Overview
Synopsis
Set against the context of the English Civil War, Bellini鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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 鈥楢ll鈥檈rta! All鈥檈rta!鈥� - Bruno, Chorus
- Scene 鈥極 di Cromvel guerrieri鈥� - Bruno, Elvira, Arturo, Riccardo, Giorgio, Chorus
Scene 2
- 鈥楢 festa, a festa鈥� - Chorus
Scene 3
- Recitative 鈥極r dove fuggo io mai?鈥� - Riccardo, Bruno
- Aria 鈥楢h, per sempre io ti perdei鈥� - Riccardo
Scene 4
- Scene 鈥極 amato zio鈥� - Elvira, Giorgio
- Duet 鈥楽ai com鈥檃rde in petto mio鈥� - Elvira, Giorgio, Chorus
Scene 5
- Chorus 鈥楢d Arturo onore鈥� - Chorus
- Quartet 鈥楢 te, o cara, amor talora鈥� - Elvira, Arturo, Giorgio, Valton, Chorus
Scene 6
- Finale I 鈥榠l rito augusto鈥� - Valton, Enrichetta, Arturo,
Scene 7
- (Finale I cont.) 鈥楶iet脿 e dolore鈥� - Enrichetta, Arturo
Scene 8
- (Finale I cont.) 鈥楽on vergin vezzosa鈥� - Elvira, Enrichetta, Arturo, Giorgio, Chorus
Scene 9
- (Finale I cont.) 鈥楽ulla virginea testa鈥� - Enrichetta, Arturo
Scene 10
- (Finale I cont.) 鈥楩erma, invan rapir pretendi鈥� - Riccardo, Arturo, Enrichetta, Arturo, Elvira, Bruno, Valton, Giorgio, Chorus
Scene 11
- (Finale I cont.) 鈥楨 gi脿 al ponto鈥� - Riccardo, Elvira, Giorgio, Valton, Bruno, Chorus
- (Finale I cont.) 鈥極h vieni al tempio鈥� - Elvira, Riccardo, Giorgio, Bruno, Chorus
Act Two
Scene 1
- Introduction 鈥楢h dolor!鈥� - Chorus
Scene 2
- 鈥楺ual novella?鈥� - Giorgio, Chorus
- Romance 鈥楥inta di fiori鈥� - Giorgio, Chorus
- Scene 鈥楨 di morte lo stral鈥� - Riccardo, Giorgio, Chorus
Scene 3
- Scene 鈥極 rendetemi la speme鈥� - Elvira, Giorgio, Riccardo
- Cavatina 鈥楺ui la voce sua soave鈥� - Elvira, Giorgio, Riccardo
- Cabaletta 鈥榁ien, diletto鈥� - Elvira, Giorgio, Riccardo
Scene 4
- Duet and Finale II 鈥業l rival salvar tu dei鈥� - Riccardo, Giorgio
Act Three
Scene 1
- Hurricane
- Scene 鈥楽on savo, alfin son salvo鈥� - Arturo, Elvira
- Romance 鈥楢 una fonte鈥� - Arturo, Chorus
Scene 2
- Scene 鈥楩ini 鈥� me lassa!鈥� - Elvira, Arturo
- Duet 鈥楢rturo? Si, 猫 desso!鈥� - Elvira, Arturo
- Finale III 鈥楢ncor s鈥檃scolta questo suon molesto!鈥� - Arturo, Elvira, Chorus
Scene 3
- (Finale III cont.) 鈥楢rturo? Lo sciagurato!鈥� - 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
Sorry! We do not currently have terms for this guide.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Quote Analysis
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Guide Written By:
Wendy Silvester
Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.