Overview
Synopsis
Gemma di Vergy centers on the tragic fate of Gemma, a noblewoman trapped in a loveless marriage. The opera begins with her husband, Count di Vergy, determined to annul their union because Gemma cannot bear children. He plans to wed a younger woman, Ida, despite Gemma’s pleas for compassion. The betrayal is compounded when Gemma realizes that her once devoted husband now regards her with disdain, treating her as a mere obstacle to his ambitions.
As the story unfolds, Gemma’s despair and jealousy spiral toward vengeance. Her loyal page, Tamas, harbors unrequited love for her and is willing to do anything to secure her happiness. Ultimately, Gemma’s anguish drives her to demand that Tamas murder Ida and the Count on their wedding night. Though the crime is committed, Gemma is left isolated, consumed by guilt and madness, her final aria expressing both the fragility of her spirit and the devastating power of unbridled passion.
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Context
Premiering at La Scala in 1834, Gemma di Vergy is one of Donizetti’s serious bel canto operas that showcases both his gift for dramatic intensity and his mastery of vocal ornamentation. The libretto by Giovanni Emanuele Bidera was inspired by the French tragedy Charles VII chez ses grands vassaux by Alexandre Dumas, which gave the opera its medieval setting and themes of betrayal, political intrigue, and personal anguish.
The opera holds a distinctive place in Donizetti’s career. While not
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Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
|
Songs
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.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
An operatic singing style emphasizing beautiful tone, phrasing, and technique, typical of 18th and early 19th-century Italian opera.
A serious style of opera that focuses on dramatic and mythological themes, typically written in Italian during the Baroque and Classical eras.
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Guide Written By:
Jason Engleman
Humming show tunes day and night.