Ernani – Corelli
$9.95
Verdi. Corelli, Ligabue, Cappuccilli, Raimondi; De Fabritiis, cond.
Chorus and Orchestra of the Arena di Verona, July 15, 1972
Downloadable .M4A or .MP3 files. Total size: approx. 215MB.
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(You’ll hear Corelli stab himself, bid his beloved farewell and die.
What could be more satisfying?)
—Stefan Zucker
Franco Corelli: Tenore del Mondo Reprint of an article in Opera News
Corelli vs. Del Monaco: tenor fanatics speak their minds
Synopsis
The action takes place in 1519
Act I:
Outlawed nobleman Don Juan of Aragon, now the bandit Ernani, asks his men to help him rescue his beloved Elvira from her upcoming marriage to her uncle and guardian, Don Ruy Gomez de Silva. Elvira, in despair about her betrothal, sings of her love for Ernani. Don Carlo, King of Spain, enters and Elvira rebuffs his advances. Ernani bursts in and confronts Carlo. Silva bursts in and challenges his two rivals until he recognizes that one is the king in disguise. The king’s retinue enters. He dismisses Ernani as one of his men. Ernani goes, swearing vengeance. Silva and the king hope for the latter’s election as Holy Roman Emperor.
Act II:
Ernani, disguised as a pilgrim, arrives at Silva’s castle as preparations are under way for the wedding of Silva and Elvira. Silva extends his obligatory hospitality to Ernani. Elvira tells Ernani she heard he had been killed and had been planning to stab herself at the altar. The king enters and demands Silva produce Ernani. Silva offers his own head rather than break the laws of hospitality. Carlo’s men fail to find Ernani and then abduct Elvira as hostage despite Silva’s pleading. Alone with Ernani, Silva orders him outside for a duel. Because Silva had protected Ernani from the king, Ernani refuses. He says Silva should simply kill him instead. Hearing of Elvira’s abduction, Ernani urges that he and Silva join forces against their rival, the king. As a pledge, Ernani gives Silva a hunting horn and says, “At the moment you want Ernani dead, if he hears the sound of the horn, then Ernani will die.”
Act III:
Carlo has come to Charlemagne’s tomb because he has learned that conspirators are hiding there intending to kill him. If named Holy Roman Emperor, he vows to rule wisely. He hears Ernani and Silva plotting to kill him, with Ernani chosen as the assassin. Electors and courtiers announce Carlo has indeed been named emperor. He orders the nobles among the conspirators put to death. Ernani, claiming his noble lineage and having failed in his assassination attempt, says he too wants to be killed. Elvira pleads for Ernani’s life. Carlo, invoking Charlemagne’s virtues, pardons the conspirators and gives Elvira to Ernani.
Act IV:
Ernani and Elvira are celebrating their upcoming marriage. A hunting horn sounds in the distance. Ernani exclaims, “The tiger demands his prey.” Elvira, not understanding, thinks Ernani is going mad. Claiming to be in pain from an old wound, Ernani sends Elvira for medicine. Silva enters, quoting Ernani’s pledge. Ernani begs for a few moments of happiness with Elvira, but Silva offers him the choice only of poison or a dagger. Ernani chooses the latter. Elvira enters; she denounces Silva’s demands and then pleads with him. Silva says her entreaties are in vain. Ernani stabs himself. Elvira seizes the dagger to commit suicide herself. Ernani implores Elvira to love him and live. He expires, she swoons.
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