Marino Faliero (opera)

1835 tragic opera by Gaetano Donizetti

Marino Faliero (or Marin Faliero) is a tragedia lirica, or tragic opera, in three acts by Gaetano Donizetti. Giovanni Emanuele Bidera wrote the Italian libretto, with revisions by it, after Casimir Delavigne's play. It is inspired by Lord Byron's drama Marino Faliero (1820) and based on the life of Marino Faliero (c.1285 1355), the Venetian Doge. Rossini, acting as the Théâtre Italien's music director, had commissioned works by the outstanding Italian composers of the day—Donizetti and Vincenzo Bellini. Both wrote operas for that house in Paris, Bellini's contribution being the hugely successful I puritani. Donizetti's opera, which premiered on 12 March 1835 (a few months after I puritani) was not nearly as much of a success. However, it marked Donizetti's first opera to have its premiere in Paris.

After the Paris première, Marino Faliero was presented in London at Covent Garden on 14 May 1835 and at the Teatro Alfieri in Florence in 1836. Its first appearance in the US took place at the St. Charles Theater in New Orleans on 22 February 1842. The opera had a number of productions in the 19th century, but by the 20th it had become a rarity. The Donizetti Festival in Bergamo staged the work in 2008.

Elena, the wife of Marin Faliero, Doge of Venice, is continually subjected to attacks on her reputation by the patrician Steno whose advances she has rejected. Steno then insults Israele Bertucci, the chief of the Venetian Arsenal in front of his workers. Steno is punished for these offenses, but Faliero is infuriated by the leniency of the punishment. At the Doge's Palace, Israele convinces Faliero to join a conspiracy against the Council of Forty, of which Steno is a member. Elena and her lover Fernando, Faliero's nephew, decide to part. He will leave the city to save her from dishonour. She gives him a veil to remember her by. The climax of the act takes place at a masked ball in the palace when Fernando challenges Steno to a duel for having insulted Elena once again.

The duel having taken place, Fernando is found dying near the Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo, where the conspirators were to meet. Faliero vows to avenge his death.

The conspiracy collapses following a betrayal by one of its members and the Doge is condemned to death at a trial in the Doge's Palace. Before his execution, Elena confesses her love affair with Fernando to him. Faliero begins to curse her, but sensing that his death is imminent, pardons her instead. Faliero is led off. Alone on the stage, Elena hears the sound of the executioner's axe, screams and faints.

YearCast:Marino Faliero,Israele Bertucci,Fernando,ElenaConductor,Opera House and OrchestraLabel1976 Cesare Siepi,Licinio Montefusco,Giuliano Ciannella,Marisa GalvanyElio Boncompagni,RAI Milan Symphony OrchestraAudio CD: BongiovanniCat: 2408/9 2;Myto RecordsCat: MCD 054.3142002 Michele Pertusi,Roberto Servile,Rockwell Blake,Mariella Devia Ottavio Dantone,Orchestra and Chorus of Teatro Regio Parma(Recording of a performance in Parma, 2 January)Audio CD: House of OperaCat: CD 820DVD: HardyCat: HCD 40252008 Giorgio Surian,Luca Grassi,Ivan Magri,Rachele Stanisci Bruno Cinquegrani,Orchestra and Chorus of Bergamo Musica Festival Gaetano Donizetti,(Filmed at the Teatro Donizetti, Bergamo, 31 October and 2 November)DVD: Naxos,Cat: VD 2.110616 17.