Strauss often played in the glittering Imperial balls, conducting the orchestra and playing the first violin at the same time. The majestic launch of this fascinating waltz presents the backdrop of the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the hegemony of the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph in 1888. Johann Strauss II was Music Director of the Dance Hesperides of the Imperial Court from 1863 to 1872 and composed on occasion for the celebration of an imperial anniversary. The ingenuity of the melody of the Emperor Waltz, which was originally orchestrated for a full orchestra, is such that it was easily adapted for the four or five instruments of a chamber ensemble by the Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg in 1925. This waltz is a tender and somewhat melancholic work, which at times turns its gaze nostalgically to the old Vienna. The waltz praises the majesty and dignity of the old monarch, who was fully devoted to his people. It begins with a majestic, magnificent march, which soon re
Verdi - Rigoletto
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Verdi composed this opera for Venice's La Fenice Theatre, but the authorities forced him to make changes because they were disturbed by "the provocative immorality and obscene banality" of the subject. Verdi, among other corrections, made the chosen king of the original libretto a simple duke so as not to offend the institution of the kingdom. Although it excited the public, the authorities maintained their reservations about the subject of the opera, even until our own century.
In this opera, a story of intrigue, corruption and debauchery, the only noble character is Gilda. She is the daughter or Rigoletto, the cynical, hunchbacked jester in the court of the Duke of Mantua, whom the pure Gilda falls in love with and for his sake loses her life.
- Questa o quella
The Duke's character is formed directly at the beginning of the opera, in the cute, light dance song Questa o quella (This woman or the other), in wich he rejects love for the sake of courtship.
- Giovanna, ho dei rimorsi
In Giovanna, ho dei rimorsi (Giovanna, I was possessed by remorse), Gilda confesses to her governess the guilt she feels for concealing from Rigoletto her secret love for the Duke. It is worth paying attention immediately after the beginning, the phrase "che tropo è bello e spira amore" ("he is handsome and I love him"), which Verdi reuses as one of the most memorable themes in "La Traviata", although it does not reappear in this opera. But while Gilda daydreams with her love, the Duke's voice joins hers as she says "ti amo" ("I love you").
- E il sol dell' anima
Gilda resists for a while, but soom she is seduced by the elusive aria E il sol dell' anima (Love is the sun of the soul). In this phrase she joins her voice before they are interrupted and greeted briefly and passionately with the duet Addio.
- Caro nome che il mio cor
Gilda sings alone, ecstatic about the romantic name given to her by the Duke in Caro nome che il mio cor (Favorite name that first awakened my heart), an exquisite aria full of courtesy and dreamy innocence.
- La donna è mobile
In the tavern scene (Act III, Scene I), the aria for tenor La Donna è Mobile (The woman is unstable) is the most famous of all operatic arias. It is an honest, attractive melody and the most memorable. Verdi wrote it believing that the it would be the opera's success, although, like everything he wrote, it is perfectly placed in the harmony of stage and character. Knowing for sure that it would be a success, he hid it from rehearsals until the last minute, so as not to leak before the premier and begin to be sung in the streets by the itinerant musicians. His precautions proved correct after the aria became famous overnight.
- Bella figlia dell' amore
The final act includes Bella figlia dell 'amore (Beautiful Daughter of Love), the famous quarter of the Duke and Maddalena (the gypsy with whom the Duke flirts) and Rigoletto with Gilda, who watch this erotic play out side the tavern. It is a wonderful vocal quarter, in which the four heroes simultaneously sing different melodies, expressing their different feelings.
- Lassu in cielo
The opera ends as Gilda dies at the hands of her father after their exquisite, shocking duet, Lassu in cielo (Up there in heavens)...
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