Opera "Gianni Schicchi": content, video, interesting facts, history

J. Puccini opera "Gianni Schicchi"

"Gianni Schicchi" thought Giacomo Puccini as the final part of the "Triptych" - three one-act operas of different genres. However, it turned out so sparkling, bright and melodicly rich that it overshadowed the first two thematically complex operas with tragic scenes. The historical context also contributed to this - Triptych was born immediately after the end of the First World War, and people who witnessed the unrealistic tragedies of real life accepted the light and almost forgotten genre of comic opera with enthusiasm.

Summary of the Opera Puccini "Gianni Schicchi"and many interesting facts about this work read on our page.

Summary of "Gianni Schicchi"

Florence, 1299

Even before the body of a rich Florentine, Buozo Donati, the body of numerous grieving relatives gathered around him had not had time to cool him. They heard a rumor that Donati bequeathed all his great legacy to the monastery. But how to check it out? If the will took the notartius with him, nothing can be done, but if it is kept at home ... The whole crowd starts to frantically search for paper - and Rinuccio finds it! Each of them has only one thing in mind - what did he get from Buozo? To everyone's disappointment, it turned out that the rumors were true. What to do? Rinuccio is ready to invite someone who is able to help them - this is Gianni Schicchi, who is on demand. And not alone, but with his daughter Lauretta, Rinuccio's beloved, whom he was already desperate to marry. Aunt Dzita is opposed to his marriage with a commoner without a dowry.

The idea of ​​Gianni's scam is proposed to be tested on Dr. Spinelochio - he just came to visit the patient. He is given a glimpse through the open door to the room, from where, imitating Buozo’s voice, Skikki says that he feels better and wants to sleep. The doctor did not suspect anything, and the family sends for the notary. Gianni doubts their enterprise - for a forgery, they can cut off all those involved, but those gathered persuade him to change into Donati.

The notary comes, Gianni dictates a new will to him, according to which all property is moving away ... Gianni Skicchi! Relatives are shocked, but nothing can argue. He drives everyone out of the house. Lauretta and Rinuccio are happy.

A photo

Interesting Facts

• Gianni Schicchi is a historical character, a contemporary of Dante. He was one of the provincials who moved to Florence and made a fortune there. The city aristocrats, and Dante among them, despised these nouveau riche - it is not surprising that in his “Divine Comedy” the poet expelled Schicchi to hell. Although Puccini and Forzano did not share his opinion.
• The premiere of "Triptych" - the first, but not the only one that passed without Puccini. His next opera, "Turandot", was completed and put La Scala after his death.
• "Gianni Skicchi" is an opera, in the origins of which traditional Italian genres of opera buffs and comedies of del arte lie. The characters of the latter are the prototypes of her heroes: Gianni is a typical Harlequin, Pantalone hides behind Simone, and Rinuccio and Laurette are a recognizable pair of young lovers, and also there are characteristic figures of a notary and a doctor.
• In 2008, he was staged by Woody Allen in the Los Angeles opera Gianni Skikki. It was the debut filmmaker on the operatic stage.

• American composer Michael Ching in 1996 introduced the sequel "Gianni Schicchi" - the opera "Ghost of Buozo", which continues the story of the struggle for the inheritance of Buozo Donati's relatives and scams of Gianni Schicchi.
• Every year in the theaters of the world "Gianni Schicchi" is performed 500 times - more often than any opera. Mussorgsky, Bellini or Massenet.

The best arias from the opera "Gianni Schicchi"

"O, mio ​​babbino caro" - Laurette's aria (listen)

"Firenze e come un albero fiorito" - Rinuccio's aria (listen)

"Ah, che zucconi! Si corre dal notaio ..." - Gianni Schicchi's aria (listen)

History of the creation and productions of "Gianni Schicchi"

The concept of a series of one-act operas by Puccini has been bearing for a very long time, at least since the early 1900s. There were no suitable plots, and the composer’s publisher, Giulio Ricordi, dissuaded him from this idea - few theaters will master an expensive production, where three different performers should come out in one evening. But the maestro did not give up, turning over the works of A. Daudet and the stories of M. Gorky. During the search, a genre plan was formed in his head - it must be tragic, mystical and comic stories. Or - hell, purgatory and paradise, like the structure of Dante's "Divine Comedy." So "Cloak" appeared, followed by - "Sister Angelica". In the fall of 1917, the composer set about "Gianni Skicchi", the libretto to which, like the "Sister Angelica", was written by Jovaccino Forzzano. The title character was taken from Dante's thirtieth song "Hell". The opera was written in six months, but Europe was emaciated by the war drama. The proposal for the production came from the Argentine Colon Theater, but the composer rejected it.

On December 14, 1918, the entire Triptych was introduced to the Metropolitan Opera. For the first time the maestro was absent at rehearsals and premieres - he found it unsafe to overcome the ocean in wartime and gave the conductor Roberto Moranzoni the most detailed instructions about the score. The New York public eagerly awaited this performance - the tickets were sold out completely. But, if the hall met the first two operas politely and with restraint, then after "Gianni Skikki" it just collapsed with applause and enthusiasm. Giuseppe de Luca (Gianni Schicchi), Florence Easton (Laurette), Giulio Crimi (Rinuccio) performed in the main parts. Soprano Marie Tiffany played minor roles in all three operas.

On January 11, 1919, the most important premiere for the composer took place - the Italian, in the Roman Theater Kostanzi. And here the greatest success was "Gianni Skikki". Critics especially noted the fact that the composer had finally returned to the national plot, because after Tosca, which premiered 19 years ago, Japan, the United States, France became the scene of his operas, but not his own Italy. At the London premiere of 1920, once again only "Gianni Skicchi" won a real triumph. The only comic opera by maestro became popular instantly. Many theaters wanted to put it, seeing the rest of the Triptych as an unnecessary ballast. The composer resisted for two years, protecting his creative intent from encroachment, but then gave permission to perform "Gianni Schicchi" on his own.

Opera began to put in one evening with "Clowns"Leoncavallo,"Hansel and Gretel“Humperdinka, Bartók’s Duke Bluebeard’s Castle and even some ballets. In 1975, the Metropolitan Opera resumes Triptych, in which Renata Scotto performs in all three major women's parties. In 1976, Gianni Skicchi was put on Leningrad Maly Opera and Ballet Theater In 2003, the Mariinsky Theater was the first in our country to introduce the entire Triptych to the public.

Music "Gianni Schicchi" in the cinema

Gorgeous aria Laurette sounded more than once in famous films:

• "The illusion of deception 2", 2016
• "Princess of Monaco", 2014
• "Taste of life", 2007
• "Rocky Balboa", 2006
• "Soldier Jane", 1997
• "Prizzi Family Honor", 1985

Various productions of "Gianni Skicchi" exist in video versions:

• The performance of the Los Angeles Opera, 2015, directed by V. Allen, in the main parts: P. Domingo (Gianni Schicchi), A. Chuchman (Laurette), A. Chacon-Cruz (Rinuccio).
• The performance of the Lyon Opera, 2012, directed by D. Pountney, in the main parts: V. van Mechelen, I. Rusco, S. Pirgu.
• Performance of the Paris Opera, 2004, directed by Rainier Moritz, in major roles: A. Corbelli, P. Chiofi, R. Sakka.
• Performance of the Glyndebourne Opera Festival, 2004, directed by V. Mortimer, in the main parts: A. Corbelli, M. Giordano, S. Mettiuz.

In Russian for the first time "Gianni Skikki" sounded in the television movie of T. Berezantseva and A. Sharoyev of 1956 "How Gianni went to hell." According to the tradition of those years, dramatic actors were shot in the frame, and behind the scenes voices of opera singers sounded. The role of Gianni Skicchi was played by M. Grekov (sings M. Kiselev), Laurette - R. Maksimov (sings M. Zvezdin), Rinuccio - V. Kulik (sings V. Orlenin).

Less than an hour of music gave the world the best comic opera of the 20th century and one of the most popular female arias on the planet - this is genius Giacomo Puccininot afraid to come into conflict with the great Dante and pull out Gianni Schicchi from hell itself.