Opera Scotland

Edgar

Tours by decade

Tours by location

Music

Giacomo Puccini (born Lucca, 22 December 1858; died Brussels, 29 November 1924)

Librettist

Ferdinando Fontana

Source

Play La coupe et les lèvres (1832) by Alfred de Musset (1810-1857)

 

Premieres

First Performance: Milan (Teatro alla Scala), 21 April 1889.

First Performance (Revision): Ferrara (Teatro Comunale), 28 February 1892.

First Performance (Final Revision): Buenos Aires (Teatro de la Opera), 8 July 1905.

First Performance in UK: London (Fulham Town Hall), 6 April 1967.

First Performance in Scotland: Glasgow (Theatre Royal), 28 October 2018 (concert)

Scottish Opera premiere: as above.

 

Background

Edgar was Puccini's second opera, and his first attempt at a full-length music drama. The highly overheated, and somewhat creaky, plot in three acts owes something to German romantic operas of an earlier generation - Weber's Euryanthe, Schumann's Genoveva and even Wagner's Lohengrin - but by comparison with those it lacks subtlety. Fontana was also the librettist for Puccini's first opera, Le villi, which shows similar gothic influences. Despite many obvious weaknesses, Edgar already contains plenty of enjoyable music.

Following the success of Scottish Opera's unearthing in 2018, the work was given three similar 'semi-staged concert' performances in London at Opera Holland Park (2, 4 and 6 July 2024).

 

Main Characters

Edgar, a wealthy knight (tenor)

Fidelia, a young village woman (soprano)

Frank, Fidelia's brother, in love with Tigrana (baritone)

Tigrana, a gypsy, still in love with Edgar (mezzo-soprano)

Gualtiero, a priest (bass)

 

Synopsis

Edgar is expected to marry Fidelia, a chaste and beautiful village maiden.  However he is attracted to Tigrana, to the concern of the local community.  Frank is also attracted to Tigrana, but she seduces Edgar and they burn down the village church, from which she has been barred.  As the villagers curse them, Edgar and Tigrana make their escape, though not before Frank is wounded in the melée.

Edgar regrets his involvement with Tigrana as he has continued to be an outcast from the community. He and Tigrana now argue.  Frank receives an apology from Edgar for having wounded him, and Edgar is forgiven.  Tigrana is abandoned by both men, and is left heart-broken.

Edgar is believed to have died and the villagers mourn him.  A curate condemns him for his sins, but his reputation is defended by Fidelia. The villagers condemn him.  Eventually the curate reveals himself to be Edgar, not dead, and actually in love with Fidelia. Tigrana feels betrayed and kills Fidelia.