Giovanna d'Arco

Giovanna d'Arco (Joan of Arc) is an operatic dramma lirico with a prologue and three acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Temistocle Solera. The opera partly reflects the story of Joan of Arc and appears to be loosely based on the play Die Jungfrau von Orleans by Friedrich von Schiller, Solera denied this assertion in letters to Verdi's publisher, and claimed that the work was "an entirely original Italian drama." The opera, Verdi's s... more

Giovanna d'Arco (Joan of Arc) is an operatic dramma lirico with a prologue and three acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Temistocle Solera. The opera partly reflects the story of Joan of Arc and appears to be loosely based on the play Die Jungfrau von Orleans by Friedrich von Schiller, Solera denied this assertion in letters to Verdi's publisher, and claimed that the work was "an entirely original Italian drama." The opera, Verdi's seventh, had its first performance at Teatro alla Scala, Milan, on February 15, 1845. The original Giovanna was Erminia Frezzolini, who had previously appeared in Verdi's (and Solera's) I Lombardi alla prima crociata two years earlier. She was paired with her husband, tenor Antonio Poggi, as Charles, King of France. Baritone Filippo Colini portrayed Giovanna's father Giacomo. The opera has been rarely staged, although a 2008 production was mounted in Rouen in France. A staged version of the opera was given at the Royal Opera, London in June... less