| Lucrezia | |
|---|---|
| Opera by Ottorino Respighi | |
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Respighi_1934.jpg) Respighi in 1934 | |
| Librettist | Claudio Guastalla |
| Language | Italian |
| Based on | The Rape of Lucrece by Shakespeare |
| Premiere | 24 February 1937 La Scala, Milan |
Lucrezia is an opera in one act and three tableaux by Ottorino Respighi to a libretto by Claudio Guastalla, after Livy and William Shakespeare's The Rape of Lucrece, itself based heavily on Ovid's Fasti. Respighi died before finishing the work, which was therefore completed by his wife, Elsa Respighi, and by one of his pupils, Ennio Porrino. Lucrezia premiered on 24 February 1937 at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, in a production directed by Mario Frigerio with sets designed by Pietro Aschieri.[1] The première had a good reception.[2]
Lucrezia was much appreciated by the famous Italian musicologist Andrea Della Corte, who considered this opera as one of the best stage works of Respighi, thanks to the accomplished balance of expressivity and musical skill.[2] One of the distinctive features of Lucrezia is the presence of the Voice, a character that sings from within the orchestra and describes what is happening on the stage and the emotions of the other characters.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
amadeuswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b "La prima di Lucrezia, opera postuma di Respighi". La Stampa (in Italian). Torino. 25 February 1937. Retrieved 30 December 2014.