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Revision as of 11:16, 1 February 2006 by Jdiazch (talk | contribs) (+Carnegie Hall ref. at 1965' performance)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Lucrezia Borgia is an Italian opera by Gaetano Donizetti. The libretto was written by Felice Romani based on the play of the same name by Victor Hugo, based on the legend of Lucrezia Borgia. It was first performed at La Scala in Milan on 26 December 1834.
When the opera was staged in Paris in 1840, Hugo obtained an injunction against further productions. The libretto was then rewritten and retitled La Rinegata, with the Italian characters changed to Turks, and the performances were resumed. The first English-language production was in London on 30 December, 1843.
A famous performance of Lucrezia Borgia made in 1965 at the Carnegie Hall with soprano Montserrat Caballè (her American debut) was soon followed by a recording featuring Caballe, mezzo soprano Shirley Verrett, tenor Alfredo Kraus, and bass Ezio Flagello, conducted by Jonel Perlea. This performance and recording helped reintroduce the work to the opera-loving public.
The soprano aria "Com'è bello", together with the tenor's "Di pescator ignobile" are perhaps the most famous melodic moments from the opera and has been performed and recorded frequently.
Lucrezia Borgia is part of the standard operatic repertoire. There are several recordings of it, and it is occasionally performed.
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