La forza del destino
ABAO Bilbao Opera starts the season in October with La forza del destino by Giuseppe Verdi, a romantic drama with a Spanish flair, full of scenes with moving lyricism and elegance, alternating with comic and satirical passages, where Verdi’s creative passion turns a complex story into a masterpiece.
This opera in four acts is one of the most extraordinary works of Verdi’s repertoire and tells about the star-crossed love of Leonora, the Marquis of Calatrava’s daughter, and Don Alvaro, a descendant of the Incan royal family. The cast is led by the soprano Carmen Solís, accompanied by Angelo Villari and Ketevan Kemmozlde, who make their debut at ABAO, together with the Verdian baritone of reference, Juan Jesús Rodríguez.
As for the music, Maestro Lorenzo Passerini returns to conduct the Euskadiko Orkestra in this extensive and beautiful score with a famous overture.
On stage, an ABAO Bilbao Opera production devised by Ignacio García, who takes the action to the Spanish Civil War and creates a dynamic and theatrical stage design full of expressive force. The wardrobe, created by Ignacio Garcia and Cesidio Niño using recycled materials, pursues a sustainability and innovation strategy.
Act I
Seville. A room in the palace of the Marquis of Calatrava.
After receiving a goodnight blessing from her father, the old Marquis of Calatrava, Donna Leonora prepares to elope with her beloved Don Alvaro, a Peruvian of royal lineage persecuted by the Spanish colonizers. Torn between the love she feels for him and the obedience to her father, who opposes her marriage to a man of uncertain origin, the young woman tells Don Alvaro that she would like to delay their departure.
However, after a moment’s hesitation, Leonora declares that she is ready to go with her beloved. The Marquis bursts into the room and challenges the man he believes to be his daughter’s seducer. To prove his innocence, Don Alvaro refuses to fight and has no hesitation in throwing down his pistol. But, on hitting the floor, the weapon accidentally fires a shot and kills the elderly aristocrat. The Marquis dies cursing his daughter.
Act II
The village of Hornachuelos and surrounding area. A large kitchen in a tavern.
Don Carlo de Vargas, son of the Marquis of Calatrava, has sworn to avenge his father’s death. He has been searching for his sister, Leonora, and her accomplice for some time, in the belief that they have fled together. But the truth is that the lovers have not met again since that tragic night. Having entered the same tavern in male attire, Leonora recognises her brother, who is disguised as the student Pereda. The young lady, however, manages to go away without being discovered, while the gypsy woman Preziosilla sings the joys of military life.
A small clearing on a steep mountainside. In front of the facade of the church of Our Lady of the Angels.
Hoping to escape her brother’s wrath and to expiate her sense of guilt over the death of her father, Leonora seeks sanctuary in a monastery. She confides her story to Padre Guardiano and asks permission to retreat to a nearby hermitage to spend the rest of her life in solitude. After encouraging the young lady to reflect on the serious decision she has taken, Padre Guardiano gives his consent. He assembles the friars and instructs them not to violate the secret surrounding the unknown penitent. Then he prays to the Virgin for protection.
Act III
In Italy, near Velletri. A wood in the middle of the night.
On the battlefield, Spanish and Italian forces face the Austrian troops. Don Alvaro has joined the Spanish army under the false name of Don Federico Herreros, and has achieved fame as a hero. He meditates on his misadventures and, during a brawl, Don Alvaro saves the life of the officer Don Felice de Bornos, who is in fact Don Carlo, Leonora’s brother. Without recognising each other, the two soldiers swear everlasting friendship.
Living-room in the house of a high-ranking officer of the Spanish army in Italy.
Don Alvaro has been badly wounded in combat. Believing he is about to die, he entrusts his friend with a case that contains a sealed envelope and asks him to promise that he will burn it after his death. But Don Carlo, who has suspicions about Don Alvaro’s true identity, opens the case and, without actually tearing the envelope, finds the portrait of Leonora. He now has proof that his wounded friend is in fact the seducer of his sister and the murderer of his father. On hearing that Don Alvaro is out of danger, Don Carlo rejoices thinking about his revenge.
Military camp near Velletri.
Don Carlo reveals to Don Alvaro, who has recovered by now, that he knows his real identity and, after revealing his own, he challenges him to a duel. Don Alvaro tries in vain to calm his rival’s fury: when he learns that Leonora is alive and that her brother intends to kill her, he accepts the challenge. However, their duel is interrupted by the unexpected arrival of a patrol. Don Alvaro resolves then to spend the rest of his life in a monastery. Amongst singing and dancing, the military camp wakes up in high spirits: Fra Melitone’s sermon is echoed by the “Rataplan” sung by Preziosilla.
Act IV
Near Hornachuelos. Interior of the monastery of Our Lady of the Angels.
For five years Don Alvaro has been in retreat at the monastery of Our Lady of the Angels, but he doesn’t know that Leonora is living in the nearby hermitage in solitude and expiation. After distributing the daily bread to a crowd of beggars, Fra Melitone announces the visit of a foreigner. It is Don Carlo, who has managed to track down his rival. He provokes and insults Don Alvaro until he is finally forced to fight.
Inaccessible rocky valley, crossed by a stream.
Having mortally wounded Don Carlo, Don Alvaro comes to the hermitage, imploring help for his rival. Leonora comes out and recognises her beloved Don Alvaro. She then runs to help her dying brother, who fatally wounds her. Comforted by the words of Padre Guardiano, Leonora dies invoking God’s forgiveness for everyone.