Donizetti: Pia De' Tolomei / Arrivabeni, Ciofi, Et Al

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Release Date
January 1, 2005
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      DONIZETTI, GAETANO
    • PERFORMER
      Ciofi, Schmunck, Schroeder, Polverelli, Arrivabeni, Teatro La Fenice Di Venezia
    Product Details ⌄
    Works ⌄

    1. Prelude

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    2. Part I: Tableau 1: Scene 1: Ancor del frosco (Chorus 1, Chorus 2) - Scene 2: Di', quel (Chorus 1, Chorus 2) - Scene 3: Signor (Ubaldo, Ghino)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Chorus, Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Francesco Meli, Dario Schmunck

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    3. Part I: Tableau 1: Scene 3: Non puo dirti la parola (Ghino) - Scene 4: Ebben? (Ghino, Bice, Ubaldo)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Clara Polito, Dario Schmunck, Francesco Meli

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    4. Part I: Tableau 1: Scene 4: Mi volesti sventurato? (Ghino, Ubaldo)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Dario Schmunck, Francesco Meli

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    5. Part I: Tableau 1: Scene 5: Qui posta il fianco (Ladies-in-Waiting)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Chorus, Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    6. Part I: Tableau 1: Scene 5: A voi son grata … (Pia, Bice)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Patrizia Ciofi, Clara Polito

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    7. Part I: Tableua 1: Scene 5: O tu, che desti il fulmine (Pia, Bice, Ladies-in-Waiting)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Chorus, Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Patrizia Ciofi, Clara Polito

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    8. Part I: Tableau 1: Scene 6: Pia … (Lamberto, Pia, Ladies-in-Waiting)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Chorus, Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Patrizia Ciofi, Carlo Cigni

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    9. Part I: Tableau 1: Scene 6: Di pura gioia in estasi (Pia, Bice, Lamberto, Ladies-in-Waiting)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Chorus, Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Patrizia Ciofi, Clara Polito, Carlo Cigni

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    10. Part I: Tableau 2: Scene 7: Giurai svenarlo (Nello) - Scene 8: Nello? (Ghino, Nello)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Dario Schmunck, Andrew Schroeder

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    11. Part I: Tableau 2: Scene 8: Parea celeste spirito (Nello, Ghino)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Dario Schmunck, Andrew Schroeder

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    12. Part I: Tableau 2: Scene 8: Del ciel che non punisce (Nello, Ghino)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Dario Schmunck, Andrew Schroeder

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    13. Part I: Tableau 2: Scene 9: In questa de' viventi orrida tomba (Rodrigo)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Laura Polverelli

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    14. Part I: Tableau 2: Scene 9: Mille volte sul campo d'onore (Rodrigo) - Scene 10: Omai l'istante e presso (Warder, Rodrigo)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Chorus, Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Laura Polverelli

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    15. Part I: Tableau 2: Scene 10: L'astro che regge i miei destini (Rodrigo)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Laura Polverelli

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    16. Part I: Tableau 3: Scene 11: Di Ghino il cenno (Ubaldo, Armigeri) - Scene 12: Tuttu e silenzio! (Pia) - Scene 13: Ah, signora … (Lamberto, Pia) - Scene 14: Pia … (Rodrigo, Pia, Lamberto)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Chorus, Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Patrizia Ciofi, Francesco Meli, Carlo Cigni

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    17. Part I: Tableau 3: Scene 14: Fra queste braccia (Pia, Rodrigo)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Patrizia Ciofi, Laura Polverelli

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    18. Part I: Tableau 3: Scene 15: L'uscio dischiudi (Nello, Lamberto, Rodrigo, Pia) - Scene 16: Ch'io sveni entrambi … (Nello, Pia, Ghino, Lamberto) - Scene 17: Fuggito egli e! (Nello, Ubaldo, Ghino, Bice … )

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Chorus, Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Laura Polverelli, Andrew Schroeder, Carlo Cigni

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    19. Part I: Tableau 3: Scene 17: Ahime, quell'anelito il core mi gela (Ghino, Nello, Pia, Bice, Ladies-in-Waiting)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Chorus, Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Patrizia Ciofi, Dario Schmunck, Andrew Schroeder

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    20. Part I: Tableau 3: Scene 18: Quel codardo ne deluse! (Ubaldo, Nello, Ghino, Pia, Soldiers, Bice, Ladies-in-Waiting)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Chorus, Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Francesco Meli, Dario Schmunck, Andrew Schroeder

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    21. Part II: Tableau 1: Scene 1: Cinto di rosse nubi (Chorus, Lamberto, Rodrigo)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Chorus, Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Laura Polverelli, Carlo Cigni

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    22. Part II: Tableau 1: Scene 1: Ah, si barbara minaccia (Rogdrigo, Lamberto) - Scene 2: Signor … (Rodrigo's Men, Rodrigo, Lamberto)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Chorus, Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Laura Polverelli, Carlo Cigni

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    23. Part II: Tableau 1: Scene 2: A me stesso un Dio mi rende … (Rodrigo, Rodrigo's Men)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Chorus, Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Laura Polverelli

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    24. Part II: Tableau 2: Scene 3: Tu, Ghino, all Maremme? (Ubaldo, Ghino) - Scene 4: Chi veggio! (Pia, Ghino)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Patrizia Ciofi, Francesco Meli, Dario Schmunck

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    25. Part II: Tableau 2: Scene 4: Si! Tu morrai (Ghino, Pia)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Patrizia Ciofi, Dario Schmunck

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    26. Part II: Tableau 2: Scene 4: Ti muova il gemito dell'innocente … (Pia, Ghino)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Patrizia Ciofi, Dario Schmunck

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    27. Part II: Tableau 2: Scene 4: Ah, nei tuo seno atroce (Pia, Ghino)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Patrizia Ciofi, Dario Schmunck

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    28. Part II: Tableau 2: Scene 4: Puo la mia fiamma spegnersi (Ghino, Pia)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Patrizia Ciofi, Dario Schmunck

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    29. Part II: Tableau 2: Scene 5: Divampera tremenda oggi la guerra (Ubaldo)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Francesco Meli

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    30. Part II: Tableau 3: Scene 6: Il mugghiar di si fera procella (All)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Chorus, Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Daniel Borowski

    31. Part II: Tableau 3: Scene 6: Un calpesito di rapidi (Piero) - Scene 7: Piero … (Nello, Piero)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Andrew Schroeder, Daniel Borowski

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    32. Part II: Tableau 3: Scene 7: Lei perduta, in core ascondo (Nello)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Andrew Schroeder

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    33. Part II: Tableau 3: Scene 7: Fragor di spade! (Piero, Nello) - Scene 8: Oh, ciel! (Nello, Piero, Chorus, Ghino)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Chorus, Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Daniel Borowski, Dario Schmunck, Andrew Schroeder

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    34. Part II: Tableau 3: Scene 8: Ciel pietoso, un cor ti parla (Nello, Piero, Chorus)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Chorus, Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Andrew Schroeder, Daniel Borowski

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    35. Part II: Tableau 4: Scene 9: A questo nappo bevera tra poco (Ubaldo, Pia)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Patrizia Ciofi, Francesco Meli

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    36. Part II: Tableau 4: Scene 9: Sposo, ah! Tronca ogni dimora … (Pia)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Patrizia Ciofi

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    37. Part II: Tableau 4: Scene 10: Pia? (Nello, Pia, Ubaldo, Chorus, Rodrigo)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Chorus, Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Patrizia Ciofi, Francesco Meli, Andrew Schroeder

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni

    38. Part II: Tableau 4: Ah! Di Pia … (Chorus, Rodrigo, Pia, Nello)

      Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

      Ensemble: Teatro La Fenice Chorus, Teatro La Fenice Orchestra

      Performer: Patrizia Ciofi, Laura Polverelli, Andrew Schroeder

      Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni


Composed for Venice in 1837, just a year-and-a-half after the fantastic success of Lucia di Lammermoor, Pia de' Tolomei "pleased altogether", in the composer's words. He revised it a couple of times thereafter and it was shown at various theaters as distant as Malta until 1855, after which it disappeared. It takes place in 13th-century Siena: Pia is married to Nello; his cousin Ghino loves her but she refuses his advances. Ghino angrily accuses Pia of adultery with an unknown man, who turns out to be Pia's brother, Rodrigo, and Nello imprisons her. Ghino eventually feels remorse and confesses his deception, but not soon enough to save Pia from being poisoned by Nello.

One of the formal weaknesses of the opera is that Rodrigo is a mezzo-soprano role, and that type of travesty never quite works; but even elsewhere, the fact that Pia is so passive, added to generally formulaic writing, keeps the opera from being a winner. Still, there are some fine Donizettian tunes and scenes, and it's worth hearing.

This live performance finds a remarkably committed cast struggling uphill against Donizetti's lack of true inspiration, but the singers turn out a satisfying experience in the end. The star is Patrizia Ciofi as Pia. She delivers a specific, focused reading, beautifully sung and filled with as much textual and tonal nuance as the score allows. Her voice has gained body in the middle and the top still gleams. Ghino is sung by tenor Dario Schmunck, and he exhibits a fine, ringing tenor and good Donizettian style; his opening aria and cabaletta and the second half of his duet with Nello are exciting, vigorous parts of the score, and he tears into them well. Baritone Andrew Schroeder has a nice snarl as Nello, but aside from the cabaletta to his duet with Ghino he has pretty ordinary music. Rodrigo is given similarly uninteresting music, and Laura Polverelli sings it well enough. The chorus sings with as much involvement as the cast, which is saying a great deal, and the orchestra plays with verve under Paolo Arrivabeni. Recommended for Donizetti completists.

--Robert Levine, ClassicsToday.com

Italian/English libretto included.