Chopin (opera)
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Chopin is a four-act opera by Giacomo Orefice (1865–1922) to a libretto by Angiolo Orvieto, premiered in Milan in 1901.
The opera, which is "a wildly inaccurate account" of the life of Frédéric Chopin, is based entirely on his music, orchestrated by Orefice.[1] The vocal score indicates the sources of the music, which include Chopin's sonatas, polonaises, mazurkas and nocturnes.[2]
| Role | Voice type | Premiere cast Teatro Lirico, Milan 25 November 1901 |
|---|---|---|
| Frédéric Chopin | tenor | Giuseppe Borgatti |
| Stella, Chopin's first love | soprano | Luisa Beltrami |
| Elio, Chopin's friend | baritone | Rodolfo Angelini Fornari |
| Flora | mezzo-soprano | Cesira Ferrani |
| Grazia, daughter of Flora and Chopin | silent role | |
| Schoolchildren, fisherfolk of Majorca, peasants. | ||
Synopsis
The overture is based on Chopin's Fantasy on Polish Airs, Op. 13.[3] Act I is set in a village in Poland at Christmas time. Chopin declares his love to Stella (who is, like all the opera's characters except Chopin himself, entirely fictional). In Act II, set in Paris, Elio tells a group of children about the history and struggles of Poland, inspiring Chopin to fly to the piano and write a nocturne.[4] Chopin's new love, Flora, is also present.[5] Act III is set in Majorca, where the real Chopin spent the winter of 1838-9 with George Sand.[6] In this version Chopin is there with Flora and their daughter, who dies after a thunderstorm and is mourned by the local population.[7] In Act IV, Stella arrives in Paris from Poland just in time for Chopin to expire in her arms.[8]
