| Cristoforo Colombo | |
|---|---|
| Opera by Alberto Franchetti | |
&sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:Cristoforo_Colombo_Premiere_Poster.jpg) Poster for the world premiere | |
| Librettist | Luigi Illica |
| Language | Italian |
| Based on | Christopher Columbus |
| Premiere | 6 October 1892 Teatro Carlo Felice, Genoa |
Cristoforo Colombo (Christopher Columbus, Italian pronunciation: [kriˈstɔːforo koˈlombo]) is an opera in four acts and an epilogue by Alberto Franchetti to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica. It was written in 1892 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' arrival in America.
Commissioned by the city of Genoa, Columbus' birthplace, the opera deals with the voyage of discovery, its opposition by the Spanish authorities, Columbus' encouragement by Queen Isabella, and finally, after his difficulties and triumph, his anguish when he learns of her death.[1]
An essentially melodic opera only tangentially influenced by the emerging verismo style, it is harmonically rich, with obvious references to the work of Richard Wagner and Meyerbeer. The act 2 monologue contains a Rhine-like motif; after cries of Terra! Terra! the orchestra replies with Tristan-like ecstasy, and then a rainbow bridge-like triumph.[2] Its anti-church elements have been noted, particularly in the opera's earlier versions: it is the clerics who oppose the voyage initially, and who violently attempt to evangelise the South American natives.[3]
- ^ Opera at Home, Gramophone Co., 3rd ed., 1925[page needed]
- ^ Mike Richter, Franchetti: Cristoforo Colombo selections Archived 2008-05-13 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed 14 May 2008.
- ^ Luca Zoppelli and Arthur Groos, "Twilight of the True Gods: Cristoforo Colombo, I Medici and the Construction of Italian History", Cambridge Opera Journal, vol. 8, no. 3, (November 1996), pp. 251–269; Cambridge University Press.