Cristoforo Colombo (Christopher Columbus) is an opera in four acts and an epilogue by Alberto Franchetti to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica. It was written in 1892 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' arrival in America.

Commissioned by the city of Genoa, Columbus' birth place, the opera deals with the voyage of discovery, its opposition by the Spanish authorities, Columbus' encouragement by Queen Isabella, and finally, after his difficulties and triumph, his anguish when he learns of her death.^[1]

An essentially melodic opera written in the verismo style, it is harmonically rich, with obvious references to the work of Richard Wagner. The Act 2 monologue contains a Rhine-like motif; after cries of Terra! Terra! the orchestra replies with Tristan-like ecstasy, and then a rainbow bridge-like triumph.^[2] Its anti-church elements have been noted, particularly in the opera's earlier versions: it is the clerics who oppose the voyage initially, and who violently attempt to evangelise the South American natives.^[3]

[edit] Performance history

Adolf Hohenstein's original costume design for Christopher Columbus, Act II

The opera premiered at Genoa's Teatro Carlo Felice on October 6, 1892 conducted by Luigi Mancinelli with sets designed by Ugo Gheduzzi and costumes by Adolf Hohenstein. The same year, it was performed in a revised version at La Scala, Milan. It had a number of performances throughout Italy, many of them conducted by Arturo Toscanini, and in Buenos Aires. The opera's North American premiere was in Philadelphia on November 20, 1913, with Titta Ruffo in the title role and Rosa Raisa as Queen Isabella of Spain.

Poster for the world premiere of Cristoforo Colombo, Teatro Carlo Felice, Genoa, 1892

Despite initial stage success, a massive cut of the first version, of some 100 pages of orchestral score, led to the published version; a set of adventures in America in acts 3 and 4 having been considered too long. The final version of 1923 contained three acts, omitting the American content altogether, although containing much of its music. One of Luigi Illica's first librettos, it had a difficult gestation due to difficulties with the composer. Illica withdrew his name from the project after the first performance.^[4]

[edit] Roles

• Cristoforo Colombo, Christopher Columbus (baritone). Role created by Giuseppe Kaschmann.
• Isabella de Aragona, Queen Isabella I of Spain (soprano). Role created by Elvira Colonnese.
• Don Fernando Guevara, Captain of the Royal Guards (tenor). Role created by Edoardo Garbin.
• Don Rolando Ximenes, a Spanish knight (bass). Role created by Francesco Navarini.
• Matheos, foreman of the ship's crew (tenor). Role created by Giovanni Paroli.
• Anacona, an Indian queen (mezzo-soprano). Role created by Giulia Novelli.
• Iguamota, her daughter (soprano). Role created by Elvira Colonnese.
• Bobita, the old chieftain (bass). Role created by Vittorio Cesarotto.
• Yanika, his daughter (soprano). Role created by Carolina Mussini.
• Bobadilla, false messenger of the King of Spain (bass) Raffaele Terzi.

[edit] Selected recordings

Individual arias

• Titta Ruffo Edition Two arias from Act 2 of the opera Aman lassu le stelle (Strange loves have the stars on high) and Dunque ho sognato? (Is it a dream?) (Preiser Records 89303)

Complete opera

• Cristoforo Colombo Renato Bruson, Roberto Scandiuzzi (bass-baritones); Rosella Ragatzu (soprano); Gisella Pasino (mezzo-soprano); Marco Berti (tenor); Hungarian Radio Chorus, Budapest, Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Marcello Viotti. (Koch Schwann 367392)^[5]

[edit] References

Further Sources

• George Jellinek, History through the opera glass, Kahn & Averill, 1994. ISBN:0912483903
• Gustav Kobbé, The Complete Opera Book (1919 edition), G. P. Putnam.
• Jürgen Maehder and Antonio Rostagno, 'Franchetti, Baron Alberto' in The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians , Stanley Sadie and John Tyrell (eds), 2001.
• Mercedes Viale Ferrero, La visione scenica di Cristoforo Colombo (in Italian). Accessed 14 May 2008.

[edit] External links

• Cristoforo Colombo – section on the official Alberto Franchetti web site (in Italian).
• Discography of Franchetti's Cristoforo Colombo – including live and unofficial recordings (in German).