RCA Italiana Opera Chorus / RCA Italiana Opera Orchestra
CD 1
1 Preludio · Prelude · Prélude · Vorspiel 4.10
Atto primo · Act One · Acte un · Erster Akt
2 Posa in pace 5.26
Uffiziali, gentiluomini, Samuel, Tom e loro aderenti, Oscar, Riccardo
3 Libero è il varco a voi Oscar, Renato, Riccardo 2.16
4 Alla vita che t’arride Renato 2.34
5 Il primo giudice Oscar, Riccardo, Giudice 1.27
6 Volta la terrea fronte alle stelle Oscar, Riccardo, Giudice 2.02
7 Signori: oggi d’Ulrica alla magion v’invito 0.36
Riccardo, Renato, Samuel, Tom e loro aderenti
8 Ogni cura si doni al diletto 2.15
Riccardo, Renato, Oscar, Samuel, Tom e loro aderenti, uffiziali, gentiluomini
9 Zitti… l’incanto non dèssi turbare Popolane 1.40
10 Re dell’abisso, affrettati … È lui, è lui! Ulrica, Riccardo, popolane 4.12
11 Su, fatemi largo, saper vo’ il mio fato Silvano, Ulrica, Riccardo, poplane 1.49
12 Si batte! — Che veggo! Silvano, un servo d’Amelia, Riccardo, Ulrica, popolane 2.54
13 Della città all’occaso Ulrica, Amelia, Riccardo, voci dal fondo 3.58
14 Su, profetessa, monta il treppiè 0.51
Samuel, Tom, Oscar, Riccardo, uffiziali, gentiluomini
15 Di’ tu se fedele il flutto m’aspetta 3.10
Riccardo, Oscar, Samuel, Tom, uffiziali, gentiluomini
16 Chi voi siate, l’audace parola può nel pianto prorompere 2.33
Ulrica, Riccardo, Samuel, Oscar, Tom, uffiziali, gentiluomini
17 È scherzo od è follia siffatta profezia 3.29
Riccardo, Ulrica, Samuel, Tom, Oscar, gentiluomini, uffiziali
18 Finisci il vaticinio … O figlio d’Inghilterra Riccardo, Ulrica, Oscar, Samuel, 2.39
Tom, gentiluomini, uffiziali, Renato, Silvano, popolani e popolane
19 Ma la sventura è cosa pur ne’ trionfi ascosa 1.32
Renato, Ulrica, Samuel, Tom e loro aderenti, Oscar, Riccardo, Silvano,
gentiluomini, uffiziali, popolani e popolane
Atto secondo · Act Two · Acte deux · Zweiter Akt
20 Preludio · Prelude · Prélude · Vorspiel 2.17
21 Ecco l’orrido campo Amelia 1.30
22 Ma dall’arido stelo divulsa Amelia 5.29
23 Teco io sto. — Gran Dio! … Non sai tu che se l’anima mia il rimorso
dilacera … M’ami, m’ami! … Oh, qual soave brivido Riccardo, Amelia 9.47
CD 2
1 Ahimè! s’appressa alcun! … Tu qui! — Per salvarti da lor 3.02
Amelia, Riccardo, Renato
2 Odi tu come fremono cupi per quest’aura gli accenti di morte? 2.09
Amelia, Renato, Riccardo
3 Seguitemi. — (Mio Dio!) Renato, Amelia, Samuel, Tom e loro aderenti 2.31
4 Ve’, se di notte qui colla sposa Samuel, Tom, loro aderenti, Renato, Amelia 5.00
Atto terzo · Act Three · Acte trois · Dritter Akt
5 A tal colpa è nulla il pianto Renato, Amelia 2.16
6 Morrò, ma prima in grazia Amelia 4.46
7 Alzati; là tuo figlio a te concedo riveder Renato 1.45
8 Eri tu che macchiavi quell’anima Renato 3.40
9 Siam soli Renato, Samuel, Tom 2.20
10 Dunque l’onta di tutti sol una … V’è Oscarre Renato, Tom, Samuel, Amelia 4.15
11 Qual è dunque l’eletto? Renato, Samuel, Amelia, Tom 1.09
12 Il messaggio entri Renato, Oscar, Amelia, Samuel, Tom 0.55
13 Ah! di che fulgor, che musiche Oscar, Amelia, Renato, Samuel, Tom 3.15
14 Forse la soglia attinse Riccardo 2.26
15 Ma se m’è forza perderti Riccardo 2.48
16 Ah! dessa è là … Ignota donna questo foglio diemmi Riccardo, Oscar 1.20
17 Fervono amori e danze Invitati 0.40
18 Altro de’ nostri è questo Samuel, Renato, Tom, Oscar 1.28
19 Saper vorreste di che si veste Oscar 1.45
20 Fervono amori e danze Oscar 0.26
21 So che tu sai distinguere gli amici suoi Renato, Oscar, invitati 1.25
22 Ah! perché qui! fuggite … T’amo, sì, t’amo, e in lagrime Amelia, Riccardo 4.28
23 E tu ricevi il mio! 0.38
Renato, Riccardo, Amelia, Oscar, dame, uffiziali e guardie, invitati
24 No, no, lasciatelo … Ella è pura … Cor sì grande e generoso 5.08
Riccardo, Amelia, Oscar, Renato, Samuel, Tom, invitati
SYNOPSIS
The action takes place in Boston near the close of the seventeenth century.
CD 1 1 Prelude
Act One
A reception hall in the governor’s palace. 2 Riccardo, Count of Warwick and Governor of Boston, has fallen in love with Amelia, the beautiful wife of Renato, his secretary. When the opera opens, the Count is discussing the list of guests to be invited to a grand masked ball and is very pleased to see Amelia’s name among them. 3–4 Renato, unsuspecting, warns his master that a conspiracy is afoot, but Riccardo is too full of thoughts of meeting Amelia at the ball to be much disturbed. 5 They are interrupted by the arrival of a judge who asks for a decree of banishment against Ulrica, a sorceress, whom he considers a disgrace and a menace to the town. Riccardo is loath to banish one of his subjects, 6 and Oscar, the romantic young page, who believes implicitly in the sorceress’ predictions, adds his entreaties. 7–8 The result is a reprieve for Ulrica and a decision by the Count that he and his friends, in disguise, shall pay a surprise visit to her dwelling and draw their own conclusions from what she tells them. Samuel and Tom, the leaders of an anti-Riccardo faction, see in this proposed excursion a possibility of furthering their plans for revenge.
9–10 The Count and his friends appear at Ulrica’s dwelling. The large crowd of citizens already there is in a state of considerable excitement, for the sorceress is expecting an immediate call from her good friend the Devil. ! Silvano, a sailor in the Count’s service, pushes his way through the crowd and asks Ulrica to tell his fortune. “Be cheerful! Soon riches and rank will come to you”, he is told. The disguised Riccardo overhears this, turns aside, scribbles a note and, unseen by the others, slips it, together with a purse of money, into Silvano’s pocket. The simple sailor finds them almost at once and reads, “Riccardo, to his dear friend and officer, Silvano”. He is overwhelmed, and Ulrica’s stock goes up with a bound.
12 A knock is heard at the secret door; a servant appears and tells Ulrica that his mistress wishes to consult her. Ulrica thereupon bids the onlookers depart, and all do so except Riccardo, who conceals himself. Amelia enters, conscience-stricken and begging a potion that will efface from her memory the image of Riccardo. 13 Ulrica commands her to go to a lone and fateful spot where there grows beneath the gallows a herb. If she gathers this and drinks the juice, all will be well.
14-15 After Amelia has left, the onlookers return and call for a prophecy. 16 Ulrica warns them not to play with fire, but they are determined. Riccardo then orders her to read his hand. She does so and shrinks from him in horror, for her prophecy is that he wiII be slain by a sworn friend — the next to grasp his hand. 17 This casts a gloom on the proceedings.18-19 The Count, to show how little he believes her, calls on his assembled friends to prove Ulrica wrong by taking his hand. They are all afraid. “Not one?” he cries, but his consternation is cut short by the appearance of Renato, who rushes in and clasps his hand. What better proof could be wanted? Riccardo is then recognized by the crowd and hailed in a chorus of praise, through which are heard the mutterings of the conspirators.
Act Two
20 Prelude
A desolate plain near Boston. 21 It is night, and Amelia has come in fear and trembling to seek the magic herb. 22 She is startled by the appearance of a mysterious form, which resolves itself into Riccardo; 23 he has followed her and now declares his love, which is returned. They sing an impassioned duet.
CD 2 1–2 Scarcely have they finished when another shadowy form appears. It is Renato, who has come to warn the Count that his enemies, having learned he was coming to the heath, are on their way to kill him. Amelia is heavily veiled, and Renato does not recognize her. Riccardo leaves only after Renato swears to escort the lady back to within the city gates without lifting her veil.
3 Finding Renato instead of the Count, Samuel, Tom and their band demand to know who the veiled lady is. When Tom moves to lift her veil, Renato attacks him. In an attempt to interfere, Amelia lets her veil fall, and Renato sees his wife. 4 His shock quickly changes to anger, then to hatred of both Amelia and Riccardo as the full import of the laughter and mockery of the conspirators impresses itself on him. He makes a decision and asks Samuel and Tom to call upon him the next day. Then, in a terrible voice, he bids Amelia follow him he will carry out his promise to conduct her safely to the city.
Act Three
The library in Renato’s house. 5 Amelia pleads with her husband. He will not listen to her and insists that she must die. 6–8 She asks to see their young son, and Renato grants her wish.
9 After she goes out, Samuel and Tom arrive. Renato convinces them that he is sincere in wanting to join them in seeking the Count’s death. 10 Each wants to be the chosen instrument, and so they decide to draw lots. They have placed the three names in a vase when Amelia comes in to announce the Count’s page bringing an invitation to the masked ball. Renato, the violence of his anger somewhat abated, decides that he will not kill his wife, but that she shall have a share in the death of her lover by being made to draw the lot. 11! She does so, and Renato is named. 12-13 Oscar is then admitted and leaves the invitation, after which Renato and the other two conspirators rejoice at having been given the perfect opportunity to carry out their vengeance.
14-15 In a private room in the Governor’s palace, Riccardo writes a letter which will send Renato and Amelia back to England. 16 As he is putting the signed order in his jacket, Oscar enters to deliver a letter from an unknown lady, warning the Count of danger if he goes to the ball. Fearing an accusation of cowardice if he stays away, he orders Oscar to prepare to attend him.
17-18 In the ballroom, the guests, among them the conspirators, are trying to discover identities. Renato is recognised by Oscar; he retaliates by unmasking the page and accusing him of idling at the ball while his master is at home. “The Count is here”, Oscar retorts. “Where?” asks Renato. 19-21 The page hesitates but finally reveals the details of his master’s disguise.
22 Recognizing Amelia, the Count speaks to her; despite her repeated warnings, he refuses to leave. He tells her he is sending her away, with her husband, 23 and they are about to bid a final farewell when Renato steps between them and stabs Riccardo. The guests rush to attack the assassin, 24 but they are restrained by the Count, who draws the order from his jacket and gives it to Renato. The dying Riccardo then forgives Renato, who learns too late of his wife’s innocence.