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Opera Music Plot Synopsis
Cilea: Gloria
Opera in three acts by Francesco Cilea
libretto by Arturo Colautti
Premiere 15 April 1907, Teatro alla Scala di Milano
I
The story takes place in 15th-century Siena. The first act
opens on the
inauguration of a monumental fountain in the main square of
the city. For the
occasion, party hatreds have been set aside and the exiles,
who have been
besieging the city, are allowed to enter--unarmed--until sunset.
Among these is
Lionetto De' Ricci, whose attention is captivated by Gloria,
the daughter of
Aquilante De' Bardi, one of the chief notables. She offers
him a drink, and her
brother Bardo, seeing her chatting with a stranger, steps
in and demands to know
who he is. Lionetto relates the sad story of his family, and
Aquilante
recognizes in him the son of the former leader who had surrendered
Montalcino.
The nobles insult him, but Lionetto swears that his father
was merely a victim
of hatred between factions. Aquilante restores order, but
when it comes time for
the exiles to depart again, Lionetto refuses to leave unless
he can have Gloria
in marriage, as a token of peace. Aquilante, Bardo, and the
noblemen protest
indignantly, while the commoners support Lionetto. At the
height of the tension,
Lionetto drops his cloak, revealing that he is armed and bearing
the imperial
insignia: he is the famous Ghibelline captain Fortebrando.
With the help of his
companions, who draw their concealed swords, he succeeds in
abducting Gloria and
escaping. Bardo is wounded in the skirmish.
II
Act II takes place in the chambers where Gloria is being held
hostage while
Lionetto lays siege to Siena. Gloria is awakened by the din
of battle and fears
for her family and her city. The woman charged with keeping
watch over her (``la
Senese'') reminds Gloria that it lies within her power to
put an end to the
conflict by accepting the love of Lionetto. Gloria is attracted
to Lionetto, but
her feelings are restrained by loyalty to her people.
Gloria's brother Bardo, disguised as a merchant, manages to
infiltrate her
chambers in the enemy abode and accuses her of betrayal and
of being responsible
for the death of their father, who has fallen in battle. Gloria
proclaims her
innocence and her intention of sacrificing herself to save
Siena. Bardo offers
her a dagger and urges her to avenge their father by killing
Fortebrando. Gloria
refuses because she is horrified at the idea of blood, but
she agrees to make
Lionetto drink poison that she pours into a cup of wine.
Bardo exits and Lionetto arrives respectfully on the scene,
kneeling before
Gloria and breaking his sword: out of love for her, he has
ordered that the
siege be lifted. Gloria responds to the love expressed by
Lionetto, but mindful
of the promise to her brother, moves to drink herself of the
poisoned cup.
Lionetto forestalls her, throws away the cup, and gets her
to admit that she
loves him.
III
Act III begins with the wedding of Gloria and Lionetto in
the Bardi family
chapel. Bardo lingers in the background near his father's
tomb, where he is
joined by other nobles during the Magnificat. After the ceremony,
Lionetto
approaches to embrace his brother-in-law. The latter suddenly
draws a dagger
from under his cloak and fatally stabs Lionetto, then tries
to drag Gloria away
with him. Gloria is beside herself, desperate to remain near
her dying husband.
Only the sound of rekindled battle from outside tears Bardo
away, leaving Gloria
alone with Lionetto, who, after a prolonged farewell to his
bride, expires.
Gloria picks up the dagger and stabs herself, falling lifeless
over the body of
her husband.
synopsis © Bonnie Bonis, 1998
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