Il castello di Kenilworth (or Elisabetta al castello di Kenilworth) is a melodramma serio or tragic opera in three acts by Gaetano Donizetti. Andrea Leone Tottola wrote the Italian libretto after Victor Hugo's play Amy Robsart (1828) and Eugene Scribe's play Leicester, in its turn after Scott's novel Kenilworth (1821). Daniel Auber composed another opera on the same subject, Leicester, ou Le château de Kenilworth (1823).
This opera represents Donizetti's first excursion into an aspect of English history and especially with the character of Elizabeth I, whose life he was to explore further in his operas Roberto Devereux and Maria Stuarda.
It received its first performance on the 6 July 1829 at the Teatro San Carlo, Naples.
Contents |
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 6 July 1829 (Conductor: Nicola Festa) |
|---|---|---|
| Elisabetta, Queen of England [1] | soprano | Adelaide Tosi |
| Roberto Dudley, Earl of Leicester | tenor | Giovanni David |
| Amelia Robsart, his secret consort | soprano | Luigia Boccabadati |
| Warney | baritone | Berardo Winter |
| Lambourne | bass | Gennaro Ambrosini |
| Fanny | mezzo-soprano | Virginia Eden |
| Knights of the queen, domestic servants of Leicester, guards, soldiers, people | ||
It is announced that Queen Elizabeth is to visit Kenilworth, the Earl of Leicester's castle. Leicester is a favourite of the Queen, but now has a new bride, Amelia Robsart, with whom he is in love. Fearing the Queen's displeasure, he asks his servant Lambourne to arrange for Amelia to be hidden until Elizabeth departs. Amelia is taken to a small cell in the castle by Leicester's equerry, Warney. He then tries to seduce her and tells that she has been placed there because her husband no longer loves her. When Amelia rejects his advances, Warney vows revenge.
Amelia manages to escape from the cell and in a secret garden of the castle encounters the Queen. She tearfully tells the Queen about her troubles with Leicester, whom she believes has betrayed her. The Queen goes to Leicester and Warney angrily demanding an explanation. Leicester reveals his marriage with Amelia to the Queen who becomes even more angry and dismisses him.
Warney, still desiring revenge, tries to poison Amelia, but is foiled by her faithful servant, Fanny. In the end, Elisabeth orders the arrest of Warney, pardons Leicester and Amelia, and approves their marriage to the jubilation of all. [2]
| Year | Cast (Queen Elisabeth I, Amelia Robsart, Leicester, Warney) |
Conductor, Opera House and Orchestra |
Label[3] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Janet Price, Yvonne Kenny, Maurice Arthur, Christian Du Plessis |
Alun Francis, Philomusica of London and the Opera Rara Chorus (Recording of a performance in the Collegiate Theatre, London as part of the Camden Festival) |
Audio CD: MRF Records Cat: MRF 143-S |
| 1989 | Mariella Devia, Denia Mazzola (Gavazzeni), Jozef Kundlák, Barry Anderson |
Jan Latham-Koenig, Radio Televisione Italiana Orchestra and Chorus |
Audio CD: Ricordi/Fonit Cetra Cat: RFCD 2005 |