Françoise de Rimini


Françoise de Rimini is an opera in four acts with a prologue and an epilogue. The last opera composed by Ambroise Thomas, it sets a French libretto by Michel Carré and Jules Barbier which is based on an episode from Dante's Divine Comedy. The opera was first performed by the Paris Opera on 14 April 1882 but fell into relative obscurity until its revival in 2011.

Background and performance history

Françoise de Rimini was the last opera by Ambroise Thomas. Its French libretto was written by Michel Carré and Jules Barbier based on Dante's Divina commedia, where Francesca da Rimini is mentioned in the section Inferno.
The opera's world premiere at the Paris Opera was originally planned for 1880. It was to be a highlight of the first season of Auguste Vaucorbeil as director, who also planned to produce Gounod's Le tribut de Zamora. The first performance was finally staged by the Paris Opera on 14 April 1882 at the Palais Garnier. Some of the most notable singers of the time participated in a lavish stage setting by Jean-Baptiste Lavastre to honour the prestigious composer. It received a mixed reception, and despite the efforts of supporters it mostly disappeared from the repertory.
The opera was revived in Metz in 2011 at the Opéra-Théâtre de Metz Métropole to mark the bicentenary of the composer's birth. Catherine Hunold sang the title role and the was conducted by Jacques Mercier.

Roles

RoleVoice typePremiere Cast, 14 April 1882
Conductor: Ernest Eugène Altès
Paolo tenorHenri Sellier
Ascanio, his pagemezzo-sopranoRenée Richard
Malatesta, Paolo's brotherbaritoneJean-Louis Lassalle
FrancescasopranoCaroline Salla
Guido da Polenta, Francesca's fatherbassPierre Gailhard
Beatricesoprano
DantebassAlfred-Auguste Giraude
VirgilcontraltoMadeleine-Philippine Barbot
An officerbassLéon Melchissédec
Choir of angels

Synopsis

The action takes place in Hell and in Rimini at the end of the 13th century.
In the prologue, Dante and Virgil meet the lovers Paolo and Françoise in Hell, and Virgil suggest that Dante tell their story. During the four acts, their passionate love unfolds against the background of the battles between the Guelphs and Ghibellines. In the epilogue, the lovers still sing their passionate duet in the presence of the poets. Finally a heavenly choir pardons them.

Music

The work is partly still in the style French grand opera, namely the conclusions of the first and third act. The vocal writing shows influence from the Italian opera, while some audacious harmonies and dissonances are part of a more modern style. The duet of the lovers in the fourth act is similar to the duet in Wagner's Tristan und Isolde, in both structure and dramatic function.