“The Puritans” – The Met: Live in HD
Libretto: Carlo Pepoli
Creators:
- Marco Armiliato – conductor
- Charles Edwards – director
- Charles Edwards – scene design
- Gabrielle Dalton – costumes
- Tim Mitchell – lighting
- Tim Claydon – stage movement
Cast:
- Lisette Oropesa – Elvira Walton
- Lawrence Brownlee – Lord Arturo Talbot
- Artur Ruciński – Riccardo Forth
- Christian Van Horn – Giorgio Walton
Duration: 3 hours and 45 minutes (one break)
Puritani Metropolitan Opera
Top photo: Lisette Oropesa as Elvira, phot. Paola Kudacki / Met Opera
It is said that the ones chosen by the muses die young. This is confirmed by the fate of Vincenzo Bellini who died at just 35 years old. “The Puritans” was his last work – an opera which premiered just nine months before the death of the composer.
The action of the piece is set in the year 1649 in England during the civil war against the Stuarts. The puritans who fought them aimed to restrict the authority of the king and purify the religion from the remains of Catholicism. The events happen in a puritan fortress near Plymouth. The political threads intertwine with the romantic ones while the protagonists must choose between love, personal happiness and loyalty to the interest of the country.
The music is among the most beautiful examples of bel canta; not devoid of French influences, especially in the orchestral part. It is very melodic yet difficult, which was possible because Bellini wrote the most important parts for particular performers whose capabilities he knew well. He knew that Giovanni Rubini, the most acclaimed tenor of his time, is able to sing the high D5 or even F5. Because of this, the F5 was included in the part of Arturo Talbot in the final scene. The remaining three main roles at the Paris premiere were performed by: Giulia Grisi as Elwira, Antonio Tamburini as Riccardo Forth and Luigi Lablache as lord Walton. The artists received the nickname “The Puritans Quartet” and the selection of performers for the piece poses a great challenge for every next director of this opera until today.
The Metropolitan Opera has gathered a quartet of excellent solo performers of the world caliber: Elvira and Arturo will be played by the soprano Lisette Oropesa and the tenor Lawrence Brownlee. The uncle of the main heroine will be played by the bass-baritone Christian Van Horn, while the part of Riccardo, engaged to Elvira against her will, will be played by the Polish baritone Artur Ruciński. This is the first live performance of this piece in The Met in nearly 50 years.
The performance is a gift from The Sybil B. Harrington Endowment Fund.
