Sunday Classics snapshots: In D.C., still no Lincoln -- or even a Boccanegra

Leonard Warren as Simon Boccanegra

I weep for you, for the peaceful
sun on your hillsides,
where the olive branches
bloom in vain.
I weep for the deceptive
gaiety of your flowers,
and I cry to you "Peace!"
I cry to you "Love!"

Leonard Warren (b), Simon Boccanegra; Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Fritz Stiedry, cond. Live performance, Jan. 28, 1950

Lawrence Tibbett (b), Simon Boccanegra; Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Ettore Panizza, cond. Live performance, Jan. 21, 1939

by Ken

The great political chronicler Richard Reeves titled his book about the start of the post-Nixon (i.e., post-Watergate) presidency of Jerry Ford: A Ford, not a Lincoln. I think of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt. And while other American presidents have certainly risen to moments of great challenge, it's not something our political system can be counted on to make happen, and if anything even less so with the rabble that makes up our Congresses.

So perhaps it's not surprising that under the combined influence of the fratricidal follies rending the House of Representatives and a not-all-that-attentive watching of the whole of the upgraded-for-HD Ken Burns Lincoln film, and in addition with the notable contrast of the summonses to a very different sort of action delivered by Pope Francis on his American visit, my mind wandered to the rising-to-the-moment of Verdi's Simon Boccanegra, the plebeian Doge of Genoa faced with the riot that breaks out in his own Council Chamber between the blood-rival factions of Plebeians and Patricians, following the attempted abduction of the patrician daughter Amelia (in reality Boccanegra's long-lost daughter Maria, as he himself has only recently discovered, in the Recognition Scene of Act I, Scene 1, which we spent a fair amount of time on here once upon a time) on behalf of the Doge's henchman Paolo, which was foiled by Amelia's patrician fiancé, Gabriele Adorno, who killed the would-be abductor.


ABOVE WE'VE HEARD THE DOGE'S GREAT PLEA --

for peace and love. Here's the slightly larger context from which I've ripped it.

VERDI: Simon Boccanegra (1881 version), Act I, Scene 2: The Doge, "Fratricidi! Plebe! Patrizi! Popolo dalla feroce storia!"

THE DOGE [forcefully]: Fratricides!
Plebeians! Patricians! People
with a ferocious history!
Heirs only of the hatred
of the Spinola and Doria families.
While the broad kingdom of the seas
invites you to glory,
here brother turns against brother
and you tear at each other's heart.
I weep for you, for the peaceful
sun on your hillsides,
where the olive branches
bloom in vain.
I weep for the deceptive
gaiety of your flowers,
and I cry to you "Peace!"
I cry to you "Love!"
CHORUS [looking at the DOGE]: His heartfelt words have the power to calm our anger,
like the breath of a soft wind
which stills the troubled sea.
AMELIA [over the crowd]: Peace! I beg you
to restrain your terrible wrath!
Peace! Let a feeling of love
for your country inspire you.
[Plus various other solo expostulations.]

-- English translation mostly by Lionel Salter

Leonard Warren (b), Simon Boccanegra; Astrid Varnay (s), Amelia; et al.; Metropolitan Opera Chorus and Orchestra, Fritz Stiedry, cond. Live performance, Jan. 28, 1950

Lawrence Tibbett (b), Simon Boccanegra; Elisabeth Rethberg (s), Amelia; et al.; Metropolitan Opera Chorus and Orchestra, Ettore Panizza, cond. Live performance, Jan. 21, 1939


HERE'S THE COMPLETE COUNCIL CHAMBER SCENE

Here's the still larger context.

If there has been a really satisfactory recording of Simon Boccanegra, I've missed it. (If I had to pick one, I'm afraid it would still be the old Cetra one conducted by Francesco Molinari-Pradelli.) Even recourse to noncommercial live performances only takes us so far. That said, each of these performances has some good things going on.

VERDI: Simon Boccanegra (1881 version):
Act I, Scene 2, Council Chamber Scene
[Wikipedia note: 1881 revision: This entire scene was added by Verdi and Boito in place of the 1857 scene, which took place in a large square in Genoa.]

Council Chamber of the Doge's Palace. The DOGE is seated on the throne; on one side are 12 Councillors of the People and on the other 12 Noble Councillors. Seated apart are 4 Maritime Consuls and the Constables. PIETRO and PAOLO are in the back seats of the Commissioners.

Wikipedia synopsis: The Doge encourages his councillors to make peace with Venice. He is interrupted by the sounds of a mob calling for blood. Paolo suspects that his kidnapping plot has failed. The Doge prevents anyone leaving the council chamber and orders the doors to be thrown open. A crowd bursts in, chasing Adorno. Adorno confesses to killing Lorenzino, a plebeian, who had kidnapped Amelia, claiming to have done so at the order of a high-ranking official. Adorno incorrectly guesses the official was Boccanegra and is about to attack him when Amelia rushes in and stops him (solo: "Nell'ora soave" -- "At that sweet hour which invites ecstasy / I was walking alone by the sea"). She describes her abduction and escape. Before she is able to identify her kidnapper, fighting breaks out once more. Boccanegra establishes order and has Adorno arrested for the night (solo, "Plebe! Patrizi! Popolo dalla feroce storia" -- "Plebeians! Patricians! Inheritors of a fierce history"). He orders the crowd to make peace and they praise his mercy. Realizing that Paolo is responsible for the kidnapping, Boccanegra places him in charge of finding the culprit. He then makes everyone, including Paolo, utter a curse on the kidnapper.

Tito Gobbi (b), Simon Boccanegra; Rolando Panerai (b), Paolo Albiani; Vittorio Susca (bs), Pietro; Giuseppe Zampieri (t), Gabriele Adorno; Leyla Gencer (s), Amelia; Vienna State Opera Chorus, Vienna Philharmonic, Gianandrea Gavazzeni, cond. Live performance from the Salzburg Festival, Aug. 9, 1961

Cornell MacNeil (b), Simon Boccanegra; Sherrill Milnes (b), Paolo Albiani; Louis Sgarro (b), Pietro; George Shirley (t), Gabriele Adorno; Gabriella Tucci (s), Amelia; Metropolitan Opera Chorus and Orchestra, Francesco Molinari-Pradelli, cond. Live performance, Dec. 14, 1968

José van Dam (bs-b), Simon Boccanegra; Ned Barth (b), Paolo Albiani; Dino Musio (bs), Pietro; Alberto Cupido (t), Gabriele Adorno; Daniela Longhi (s), Amelia; Chorus and Orchestra of the Opéra de Marseille, Michelangelo Veltri, cond. Lyrinx, from live performances, Jan. 16-24, 1993

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