Gaetano Donizetti’s Anna Bolena (Anne Boleyn)
Composed: 1830
Anna Bolena's First Performance: December 26, 1830 Teatro Carcano, Milan (Italy)
Language: Italian
Libretto: Felice Romani (based on the plays Henri VIII by Marie-Joseph Chénier and Anna Bolena by Alessandro Pepoli)
Anna Bolena's Setting: Windsor and London, England (1536)
Tragedia lyrica, Lyric Tragedy in 2 acts
The Main Characters in Anna Bolena:
- Enrico VIII, King Henry the VIII (bass)
- Anna Bolena, the second wife of the King (soprano)
- Giovanna Seymour, Jane Seymour, the king's third wife(mezzo-soprano)
- Smeton, a court musician (mezzo soprano)
- Percy, Anna’s former lover (tenor)
Basic Plot Summary of Anna Bolena:
Act I
Giovanna (Jane) Seymour has been having an affair with Enrico VIII (King Henry the VIII), but is beginning to feel guilty about it. Anna Bolena, (Anne Boleyn) upon hearing a song from the court musician Smeton (who is in-love with Anna), is reminded of her former lover, Percy. Giovanna expresses her fears to the King, but he insists that the two will be married soon. Enrico has Percy recalled from exile, in an attempt to entrap Anna Bolena. Anna runs across Percy, and tries to tell him how much that Enrico hates her. Hearing this, Percy proclaims his love to Anna. Anna orders Percy to leave. When Percy draws his sword to kill himself, Smeton, who has overheard their entire conversation, steps in and stops him, fearing that Percy was trying to kill Anna Bolena. Anna faints. Enrico enters, and in seeing these three, assumes that he now has the proof that he was looking for about Anna and has her arrested.
Act II
Anna is imprisoned in the Tower of London. Giovanna comes to Anna, and tells her that her life will be spared if she confesses her guilt of having an affair. Giovanna then tells her that she will become the new Queen of England. Hearing this, Anna curses her and orders Giovanna to leave. Giovanna begs for forgiveness and Anna Bolena pardons her, and blames Enrico. Smeton, in an attempt to save Anna’s life, has “confessed” to having an affair with her. Enrico confronts Anna Bolena with this information. Giovanna pleads with the King for him to show mercy and restraint with Anna. Enrico refuses, and orders Anna Bolena’s death. She sings a prayer as she is led to the scaffold. A cannon is heard, announcing the marriage of Enrico and Giovanna.
Other Operas written by Gaetano Donizetti:
- L’elisir d’amore
- Lucia di Lammermoor
- Lucrezia Borgia
- Maria Stuarda
- La Fille du Régiment
- La Favorite
- Don Pasquale
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