Synopsis Rodelinda (opera)

1 synopsis

1.1 prologue
1.2 act 1
1.3 act 2
1.4 act 3

synopsis

most scenes take place in palace, 2 scenes set in cemetery, final scene taking place outdoors. action extends on 1 day, final scene taking place shortly after sunrise. in original source, perctarit (bertarido in opera) flees, , wife, rodelinde (rodelinda), along son cunincpert (flavio), sent exile; in opera, rodelinda remains in milan (along flavio) , becomes central figure. actions around must therefore regarded fictitious.

prologue

grimoaldo has defeated bertarido in battle , usurped throne. bertarido has fled, , believed has died in exile, sends word friend unulfo alive , in hiding near palace. grimoaldo betrothed bertarido s sister eduige, , though loves him , returns affection, @ least @ first, keeps putting off wedding. rodelinda , son, flavio, being kept in palace grimoaldo, has fallen in love her.

act 1

senesino, created role of bertarido

alone, rodelinda mourns loss of husband. grimoaldo enters , proposes marriage her; offers throne back, , confesses love her. angrily rejects him.(aria: l empio rigor del fato .) eduige tells grimoaldo has become treacherous king; answers treacherous sake of justice, referring fact refused marry him , he, @ garibaldo s instigation, rejecting her. grimoaldo gone, scheming garibaldo, has professed love eduige, offers bring grimoaldo s head. declines, swears revenged eventually.(aria: lo farò, diro: spietato ). alone, garibaldo details plan use eduige him take throne himself.(aria: di cupido impiego vanni. )

meanwhile, bertarido reads inscription on own memorial.(aria: dove sei, amato bene? ) along unulfo, watches hiding rodelinda , flavio lay flowers @ memorial. garibaldo enters , offers rodelinda ultimatum; either agrees marry grimoaldo or flavio killed. rodelinda agrees, warns garibaldo use head step throne. bertarido, still watching, takes rodelinda s decision act of infidelity. grimoaldo tells garibaldo not worry rodelinda s threat; under king s protection, have fear? unulfo, meanwhile, tries comfort bertarido, bertarido unconvinced.

act 2

garibaldo, part of plan take throne, tells eduige appears has lost chance become queen, , encourages take revenge on grimoaldo. eduige turns bitterness on rodelinda, pointing out rodelinda s sudden decision betray husband s memory , marry usurper. rodelinda reminds eduige of queen. eduige again vows vengeance on grimoaldo, though clear still loves him. eduige departs , grimoaldo enters, asking rodelinda if true s agreed marry him. assures him true, has 1 condition: grimoaldo must first kill flavio in front of her. grimoaldo, horrified, refuses. once rodelinda departs, garibaldo encourages grimoaldo carry out murder , take rodelinda wife, grimoaldo again refuses. says rodelinda s act of courage , determination has made him love more, though has lost hope of ever winning over. unulfo asks garibaldo how give king such appalling advice, , garibaldo expounds macchiavellian perspective on use of power. bertarido, meanwhile, has approached palace grounds in disguise, eduige recognizes him. agrees tell rodelinda husband still alive. rodelinda , bertarido meet in secret, discovered outraged grimoaldo. doesn t recognize bertarido, vows kill him anyway, whether rodelinda s real husband or lover. spouses, before being separated again, bid each other last farewell. (duet: io t abbraccio .)

act 3

caricature of francesco borosini, created role of grimoaldo

unulfo , eduige make plan release bertarido prison; ll smuggle him weapon , key secret passage runs under palace. grimoaldo, meanwhile, having crisis of conscience on impending execution. bertarido, in cell, receives package. unulfo, allowed access prison in official capacity, comes release bertarido. bertarido, however, can t recognize unulfo in darkness, , mistakenly wounds him sword. unulfo shrugs injury off, , 2 leave. eduige , rodelinda, meanwhile, have come visit bertarido. finding cell empty , blood on floor, despair of life. grimoaldo still struggling conscience , flees palace garden, hoping find peaceful spot can fall asleep; shepherds, laments, can find rest under trees , bushes, he, king, can find no rest anywhere.(aria: pastorello d un povero armento .) falls asleep, garibaldo finds him , decides take advantage of situation. kill grimoaldo own sword when bertarido enters , kills garibaldo. grimoaldo, however, spares.(aria: vivi, tiranno! ) grimoaldo gladly gives claim throne , turns eduige, telling shall wed , rule in own duchy. reunited @ last, family rejoices.