Luisa Miller
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| Operas by Giuseppe Verdi |
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Oberto, Conte di San Bonifacio (1839) |
Luisa Miller is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Salvatore Cammarano, based on the play Kabale und Liebe by Friedrich von Schiller. First performance: Teatro San Carlo, Naples, December 8, 1849. This opera belongs to Verdi's early period.
Contents |
[edit] Synopsis
[edit] ACT I
Luisa (soprano) loves Carlo (tenor), a young man she has met in the village. Luisa's father, Miller (baritone), is worried by this mysterious love. He is approached by a courtier, Wurm (bass): Wurm is in love with Luisa and wishes to marry her. Miller tells him that he will never take a decision against his daughter's will. Irritated by his reply, Wurm reveals to Miller that in reality Carlo is Rodolfo, Count Walter's son. At Count Walter's castle, Wurm informs his master of Rodolfo's love for Luisa. The count has decided that Rodolfo will marry his niece Federica, the Duchess of Ostheim (mezzo-soprano), and calls his son to tell him. When Rodolfo is left alone with Federica he confesses that he loves another woman, hoping that the duchess will understand. But Federica is too much in love with him to understand. At Miller's house meanwhile, the old man tells his daughter who Rodolfo really is. Rodolfo arrives and admits his deception but swears that his love is sincere: kneeling in front of Miller he declares that Luisa is his bride. Count Walter enters and orders that Luisa and her father be arrested. Rodolfo stands up against his father and threatens him: if he does not free the girl, Rodolfo will reveal how Walter became count. Walter is frightened and frees Luisa.
[edit] ACT II
Miller is in prison: having dared to draw his sword before the count, he is to be executed. Wurm goes to Luisa's house to offer a bargain: her father's freedom in exchange for a letter in which Luisa declares her love for Wurm and states that she has tricked Rodolfo. At the castle Walter and Wurm recall how the count rose to power by killing his own cousin. Rodolfo too, Wurm relates, knows of this. The Duchess Federica and Luisa enter. The girl confirms the contents of her letter. In his own apartment Rodolfo reads Luisa's letter. The young man has challenged Wurm to a duel. To avoid the confrontation the courtier fires his pistol in the air, bringing the count and his servants running in. Count Walter advises Rodolfo to revenge the offence he has suffered by marrying Duchess Federica.
[edit] ACT III
In this distance echoes of the celebration of Rodolfo and Federica's wedding can be heard. Old Miller, freed from prison, comes back home: he enters his house and embraces his daughter. Luisa is determined to take her own life, but Miller manages to persuade her to stay with him. Alone now, Luisa continues praying. Rodolfo slips in and unseen pours poison into the water jug on the table. He then asks Luisa if she really wrote the letter in which she declared her love for Wurm. "Yes," the girl replies. Rodolfo drinks a glass of water then passes a glass to Luisa and invites her to drink. Then he tells her that they are both condemned to die. Before she dies Luisa has time to tell Rodolfo the truth about the letter. After she dies some peasants come in with Count Walter and Wurm. Before he too dies, Rodolfo runs his sword through Wurm's breast.
[edit] External links
- Libretto
- Video:Luisa Miller performed by June Anderson, Opera de Lyon, 1988.
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