Giuseppe Verdi’s Italian Opera Simon Boccanegra
Composed:1857 (major revision 1880-81)
First Performance:March 24, 1881, La Scala, Milan (Italy)
Libretto:Francesco Maria Piave and Arrigo Boito, based on Gutiérrez’s play Simón Bocanegra
Setting:Genoa, Italy; mid-18th century
Melodrama, prologue and 3 acts
The Main Characters in Verdi’s opera Simon Boccanegra
- Simon Boccanegra, A corsair and later Doge (baritone)
- Amelia Boccanegra (Grimaldi), Boccanegra’s “long lost” daughter (soprano)
- Gabriele Adorno, Amelia’s lover (tenor)
- Jacopo Fiesco, A former Doge (bass)
- Paolo Albiani, a plebeian (bass)
- Pietro, a plebeian (baritone)
Basic Plot Summary of Verdi’s opera Simon Boccanegra
Prologue:
Simon Boccanegra has been nominated to succeed Fiesco as Doge. Boccanegra hopes that he will be reunited with Fiesco’ daughter, Maria. Fiesco (who knows that his daughter, Maria, is dead) says he will forgive Simon for the past if he were to give up his beloved Amelia. Amelia is Maria’s missing daughter that she had with Boccanegra. Simon discovers Maria’s body. Cheers are heard, as Simon is elected as Doge.
Act I:
A quarter-century later, Gabriele (Amelia’s lover) and Andrea, (Fiesco) Amelia’s guardian, are conspiring against Simon Boccanegra. Paolo, a courtier, is in love with Amelia and plans on abducting her. Amelia reveals to Simon that she is an orphan. Boccanegra recognizes her as his lost daughter. Amelia suspects that Simon wants her to marry Paolo. Simon tells Paolo to abandon hope of being with Amelia. Gabriele attempts to murder Simon. Amelia stops him. Simon restores order.
Act II:
Paolo has put poison in Simon’s water. He has also convinced Gabriele that Amelia is Boccanegra’s mistress and enlists his help in killing Boccanegra. Amelia denies to Gabriele that she is having an affair with Simon. Boccanegra drinks the poisoned drink and falls asleep. Gabriele is about to kill Simon. Gabriele learns that Boccanegra is actually Amelia’s father and begs for forgiveness. Gabriele pledges loyalty to Simon. Simon blesses his wedding to Amelia.
Act III:
Paolo has joined the rebel army. They are defeated and he is led to his execution. He makes the confession that he abducted Amelia and that he had tried to kill Boccanegra. Amelia and Gabriele are wed. Simon recognizes Andrea as Fiesco. Boccanegra reconciles with his enemy. He dies in the arms of Fiesco from the poison that Paulo had given him. Simon proclaims that Gabriele will be his successor.
If you like Simon Boccanegra, here are some other operas written by Verdi:
- Nabucco
- I Lombardi alla prima crociata
- Ernani
- Attila
- Macbeth
- Luisa Miller
- Rigoletto
- Il Trovatore
- La Traviata
- Simon Boccanegra
- Un ballo in maschera
- La forza del destino
- Don Carlos
- Aida
- Otello
- Falstaff
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