Caterina Secchi - Ponchielli - LA GIOCONDA -" Voce di donna"
In 17th Century Venice, the blind mother of La Gioconda had been condemned to death but was saved through the intervention of Laura, wife of Alvise Badoero.
The voice of a woman, or an angel, has broken my chains.
I am forbidden by my blindness to look upon the face of that saint. But may she not depart from me without a pious gift! To you this rosary which holds all my prayers!
I give it to you, accept it! It will bring you good fortune!
Above your head may my blessings keep vigil!
La Gioconda is an opera in four acts by Amilcare Ponchielli set to an Italian libretto by Arrigo Boito, based on Angelo, tyran de Padoue, a play in prose by Victor Hugo, dating from 1835. (This is the same source as Gaetano Rossi had used for his libretto for Mercadante's Il giuramento in 1837).
First performed in 1876, La Gioconda was a major success for Ponchielli, as well as the most successful new Italian opera between Verdi's Aida (1871) and Otello (1887). It is also a famous example of the Italian genre of Grande opera, the equivalent of French Grand-Opéra.
Ponchielli revised the work several times; the version that is played today was first given in 1880. There are several complete recordings of the opera, and it is regularly performed, especially in Italy. It is one of only a few operas that features a principal role for each of the six major voice types.
The voice of a woman, or an angel, has broken my chains.
I am forbidden by my blindness to look upon the face of that saint. But may she not depart from me without a pious gift! To you this rosary which holds all my prayers!
I give it to you, accept it! It will bring you good fortune!
Above your head may my blessings keep vigil!
La Gioconda is an opera in four acts by Amilcare Ponchielli set to an Italian libretto by Arrigo Boito, based on Angelo, tyran de Padoue, a play in prose by Victor Hugo, dating from 1835. (This is the same source as Gaetano Rossi had used for his libretto for Mercadante's Il giuramento in 1837).
First performed in 1876, La Gioconda was a major success for Ponchielli, as well as the most successful new Italian opera between Verdi's Aida (1871) and Otello (1887). It is also a famous example of the Italian genre of Grande opera, the equivalent of French Grand-Opéra.
Ponchielli revised the work several times; the version that is played today was first given in 1880. There are several complete recordings of the opera, and it is regularly performed, especially in Italy. It is one of only a few operas that features a principal role for each of the six major voice types.
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