RCA Italiana Opera Orchestra / RCA Italiana Opera Chorus
CD 1
Prologo · Prologue · Prolog
Scena I · Scene 1 · Scène 1 · 1. Szene
1 Bella Venezia! — Amabile! — D’ogni piacer soggiorno! 5.30
Gazella, Petrucci, Orsini, Liverotto, Vitellozzo, Gubetta, maschere
2 Nella fatal di Rimini e memorabil guerra, ferito e quasi esanime io mi 4.33
giaceva a terra Orsini, Liverotto, Vitellozzo, Gazella, Petrucci, maschere
3 Senti. La danza invitaci 2.55
Maschere, Orsini, Gazella, Petrucci, Liverotto, Vitellozzo
Scena II · Scene 2 · Scène 2 · 2. Szene
4 Tranquillo ei posa Lucrezia, Gubetta 5.42
Scena III · Scene 3 · Scène 3 · 3. Szene
5 Com’è bello! Quale incanto in quel volto onesto e altero! 5.42
Lucrezia, Alfonso, Rustighello
6 Si voli il primo a cogliere Lucrezia 2.59
7 Ciel! — Che vegg’io? Lucrezia, Gennaro 2.59
8 Di pescatore ignobile esser figliuol credei Gennaro, Lucrezia 7.45
9 Gente appressa… io ti lascio Lucrezia, Gennaro, Orsini 1.45
10 Maffio Orsini, signora, son io, cui svenaste il dormente fratello 5.13
Orsini, Vitellozzo, Liverotto, Petrucci, Gazella, Lucrezia, Gennaro, maschere
Atto primo · Act One · Acte un · Erster Akt
Scena I · Scene 1 · Scène 1 · 1. Szene
11 Nel veneto corteggio lo ravvisasti? Alfonso, Rustighello 1.59
12 Viva!… Evviva! Voci, Alfonso, Rustighello 5.30
Scena II · Scene 2 · Scène 2 · 2. Szene
13 Addio, Gennaro Orsini, Liverotto, Vitellozzo, Petrucci, Gazella, Gennaro 3.11
Scena III · Scene 3 · Scène 3 · 3. Szene
14 Qui che fai? … Non far motto, parti, sgombra 5.10
CD 2
Tutto eseguisti? — Tutto Alfonso, Rustighello, un usciere 1.36
Scena V · Scene 5 · Scène 5 · 5. Szene
2 Così turbata? — A voi mi trae vendetta Alfonso, Lucrezia, Gennaro 4.29
Scena VI · Scene 6 · Scène 6 · 6. Szene
3 Soli noi siamo. Che chiedete? Alfonso, Lucrezia 3.29
4 E sì avverso a Gennaro chi vi fè, caro Alfonso? Lucrezia, Alfonso 4.56
5 Trafitto tosto ei sia Alfonso, Lucrezia
Scena VII · Scene 7 · Scène 7 · 7. Szene
Della Duchessa ai prieghi, che il vostro fallo obblia 4.13
Alfonso, Lucrezia, Gennaro
6 Guai se ti sfugge un moto, se ti tradisce un detto! 3.36
Alfonso, Lucrezia, Gennaro
7 Infelice! il veleno bevesti! Lucrezia, Gennaro 3.00
Atto secondo · Act Two · Acte deux · Zweiter Akt
Scena I · Scene 1 · Scène 1 · 1. Szene
8 Rischiarata è la finestra Rustighello, scherani 4.00
Scena II · Scene 2 · Scène 2 · 2. Szene
9 Sei tu? — Son io Gennaro, Orsini, scherani, Rustighello 3.31
10 Onde a lei ti mostri grato ella ha finto di salvarti Orsini, Gennaro 7.05
Scena III · Scene 3 · Scène 3 · 3. Szene
11 A noi s’invola — No’l seguite Scherani, Rustighello 2.44
Scena IV · Scene 4 · Scène 4 · 4. Szene
12 Viva il Madera! 4.29
Liverotto, Vitellozzo, Gazella, Petrucci, Orsini, Gubetta, Gennaro, dame
Scena V · Scene 5 · Scène 5 · 5. Szene
Pace, pace per ora! — Avrete il tempo di battervi doman da cavalieri 8.22
Liverotto, Vitellozzo, Orsini, Gennaro, Gubetta, Gazella, Petrucci, un coppiere
13 Il segreto per esser felici 4.18
Orsini, Liverotto, Vitellozzo, Gennaro, Gazella, Petrucci
14 La gioia de’ profani è un fumo passaggier Voci di dentro, Gennaro,
Orsini, Liverotto, Vitellozzo, Gubetta, Gazella, Petrucci
Scena VI · Scene 6 · Scène 6 · 6. Szene
Presso Lucrezia Borgia — Ah! siam perduti! 4.01
Lucrezia, Liverotto, Vitellozzo, Gubetta, Gazella, Petrucci, Orsini, Gennaro
Scena VII · Scene 7 · Scène 7 · 7. Szene
15 Tu pur qui? Non sei fuggito? Lucrezia, Gennaro 3.43
16 M’odi, ah! m’odi… io non t’imploro per voler serbarmi in vita! 2.33
Lucrezia, Gennaro
17 Maffio muore — Cedi, per tua madre! Gennaro, Lucrezia
Scena VIII · Scene 8 · Scène 8 · 8. Szene
Figlio!… è spento!… ah! figlio! Lucrezia, Alfonso 2.47
18 Era desso il figlio mio Lucrezia, cortigiani 4.59
SYNOPSIS
The action takes place in Venice and Ferrara during the sixteenth century Prologue
The terrace of the Grimani Palace in Venice CD1 1–2 A group of young noblemen are revelling on the eve of their departure for Ferrara on a mission to the Duke, Don Alfonso d’Este, husband of Lucrezia Borgia. When Maffio Orsini begins to tell of his hatred for the Borgia family, Gennaro, not particularly interested in this tale, lies down and fails asleep. 3–6 After the others return to the ball inside the palace a masked woman appears in a gondola, dismisses her attendant and approaches the sleeping Gennaro. It is Lucrezia Borgia, and Gennaro is her son by an earlier marriage, though neither he nor anyone else but she knowsthis fact. She removes her mask, admires the youth, then kisses his hand. 7–8 Awaking, Gennaro observes the beautiful stranger and immediately pays court to her. When he expresses his love for her, he confesses that he owes even more affection to his mother, whom he has never seen. Lucrezia admonishes him always to adore his mother and to beg Heaven to spare her. Gennaro’s companions suddenly appear. 9 Lucrezia quickly replaces her mask and is about to flee when Orsini recognises her. 0He openly denounces her, and the others in turn accuse her of murdering brothers, uncles and nephews. “Do not listen to them, Gennaro”, pleads Lucrezia. Dumbfounded, he keeps asking who she is. Finally, the mask is removed from Lucrezia’s face. “It is the Borgia woman”, shout Orsini and the others. Gennaro withdraws in horror and detestation, and Lucrezia vows revenge on all but her son for these gross insults.
A square in Ferrara 11 Alfonso and Rustighello come into the square and pause before Gennaro’s house, just across from the palace. 12 Sounds of carousing come from it. Learning from Rustighello that Lucrezia has been paying secret visits to Gennaro, the Duke suspects his wife is having an affair with the young man and swears revenge on his supposed rival. He and Rustighello go off as Gennaro, Orsini and friends come out of the house. 13 Accused in jest by his companions of cherishing a passion for Lucrezia, Gennaro shows his contempt for the lady by using his sword to strike off the “B” in the name Borgia that adorns a heraldic shield on one of the palace gates. 14 When the friends have said good-night, Rustighello appears, then Lucrezia’s agent, Astolfo; both are after Gennaro, the former to take him prisoner to the Duke, the latter to take him to the Duchess. Rustighello signals his henchmen, who surround Astolfo and force him to leave, then force their way into Gennaro’s house.
A room in the ducal palace CD2 1 Rustighello informs the Duke that Gennaro is imprisoned within the palace. 2 Lucrezia enters; outraged at the insult to the name of Borgia, she demands the culprit’s immediate punishment. The Duke gladly swears an oath to carry out her request that he shall die before the day is ended. Gennaro is brought in, and Lucrezia is struck with horror when she learns that he is the offender. 3–4 After Gennaro has been led out to prepare for death the Duchess, beside herself with remorse and fear when she realises how she has been trapped, pleads desperately for his life, but the Duke is determined to punish the one who has profaned the name of Borgia — and who is also the object of his wife’s affections. 5 He tells his wife she may choose whether the young man shall die by the sword or by poison. She decides on the latter and the prisoner is brought back. The Duke informs him that, in response to Lucrezia’s entreaties he has resolved to pardon him and invites him to drink a parting cup before he goes. 6 Two flagons stand ready. From one the Duke and the Duchess are served; the other holds the deadly wine of the Borgias. From this the Duchess is made to fill a goblet and give it to Gennaro, who unsuspectingly drinks it all. The Duke leaves the room with a smile of satisfaction, for one who has drunk the wine of the Borgias is not likely to trouble him much longer. 7 Lucrezia, however, possesses an antidote. She makes Gennaro swallow the drug and helps him to escape by a secretdoor.
Act Two The courtyard facing Gennaro’s house 8 It is night. Rustighello and the Duke’s guards discover that Gennaro is still in Ferrara and declare that now the Duke will have his revenge on his rival. They approach the house, but withdraw as Orsini arrives and Gennaro comes out. 9–10 There is a party at the Negroni palace, and Orsini asks Gennaro to come along and join their other Venetian friends there. But Gennaro says he is going to Venice, as his life is threatened in Ferrara. Orsini finally persuades him to stay for the evening, promising to leave with him at dawn, and they go off. 11 The guards start after them. but Rustighello, having overheard the conversation, stops them, saying mysteriously that Gennaro is walking into the trap set for him.
A banqueting hall in the Negroni palace Lucrezia has not forgotten her treatment in Venice by Gennaro’s friends and has since then has been plotting her revenge. 12 They are all at the Negroni palace — including Gennaro, but the obsessed Lucrezia is unaware of his presence. A special flagon of “Syracusa” wine is sent in for their very special entertainment. It is, of course, the Borgian wine. the wine of death. 13 Under its influence, Orsini volunteers a brindisi, which bids them live only for the moment. 14 The noisy chorus that follows is hushed by mournful singing in the distance, but Orsini boldly goes on with a second verse. As he sings, the lights grow dimmer and dimmer. The terror-stricken revellers attempt to escape, but find all the doors locked. Now Lucrezia enters, surrounded by guards. “Yes, I am the Borgia woman. You gave me a ball, a sad ball, in Venice. I offer you in return a dinner in Ferrara. You believed yourselves safe, unpunished — but in vain.” There are five graves waiting, she tells them, for the “Syracusan” wine they have drunk is poisoned. Gennaro comes forward. “Five graves do not suffice — you need a sixth.” With a cry of horror Lucrezia bids the guards remove her victims from the room, and she is left alone with the dying Gennaro. 15 –17 A few drops of the precious antidote still remain. She frantically implores him to swallow it in time, but he refuses to live now that his comrades are dead. Roused to fury, he seizes a knife and is about to kill Lucrezia when she finally tells him that he is a Borgia and she is his mother. Gennaro collapses into a chair and dies. Some of the Duchess’s attendants enter; Duke Alfonso and his guards follow, looking for Gennaro. *Lucrezia points out his body, tells them who he was and sinks into the arms of one of the ladies.