Initially, a play by Alexandre Dumas was chosen as the subject for the opera, but Bellini had reservations about its suitability. After he and Giuditta Pasta (for whom the opera was to be written) had together seen the ballet based on the very different play, Tedaldi-Fores' Beatrice Tenda, in Milan in October 1832, she became enthusiastic about the subject and the composer set about persuading Romani that this was a good idea. Romani, who had his own concerns, the principal one being the close parallels with the story told in Donizetti's Anna Bolena, an opera which had established that composer's success in 1830. Against his better judgment, he finally agreed, although he failed to provide verses for many months.
Librettist | Felice Romani (Based on Carlo Tedaldi Fores' play Beatrice Tenda) |
Premiered | 1833, March 16th (Teatro La Fenice) in Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy |
First published | 1833 |
Type | Opera |
Spoken language | Italian |
Instruments |
Orchestra
Chorus/Choir Voice (Soprano) - Beatrice di Tenda, Filippo's wife Voice (Baritone) - Filippo Maria Visconti, Duke of Milan Voice (Mezzo-Soprano) - Agnese del Maino, in love with Orombello Voice (Tenor) - Orombello, Lord of Ventimiglia Voice (Tenor) - Anichino, loyal friend of Orombello Voice (Tenor) - Rizzardo del Maino, Agnese's brother and Filippo's confidant |
Links | |
Autotranslations beta |
Vincenzo Bellini: Beatrice di Tenda "Tragedia lirica in due atti" Vincenzo Bellini: Beatrice di Tenda "Tragedia lirica in due atti" Vincenzo Bellini: Beatrice di Tenda "Tragedia lirica in due atti" |