, 3 Ob, Eng hn, 3 Cl, BCl,
3 Bn, DBn, 4 Hn, 3 Tpt, 3 Tbn, BTbn, Timp, Trg, Tamb, T-T, GC, Cymb, Cel, Glock, 2 Harps,
Strings; offstage: Camt, Wind machine, Harp; On stage: Fonica. |
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| CHORUS | Medium-Sized chorus part | |
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| SYNOPSIS | ACT I: The miners gather in
Polka Tavern in the afternoon. All admire Minnie, the tavern's owner. Jake Wallace sings a
folk song and the others play cards. A miner cheats and the sheriff, Jack Rance,
intervenes to prevent the men from hanging him. Ashby enters and announces a reward for
the capture of the bandit, Ramirez. Rance fights with Sonora over Minnie, but her entry
quiets everyone. Rance courts her, but she repulses him. A man who calls himself Johnson
enters and is given a warm welcome. The Sheriff is angry and tries to turn the others
against the stranger. Castro, who sees the dangerous situation, attempts to create a
distraction. When all leave, Minnie and Johnson are alone. They feel love awaking between
them and arrange to meet again in her cabin. ACT II: Minnie's cabin. She is waiting for Johnson. He arrives and she tells him about her life in the mining camp. As the snow is falling heavily outside, she offers the use of her bedroom to her visitor. Men are heard seeking Ramirez outside. Minnie hides Johnson and lets them enter. Rance informs her that Johnson is Ramirez. Johnson tries to leave after the men have gone but is shot. Minnie helps him in and hides him again. Rance discovers the fugitive. Minnie now offers Rance a game of poker. If the sheriff wins, Rance can have them both, but if she wins, she and Johnson go free. Minnie wins and Rance leaves. ACT III: In the forest. The men still seek Ramirez. Some sit down near the fire and talk about Minnie's love for the bandit. Finally Ramirez is captured and condemned to be hung. Suddenly Minnie, armed with a pistol, rushes in and makes a desperate appeal to the miners for whom she has done so much. The men capitulate and let Ramirez free. Johnson and Minnie leave together.
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| LIBRETTO | ACT I | |
| ACT II | ||
| ACT III | ||
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