FANCIULLA DEL WEST
Giacomo Puccini
1858 - 1924
Opera in three acts
Libretto by Guelfo Civinini and Carlo Zangarini after the play The Girl of the Golden West (1905) by David Belasco
World premiere December 10th 1910, Metropolitan Opera, New York
Production from the Royel Opera House (Kungliga Operan) Stockholm (December 17th 2011)
Sung in Italian with German surtitles
Duration: c.3 hrs incl. 2 intervals
Giacomo Puccini
1858 - 1924
Opera in three acts
Libretto by Guelfo Civinini and Carlo Zangarini after the play The Girl of the Golden West (1905) by David Belasco
World premiere December 10th 1910, Metropolitan Opera, New York
Production from the Royel Opera House (Kungliga Operan) Stockholm (December 17th 2011)
Sung in Italian with German surtitles
Duration: c.3 hrs incl. 2 intervals
ABOUT THE WORK
Puccini’s »wild west opera« tells of a love story during the 1849/50 gold rush. Minnie, the only woman among a lot of »really tough guys«, is guardian of the miner’s gold. Sheriff Jack Rance tries, in vain, to woo her, but she has discovered that her heart beats faster for the mysterious Dick Johnson. At first only interested in gold, he too falls for the owner of the Polka saloon. Minnie hides Johnson when Sheriff Rance and his men knock on her door. Rance shows Minne a photograph. She realises that Johnson and the man known as Ramerrez on the wanted posters are one and same. Minnie is overcome with sympathy and love when Ramerrez gets shot trying to escape. She hides him again and challenges the Sheriff to a game of cards - with Ramerrez’s life as the prize. She wins by cheating. The miners soon recapture Ramerrez but Minnie arrives in the nick of time with a revolver to save him and ensure a happy end.
SYNOPSIS
California. The gold rush. Female company can be found in Nina Micheltorrena's establishment, whisky and gambling in Minnie's saloon. One evening young Larkens is overcome with homesickness. Money is collected to send him home. Sheriff and Sonora, the miners’ spokesman, argue and a shot is fired. Minnie appears, shocked by their behaviour. The men manage to win her round again. Mr Ashby, travelling salesman for the Wells Fargo Trading Company, is searching for a bandit called Ramerrez. The Sheriff proposes to Minnie. She turns him down but they share their previous disappointments and dreams. A stranger enters (Dick Johnson, from Sacramento) - Minnie has never forgotten meeting him briefly on the street. Rance tries to make him leave but Minnie vouches for him. A Mexican is grabbed by Ashby, who suspects that Ramerrez's gang want to steal the miners' gold hidden in Minnie's bar. He says that he has run away from the gang, which the men go in search of. Minnie and Johnson are fascinated by one another. A whistle is heard – a signal that Johnson's men are ready to attack. Minnie is ready to die to defend her boys’ gold. Johnson, moved by her courage and passion, calls off the hold up. She invites him to visit her at home. Minnie waits for the stranger with girlish trepidation and gives him her first kiss. A snowstorm makes it impossible for Dick to leave. Voices are heard. Minnie hides him before opening the door to Rance Sonora, Nick and Ashby. Rance has proof that Ramerrez and Dick Johnson are one and the same. Minnie sends them away before confronting Ramerrez. He had hoped to keep the truth from her because he loves her so much. He leaves. Minnie hears a shot. He rushes back inside and she helps him into the attic. Rance returns, searches the house but finds nothing, until drops of blood fall to the floor. Minnie strikes a deal: a game of poker: her stake: Ramerrez and her body, his: safe conduct for Ramerrez. Minnie wins by cheating. A week later the miners set off like a pack of hounds to hunt for Ramerrez, who is captured. Ramerrez begs them to tell Minnie that he escaped and has gone to start a new life. The rope is prepared. Minnie, armed with her pistol, appeals to them by saying that she devoted her youth trying to provide them with a little happiness. Sonora speaks for the others: she should leave with the stranger, free and in God’s name.
Saturday 05.04.2014
Further performances:
11.04.2014 | 13.04.2014 |
19.04.2014 | 27.04.2014 |
03.05.2014 | 14.05.2014 |
18.05.2014
Conductor
Pier Giorgio Morandi
Director
Christof Loy
Assistant for the Revival
Alan Barnes
Hans Walter Richter
Stage and Costume Designer
Herbert Murauer
Lighting Designer
Bernd Purkrabek
Video
Hobi Jarne, Nils Fridén, Emil Gotthard
Choreography
Thomas Wilhelm
Dramaturgy of the Production
Yvonne Gebauer
Chorus Master
Matthias Köhler
Minnie
Barbara Haveman
Jack Rance, Sheriff
Marco Vratogna
Dick Johnson alias Ramerrez
Ian Storey / Carlo Ventre
Nick, Kellner des Saloons "Polka"
Peter Marsh
Ashby
Magnús Baldvinsson
Sonora
John Brancy
Trin
Michael McCown
Jake Wallace
Franz Mayer
Sid
Bálint Szabó
Bello
Iurii Samoilov *
Harry
Hans-Jürgen Lazar
Joe
Beau Gibson
Happy
Nathaniel Webster
Larkens
Sebastian Geyer
Billy Jackrabbit
Carlos Krause
Wowkle
Elisabeth Hornung
Postillion
Michael Porter *
Chorus and Orchestra of Oper Frankfurt
* Member of the Opera Studio
Further performances:
11.04.2014 | 13.04.2014 |
19.04.2014 | 27.04.2014 |
03.05.2014 | 14.05.2014 |
18.05.2014
CAST
Conductor
Pier Giorgio Morandi
Director
Christof Loy
Assistant for the Revival
Alan Barnes
Hans Walter Richter
Stage and Costume Designer
Herbert Murauer
Lighting Designer
Bernd Purkrabek
Video
Hobi Jarne, Nils Fridén, Emil Gotthard
Choreography
Thomas Wilhelm
Dramaturgy of the Production
Yvonne Gebauer
Chorus Master
Matthias Köhler
Minnie
Barbara Haveman
Jack Rance, Sheriff
Marco Vratogna
Dick Johnson alias Ramerrez
Ian Storey / Carlo Ventre
Nick, Kellner des Saloons "Polka"
Peter Marsh
Ashby
Magnús Baldvinsson
Sonora
John Brancy
Trin
Michael McCown
Jake Wallace
Franz Mayer
Sid
Bálint Szabó
Bello
Iurii Samoilov *
Harry
Hans-Jürgen Lazar
Joe
Beau Gibson
Happy
Nathaniel Webster
Larkens
Sebastian Geyer
Billy Jackrabbit
Carlos Krause
Wowkle
Elisabeth Hornung
Postillion
Michael Porter *
Chorus and Orchestra of Oper Frankfurt
* Member of the Opera Studio
Δεν υπάρχουν σχόλια:
Δημοσίευση σχολίου