Overview
Synopsis
Set against the context of the English Civil War, Bellini’s I puritani is a story of romance and heartache between two members of opposing factions. As the daughter of Lord Valton, Elvira is a puritan. She has fallen in love with Sir Arturo Talbo, a Royalist and supporter of the Stuarts, and will not be happy unless she can marry him. Her father has tried to arrange a marriage between her and Sir Riccardo Forth, a loyal puritan colonel, but Elvira would rather die than give herself to him. Eventually, with some persuasion from his brother, Sir Giorgio, Lord Valton relents; he only wants his daughter to be happy. Elvira and Arturo immediately make preparations for their wedding.
Meanwhile, an important prisoner at the castle has been requested to stand before parliament. Arturo recognises the prisoner as Enrichetta di Franca, the widow of King Charles I, and he wants to help her escape. He uses Elvira’s wedding veil to disguise Enrichetta and the two of them flee the castle. Devastated that Arturo has left her, Elvira is inconsolable, and begins to drift away from reality.
Three months without her beloved Arturo take their toll on Elvira’s sanity. She sees him so often in her dreams, both night and day, that she struggles to trust her eyes when he finally returns. Her delay proves treacherous to Arturo, and he is found by the guards. They are about to take him away to be executed when a message arrives: the war is over, and a blanket pardon has been given to all Royalists. Everyone rejoices as Elvira and Arturo can finally be together.
Show Information
- Music
- Vincenzo Bellini
- Libretto
- Carlo Pepoli
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- Têtes Rondes et Cavalieres by Jacques-François Ancelot and Joseph Xavier Saintine
- Category
- Opera
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 3
- First Produced
- 1835
- Genres
- Romance, Drama, Historical/Biographical
- Settings
- Period, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- Plymouth, England, English Civil War
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Medium
- Dancing
- None
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- Professional Opera, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Mature Adult, Adult, Elderly, Young Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Bass, Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Soprano |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Contralto |
Songs
Act One
Scene 1
- Introduction ‘All’erta! All’erta!’ - Bruno, Chorus
- Scene ‘O di Cromvel guerrieri’ - Bruno, Elvira, Arturo, Riccardo, Giorgio, Chorus
Scene 2
- ‘A festa, a festa’ - Chorus
Scene 3
- Recitative ‘Or dove fuggo io mai?’ - Riccardo, Bruno
- Aria ‘Ah, per sempre io ti perdei’ - Riccardo
Scene 4
- Scene ‘O amato zio’ - Elvira, Giorgio
- Duet ‘Sai com’arde in petto mio’ - Elvira, Giorgio, Chorus
Scene 5
- Chorus ‘Ad Arturo onore’ - Chorus
- Quartet ‘A te, o cara, amor talora’ - Elvira, Arturo, Giorgio, Valton, Chorus
Scene 6
- Finale I ‘il rito augusto’ - Valton, Enrichetta, Arturo,
Scene 7
- (Finale I cont.) ‘Pietà e dolore’ - Enrichetta, Arturo
Scene 8
- (Finale I cont.) ‘Son vergin vezzosa’ - Elvira, Enrichetta, Arturo, Giorgio, Chorus
Scene 9
- (Finale I cont.) ‘Sulla virginea testa’ - Enrichetta, Arturo
Scene 10
- (Finale I cont.) ‘Ferma, invan rapir pretendi’ - Riccardo, Arturo, Enrichetta, Arturo, Elvira, Bruno, Valton, Giorgio, Chorus
Scene 11
- (Finale I cont.) ‘E già al ponto’ - Riccardo, Elvira, Giorgio, Valton, Bruno, Chorus
- (Finale I cont.) ‘Oh vieni al tempio’ - Elvira, Riccardo, Giorgio, Bruno, Chorus
Act Two
Scene 1
- Introduction ‘Ah dolor!’ - Chorus
Scene 2
- ‘Qual novella?’ - Giorgio, Chorus
- Romance ‘Cinta di fiori’ - Giorgio, Chorus
- Scene ‘E di morte lo stral’ - Riccardo, Giorgio, Chorus
Scene 3
- Scene ‘O rendetemi la speme’ - Elvira, Giorgio, Riccardo
- Cavatina ‘Qui la voce sua soave’ - Elvira, Giorgio, Riccardo
- Cabaletta ‘Vien, diletto’ - Elvira, Giorgio, Riccardo
Scene 4
- Duet and Finale II ‘Il rival salvar tu dei’ - Riccardo, Giorgio
Act Three
Scene 1
- Hurricane
- Scene ‘Son savo, alfin son salvo’ - Arturo, Elvira
- Romance ‘A una fonte’ - Arturo, Chorus
Scene 2
- Scene ‘Fini … me lassa!’ - Elvira, Arturo
- Duet ‘Arturo? Si, è desso!’ - Elvira, Arturo
- Finale III ‘Ancor s’ascolta questo suon molesto!’ - Arturo, Elvira, Chorus
Scene 3
- (Finale III cont.) ‘Arturo? Lo sciagurato!’ - Riccardo, Giorgio, Elvira, Arturo, 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.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Wendy Silvester
Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.