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Overview
Synopsis
A child born out of wedlock, to the daughter of a wealthy family, is hidden away by her father until the two of them can be reunited. He puts her into the care of an old lady, while he is working at sea. When the old lady watching over her dies, the young girl wanders until no one could find her.
Her distraught father tries to visit the child’s mother, but she is being kept from him by her family. Before he has chance to see her again, she dies. Now, the two distraught fathers cannot make amends until the grandfather can hold his granddaughter in his arms.
Twenty-five years later, in a convent near Pisa, another family loses their daughter. An orphan girl steps in to take her place so that family’s fortune does not go to the state. A man who remembers the loss of his own daughter takes her in, and protects her. In a story of corruption, plotting, vengeance, and suspense, a lost daughter is found and reunited with her father, and her grandfather, despite being under their protection all along.
Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra is an opera deeply set in the historical political turmoil of Genoa in the years 1339-1363, but at its heart it is a story of familial love and grief which transcends history.
Show Information
- Music
- Giuseppe Verdi
- Libretto
- Arrigo Boito , Francesco Maria Piave
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- 'Simon Boccanegra' by Antonio Garcia Gutierrez
- Category
- Opera
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 4
- First Produced
- 1837
- Genres
- Historical/Biographical, Tragedy
- Settings
- Period, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- 1339, 1363, Genoa, Italy
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- None
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- Professional Opera, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Elderly, Young Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Set in a time of great political upheaval in Genoa, which had been preceded by a long period of civil unrest, Simon Boccanegra provides a window into some of the conflicts between the great noble houses of Grimaldi and Fieschi, and the populace. We follow the story of the first Doge of Genoa, Simone Boccanegra, who was given the power of authority over Genoa and over the families, to try to settle the constant unrest.
In Francesco Maria Piave’s story, which was later updated by Arrigo
to read the context for Simon Boccanegra and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
_Note: Although the opera, and the title role, are referred to as ‘Simon Boccanegra’ most scores and librettos follow the Italian spelling of ‘Simone’ or refer to the character as ‘Doge’. For consistency ‘Simone’ is used throughout this guide to refer to the title role. _
Prologue - 1339
A Square in Genoa
In the square in front of San Lorenzo, Paolo has a proposition for Pietro (‘Che dicesti?’). He offers him gold, power, and honor, if he fixes the vote for Doge in favor of a
to read the plot for Simon Boccanegra and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Contralto |
Songs
Author’s note: this piece is through-composed without strict scene delineations. Guidelines are given here as to which characters take part in various scenes.
Prologue - A Square in Genoa (1339)
Prelude
Che dicesti? (Paolo, Pietro, Simone, Chorus)
L'altra magion vedete? (Paolo, Pietro, Chorus)
A te l'estremo addio - Il lacerato spirito (Fiesco, Chorus)
Suona ogni labbro il mio nome (Simone, Fiesco)
Oh, de'Fieschi implacata, orrida razza (Simone, Fiesco, Paolo, Pietro, Coro)
Act One
Scene One - A Garden in the Grimaldi Palace (1363)
Prelude
Come in quest'ora bruna (Amelia)
Cielo di stelle orbato (Gabriele, Amalia, Ancella, Pietro)
Propizio ei giunge! (Gabriele, Fiesco)
Il Doge vien (Gabriele, FIesco, Simone, Paolo, Amelia)
Orfanelle il tetto umile - Figlia! ... a tal nome io palpito (Amelia, Simone)
Che rispose? (Paolo, Simone, Pietro)
Scene Two - The Council Chamber
Messeri, il re di Tartaria (Simone, Paolo, Pietro, Gabriele, Amelia, Fiesco, Chorus)
Ferischi! (Amelia, Simone, Chorus)
Amelia, di come fosti rapita (Simone, Amelia, Gabriele, Paolo, Pietro, Fiesco, Chorus)
Nell’ora soave che all’estasi invita (Amelia, Chorus)
Il suo commosso accento (Simone, Amelia, Fiesco, Gabriele, Paolo, Pietro, Chorus)
Ecco la spada (Gabriele, Simone, Paolo, Amelia, Fiesco, Pietro, Chorus)
Act Two - A private apartment in the Doge’s palace
Quei due vedesti? (Paolo, Pietro)
Me stesso ho maledetto! (Paolo)
Prigoniero in qual loco m'adduci? (Fiesco, Paolo)
Udisti? ...Vil disegno! (Paolo, Gabriele)
O inferno! … Amelia qui! Sento avvampar nell’anima (Gabriele)
Tu qui? ... Amelia! (Amelia, Gabriele)
Figlia? ... Si afflitto, o padre mio? (Simone, Amelia)
Ei dorme! Quale sento ritegno? (Gabriele, Simone, Amelia)
All'armi, all'armi, o Liguri (Chorus, Amelia, Gabriele, Simone)
Act Three - A hall in the Doge’s palace
Evviva il Doge! (Chorus, Capitano, Fiesco, Paolo)
M'ardon le tempia (Simone, Fiesco)
Chi veggo? (Amelia, Simone, Gabriele, Fiesco)
Gran Dio, li benedici (Simone, Amelia, Gabriele, Fiesco, Chorus)
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
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Scenes
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Guide Written By:
Wendy Silvester
Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.