Compositions

Anna Bolena (Gavazzeni)

Anna Bolena (Gavazzeni)
Year:1830
Genre:Opera
Composer:Donizetti, Gaetano
Performers:
 

Libretto

Anna Bolena is a tragedia lirica, or opera, in two acts by Gaetano Donizetti. Felice Romani wrote the Italian libretto after Ippolito Pindemonte's Enrico VIII ossia Anna Bolena and Alessandro Pepoli's Anna Bolena, both telling of the life of Anne Boleyn. It premiered on December 26, 1830 at the Teatro Carcano, Milan.

The duet "Sul suo capo aggravi un Dio" between Anna (soprano) and Jane Seymour (mezzo soprano) is considered one of the finest in the entire operatic repertoire.

Anna Bolena was performed infrequently during the latter half of 19th century and early 20th century, but it was revived with more frequency in the post-war years. On December 30, 1947, the opera was performed at Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, celebrating the centennial of this theatre, which opened in 1847 with Anna Bolena. The cast was Sara Scuderi as Anna Bolena, Giulietta Simionato as Jane Seymour and Cesare Siepi as Henry VIII.

In April 1957, the opera was revived at La Scala for Maria Callas in a lavish production directed by Luchino Visconti, and it proved to be one of her greatest triumphs. Similarly it was one of the last new roles performed by Dame Joan Sutherland. Other famous interpreters of the role were Leyla Gencer, Beverly Sills, Montserrat Caballé, Renata Scotto and Edita Gruberova.

Anna Bolena is regularly performed now and there are several recordings of it.

Plot Summary

Act One

Felice Romani’s libretto for Anna Bolena was based only very loosely on historical fact.

Act One, Scene One, takes places at night in the apartments of the Queen at Windsor Castle. Courtiers comment that the queen’s star is setting, because the king’s fickle heart burns with another love. Giovanna (Jane Seymour) enters. Troubled, she wonders why the queen has asked to see her. (“Ella di me, sollecita più dell’usato, ha chiesto.”)

Anna (the queen, Anne Boleyn) enters and notes that people seem sad. (“Si taciturna e mesta mai non vidi assemblea.”) The queen admits being troubled to Giovanna. At the queen’s request, her page Smeton plays the harp and sings to cheer the people present. (“Deh! non voler costringere a finta gioia il viso . . .”) The queen asks him to stop. Unheard by any one else, she says to herself that the ashes of her first love are still burning, and that she is now unhappy in her vain splendor. The queen is unwilling to tell Giovanna what is troubling her. All leave, except Giovanna.

Enrico (Henry VIII) the king enters. Enrico tells Giovanna that soon she will have no rival, that the altar has been prepared for her , that she will have husband, sceptre, and throne. Each leaves by a different door.

Act One, Scene Two, takes place during the daytime in the park surrounding Windsor Castle. Lord Rochefort, Anna’s brother, is surprised to meet Lord Richard Percy, who has been called back to England from exile by Enrico. Percy asks is it true that the Queen is unhappy and that the King has changed. “And does love ever remain content?,” replies Rochefort. Hunters enter. Percy is agitated at the prospect of possibly seeing Anna, who was his first love. Enrico and Anna enter and express surprise at seeing Percy. Enrico does not allow Percy to kiss his hand, but says that Anna has given him assurances of Percy’s innocence. “Ah! do not betray me, o heart!,” says Anna to herself. She still has feelings for Percy. In an aside, Enrico tells Hervey, an officer of the king, to be the spy of every step and every word of Anna and Percy.

Act One, Scene Three, takes place in Windsor Castle in a small room leading into Anna’s apartments. Smeton takes from his breast a locket containing Anna’s portrait and he kisses it. He has stolen it and has come to return it. He hears a sound and hides beyond a screen. Anna and Rochefort enter. Rochefort asks Anna to hear Percy. Then he leaves. Smeton peeps out from behind the screen, but feels that he cannot escape. Percy enters. Percy says that he sees that Anna is unhappy. She tells him that the king now loathes her. Percy says that he still loves her. Anna tell him not to speak to her of love. Before leaving, Percy asks whether he can see Anna again. She says, “No. Never again.” He draws his sword to stab himself, and Anna screams. In the mistaken belief that Percy is attacking Anna, Smeton rushes out from behind the screen. Smeton and Percy are about to fight. Anna faints, and Rochefort rushes in. Just then, Enrico enters and sees the unsheathed swords. Summoning attendants, he says that these persons have betrayed their king. Smeton says that it is not true, and tears open his tunic to offer his breast to the king for slaying if he is lying. The locket with Anna’s portrait falls at the king’s feet. The king snatches it up. “Ecco il tradimento,” “Here is betrayal,” he says. He orders that the offenders be dragged to dungeons. Anna says to herself that her fate is sealed.

Act Two

Act Two, Scene One, takes place in London in an antechamber leading into the rooms where Anna is held prisoner. Guards stand at the door. They note that even Giovanna Seymour has stayed away from Anna. Anna enters with a chorus of ladies, who tell her to place her trust in heaven. Hervey enters and says that the Council of Peers has summoned the ladies into its presence. The ladies leave with Hervey. Giovanna enters, and says that Anna can avoid being put to death by admitting guilt. Anna says that she will not buy her life with infamy. She expresses the hope that her successor will wear a crown of thorns. Giovanna admits that she is to be the successor. Anna tells her to leave, but says that Enrico alone is the guilty one. Giovanna leaves, deeply upset.

Act Two, Scene Two, takes place in the antechamber leading into the hall where the Council of Peers is meeting. Hervey tells courtiers that Anna is lost, because Smeton has talked and has revealed a crime. Enrico enters. Hervey says that Smeton has fallen into the trap. Enrico tells Hervey to continue to let Smeton believe that he has saved Anna's life.

Anna and Percy are brought in, separately. Enrico says that Anna has made love to the page Smeton, and that there are witnesses. He says that both Anna and Percy will dies. Percy says that it is written in heaven that he and Anna are married. They are led away by guards.

Giovanna enters. She says that she does not want to be the cause of Anna's death. Enrico says that she will not save Anna by leaving. Hervey enters and says that the Council has dissolved the royal marriage and has condemned Anna and her accomplices to death. Courtiers and Giovanna ask the king to be merciful. He tells them to leave.

Act Two, Scene Three, takes place at the Tower of London. Percy and Rochefort are together in their cell. Hervey enters and says that the king has pardoned them. They ask about Anna. Hearing that she is to be executed, they choose to be executed also. They leave, surrounded by guards.

In Anna's cell, a chorus of ladies comment on her madness and grief. Anna enters and asks them "Are you weeping?", "Piangete voi?" She imagines that it is her wedding day to the king. Then she imagines that she sees Percy, and she asks him to take her back to her childhood home. ("Al dolce guidami castel natio . . .") Percy, Rochefort, and Smeton are brought in. Smeton throws himself at Anna's feet, and says that he accused her in the belief that he was saving her life. In delirium, Anna asks him why he is not playing his lute. The sound of cannon is heard. Anna comes to her senses. She is told that Giovanna and Enrico are being acclaimed by the populace on their wedding day. Anna says that she does not invoke vengeance on the wicked couple. She faints. Guards enter to lead the prisoners to the block. Smeton, Percy and Rochefort say that one victim has already been sacrificed.

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ACT I

1 01. Act 1-1 - Ne venne il Re 3:15 7.49 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
2 02. Act 1-1 - Ella di me, sollecita 1:35 3.67 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
3 03. Act 1-1 - Si taciturna e mesta mai non vivi assemblea 2:11 5.05 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
4 04. Act 1-1 - Deh! non voler costringere 1:50 4.23 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
5 05. Act 1-1 - Come, innocente giovane 1:50 4.22 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
6 06. Act 1-1 - Ma poche omai rimangono 0:41 1.62 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
7 07. Act 1-1 - Non v'ha shuardo cui sia dato 2:12 5.07 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
8 08. Act 1-1 - O! qual parlar fu il suo! 2:29 5.74 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
9 09. Act 1-1 - Themate voi Si, tremo 2:14 5.15 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
10 10. Act 1-1 - La mia fama e a' pie dell'ara 2:22 5.45 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
11 11. Act 1-1 - Anna pure amor m'offria 2:12 5.07 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
12 12. Act 1-1 - Tu mi lasci 0:49 1.92 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
13 13. Act 1-1 - Ah! qual sia cercar non oso 2:21 5.44 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
14 14. Act 1-2 - Chi veggo In Inghilterra 3:03 7.03 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
15 15. Act 1-2 - Da quel di che, lei perduta 1:14 2.88 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
16 16. Act 1-2 - Gia la caccia si raduna 0:51 1.98 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
17 17. Act 1-2 - Ah! cosi nei di ridenti 1:38 3.76 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
18 18. Act 1-2 - Desta si tost 2:23 5.50 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
19 19. Act 1-2 - Voi, Regina! E fia pur vero 1:20 3.09 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
20 20. Act 1-2 - lo sentii sulla mia mano 2:50 6.53 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
21 21. Act 1-2 - Or che reso ai patrii lid 1:28 3.41 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
22 22. Act 1-2 - Questo di per noi spuntato 2:12 5.09 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
23 23. Act 1-3 - Tutto e deserto 3:37 8.33 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
24 24. Act 1-3 - Baba, baba, Tropp'oltra vai 1:42 3.94 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
25 25. Act 1-3 - Ne uscir poss'io! 3:28 7.97 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
26 26. Act 1-3 - S'ei t'aborre, io t'amo ancora 4:14 9.73 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
27 27. Act 1-3 - Alcun potria ascoltarti in queste mura 1:43 3.96 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
28 28. Act 1-3 - Tace ognuno, e ognun tremante! 2:15 5.19 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
29 29. Act 1-3 - In quegli sguardi impresso 4:11 9.60 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
30 30. Act 1-3 - In separato carcere tutti costor sien tratti 1:06 2.58 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
31 31. Act 1-3 - Ah! segnata e la mia sorte 2:49 6.48 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 

ACT II

1 32. Act 2-1 - Oh! Dove mai ne andarono le turbe adulatrici 4:40 10.72 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
2 33. Act 2-1 - Regina! Duolmi l'amaro incarco 1:34 3.63 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
3 34. Act 2-1 - Dio, che me vedi in core 1:50 4.25 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
4 35. Act 2-1 - Piange l'afflitta 1:38 3.80 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
5 36. Act 2-1 - Tali son trame ordite 2:57 6.79 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
6 37. Act 2-1 - Sul guanciale del regio letto 2:11 5.05 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
7 38. Act 2-1 - Dal mio cor punita io sono 2:16 5.24 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
8 39. Act 2-1 - Va, infelice, e teco reca 3:01 6.96 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
9 40. Act 2-2 - Ebben dinanzi ai giudici 3:01 6.96 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
10 41. Act 2-2 - Ecco, ecco Hervey 2:16 5.23 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
11 42. Act 2-2 - Scostatevi, il Re giunge 1:13 2.84 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
12 43. Act 2-2 - Arresta, Enrico 1:17 2.97 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
13 44. Act 2-2 - Saro fra poco innanzi 2:36 5.99 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
14 45. Act 2-2 - Fin dall'eta piu tenera 2:33 5.89 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
15 46. Act 2-2 - Salira d'lnghilterra sul trono 1:20 3.09 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
16 47. Act 2-2 - Sposa a Percy 1:37 3.75 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
17 48. Act 2-2 - Anna vid'io, l'intesi 2:20 5.37 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
18 49. Act 2-2 - Per questa fiamma indomita 2:16 5.25 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
19 50. Act 2-2 - Stolta! non sai 1:18 3.03 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
20 51. Act 2-2 - Ah! pensate che rivolti 2:04 4.78 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
21 52. Act 2-3 - Chi puo vederla a ciglio asciutto 7:34 17.36 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
22 53. Act 2-3 - Piangete voi D'onde tal pianto 4:58 11.41 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
23 54. Act 2-3 - Al dolce guidami castel natio 5:07 11.76 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
24 55. Act 2-3 - Qual mesto suon 4:14 9.72 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
25 56. Act 2-3 - Cielo, a' miei lunghi spasimi 3:21 7.73 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 
26 57. Act 2-3 - Coppia iniqua, l'estrema vendetta 3:12 7.37 Mb 320 Kbps buy
 

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