I puritani

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I puritani (The Puritans) is an opera in three acts, by Vincenzo Bellini. Text by Count Carlo Pepoli after Têtes rondes et Cavaliers by Jacques d'Ancelot & Boniface Saintine. First produced at the Théâtre Italiens in Paris, January 24, 1835. At the same time, Bellini composed an alternative version intended fo the famous Maria Malibran, who was to sing it in Naples; in fact, this version was not performed until April 10, 1986 at the Teatro Petruzzelli, Bari.

[edit] Plot

Place, near Plymouth.

Time, during the Wars between Oliver Cromwell and the House of Stuart.

ACT I. A fortress near Plymouth, commanded by Lord Walton. His daughter, Elvira, has been promised in marriage to Sir Richard Forth by Lord Walton but, when he finds she is in love with Lord Arthur Talbot, a cavalier, he relents and arranges for her marriage with him. Upon his arrival, Talbot finds that Queen Henrietta is imprisoned in the fortress and assists her to escape, wrapped in Elvira's bridal veil. On the way, they encounter Forth and, when he discovers that the woman with Talbot is not Elvira, he is content to let them pass. When the escape is discovered, Elvira believes herself deserted and loses her reason.

ACT II. Another part of the fortress. It concerns itself chiefly with exhibitions of Elvira's madness.

ACT III. A grove near the fortress. Talbot, who is proscribed, returns to see Elvira. The meeting temporarily restores her reason. Even when he hears the men in pursuit of him, Talbot refuses to leave her and is captured. He is about to be executed when word is brought of the pardoning of all prisoners; and this shock of joy permanently restores Elvira's reason.

Plot taken from The Opera Goer's Complete Guide by Leo Melitz, 1921 version.

[edit] Recordings

Recordings include:

Richard Bonynge (conductor), Joan Sutherland (Elvira), Luciano Pavarotti (Arturo), Piero Cappuccilli (Riccardo), Nicolai Ghiaurov (Giorgio), Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London Symphony Orchestra, Record No: Decca 417 588-2 (3-CD)
Tullio Serafin (conductor), Maria Callas (Elvira), Giuseppe Di Stefano (Arturo), Rolando Panerai (Riccardo), Nicola Rossi-Lemeni (Giorgio), Angelo Mercuriali (Bruno), Carlo Forti (Gualtiero Valton), Aurora Cattelani (Enrichetta), Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala, Milan Naxos 8.110259-60 or EMI 5856472 or EMI 5562752 (heavily cut version)
Riccardo Muti (conductor), Montserrat Caballé (Elvira), Alfredo Kraus (Arturo), Matteo Manuguerra (Riccardo), Agostino Ferrin (Giorgio) (EMI)