The author of the libretto is the poet and playwright Felice Romani. The premiere took place on December 26, 1833 at La Scala in Milan. The plot of the opera is based on the play of the same name by Victor Hugo.
Summary
The action takes place on the terrace of a Venetian palace. The night masquerade ball is in full swing. Joyful young people run out onto the terrace. Tonight is their last night in Venice, and tomorrow they will go to Duke Alfonso in Ferrara. Orsini tells his companions about the brutal murders and other sins that the duke and his wife, Lucrezia Borgia, are suspected of. Friends conclude that she must die for the crimes committed. The company does not even suspect that Gubetto, Lucrezia's servant, is watching them. The fun gradually fades away, Gennaro falls asleep right on the bench, the other young people disperse.
Soon a masked lady arrives on a gondola. This is Lucrezia Borgia. She is looking for Gennaro. With tender love, she looks at the sleeping young man. This is her son. He never video his mother and was brought up secretly under her control. Her husband Alfonso is watching her from afar, along with Rustigello, his faithful servant. The duke suspects his wife of treason, thinking that Gennaro is another lover of Lucrezia, and therefore orders the servant to keep an eye on the young man. Gennaro wakes up. He is very surprised by the close attention of a stranger. Lucrezia reveals a secret to him: she is his mother. Gennaro is happy, he has dreamed of meeting her for so long!
The young man's friends return to the terrace. Joyful, Gennaro introduces his mother's friends. Suddenly Orsini rips off the mask from the duchess: he recognized her as Lucrezia! Everyone present is angry: they blame the woman for the death of people. Lucretia does not find a place for herself from despair. The youth leads away the weeping Gennaro.
City of Ferrara. The crowd welcomes Duke Alfonso. He is sullen, all his thoughts are occupied by Gennaro. Meanwhile, the son of Lucretia, passing by the palace of the duchess, in anger knocks down the first letter of the surname, leaving only the word "orgia" (debauchery). Rustigello witnessed the incident. He hurried to call the chief of security, reporting to him that the good name of the duchess had been damaged and that the death penalty was due. They rush to arrest the criminal. Lucrezia pleads for mercy. The duke agrees, inviting the young man to drink wine from the family's golden cups as a sign of reconciliation. The duchess knows that they contain poison and manages to give her son an antidote, begging him to leave the city. Gennaro confides in his mother and leaves through a secret door. Rustigello continues to follow him.
Disobeying his mother, Gennaro decides to take part in the last masquerade ball before Lent in Ferrara tonight. Rustigello relays the news to the Duke. The masquerade is in full swing. Gubetto brought in a magnificent Syracusan wine on behalf of a Greek merchant. Young people are delighted: everyone is happy to drain the cups and continue the fun. The singing of the monks is heard from the street - it begins great post. Suddenly Orsini becomes ill. After him, everyone else also feels unwell. A triumphant Lucretia enters the hall. This is her revenge on Gennaro's friends for insulting her and trying to separate her from her son. In less than a minute, they will all be dead!
To her horror, Lucretia notices her son among the participants in the masquerade. She begs him to take the antidote. But the son is in despair: his mother is killing his friends. Gennaro refuses to take the antidote and dies. Duke Alfonso appears. He came to see Gennaro's death at the hands of the duchess. After all, he knew that the young man would be here, and that Lucrezia would send poisoned wine, but he did not warn ... Lucrezia finally reveals the secret - Gennaro is her son. Heaven punished her. She falls unconscious on the dead body of her son.
History of creation
In mid-October 1833, Gaetano Donizetti signed a contract for the opera Lucrezia Borgia. Work on the piece went very quickly. Poems and music were born almost simultaneously. Felice Romani and Gaetano Donizetti were inspired by their joint creation. Already in early December, the first rehearsals began. At first, the orchestra had difficulty coping with the score. However, by the opening of the winter season, the opera was ready to be shown.
The premiere of the opera caused bewilderment among the public and led to another wave of criticism. The fate of the opera was very difficult. This is mainly due to the plot, in which the name of Lucrezia Borgia, the daughter of Pope Alexander VI and a Spanish courtesan, appears. The opera was nearly banned by the censors. And, nevertheless, it was Lucrezia Borgia that brought the composer real fame. Almost two centuries later, the opera is once again becoming popular.
Interesting facts:
- Initially, Felice Romani wrote the libretto based on Victor Hugo's story for another composer, Saverio Mercadante, but he gave it to Donizetti.
- Gaetano Donizetti wrote a total of six operas on Romani's libretto, among them L'elisir d'amore and Anna Boleyn.
- The plot of Victor Hugo's story is based on true facts. However, Romani still decided to tone down the more macabre details of the drama. But even a softer libretto caused bewilderment of the censors. Victor Hugo was outraged by the distortion of his creation. He went to court to protect copyright and won the case. For some time the opera went under the name "Renegade", but soon it again became known as "Lucrezia Borgia". In addition, the opera withstood a lawsuit from the Borgia family. Subsequently, some changes were made to the opera, and in addition, the composer wrote several more numbers especially for famous singers, however, they are not performed in our time.
- Nikolai Alekseevich Nekrasov's poem "Reflections at the front entrance" was set to the music of Orsini's final aria.
History of creation and premiere
After the play "The King Amuses" was removed from the repertoire after the first performance and banned, Hugo wrote a new drama - "Lucrezia Borgia". The drama, which became for Hugo the first experience of creating a play in prose, was originally titled by the author "Supper in Ferrara". The playwright worked on this play for only fourteen days. The premiere of "Lucretia Borgia" took place at the theater "Porte Saint-Martin" on February 2 of the year and was a great success, which was largely due to the government's ban on many of Hugo's works, the author's appeal to the court and the public interest in Paris in his work. The drama was distinguished by its stage presence, simplicity of composition, laconicism of action, and J. Sand, in one of his letters, compares Hugo's skill in this play with ancient tragedy. The action of the drama takes place in the 16th century in Italy, reproducing the atmosphere and customs of the times of Borgia, however, the plot move with the motherhood of the main character and her death at the hands of her own son are Hugo's fiction.
During preparations for the performance of Lucretia Borgia, Hugo first met with the actress Juliette Drouet, who played the role of Princess Negroni. Subsequently, the actress stopped her theatrical career for the sake of Hugo and for almost 50 years was practically not separated from him. Juliette accompanied Hugo a year into exile in Jersey and then a year in Guernsey. In addition, Juliette wrote letters to Hugo: throughout her life she wrote him about twenty-two thousand letters.
Plot
Characters
Notable productions
- In - years, director Jenny Bernard staged Hugo's drama "Lucretia Borgia" at the Theater du Vieux-Colombier, at the Festival du Marais, at the Great Roman Theater of the city of Lyon, at the Festival de Montauban and at the Theater de Galerei in the city of Brussels.
- In the same year, director Roger Khanin staged Hugo's drama "Lucrezia Borgia" with the participation of actors Magali Noel, Michel Auclair, David Clair, Jean-Marie Galei.
Influence in world culture
In the same year, the Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti wrote the opera Lucrezia Borgia based on the plot of this drama by Hugo.
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Links
Literature
- Hugo V. Collected works in 15 vols. M., State Publishing House fiction, 1953. (Volume 2, pp. 457-528. Translation by A. Fedorov.).
- Hugo V. Drama. M., Art, 1958. M. Treskunov. Dramaturgy by Victor Hugo. (p. 3-44).
- Hugo V. Collected works in 10 volumes. M., Pravda, 1972. (Volume 2).
- Hugo V. Collected works in 6 volumes. M., Pravda, 1988.
- Hugo V. Collected works in 6 volumes. M., Pravda, 1988. Tolmachev M. V. Witness of the century Victor Hugo. (Volume 1).
- Hugo V. Collected works in 14 volumes. Terra-Book Club Publishing House, 2002. (Volume 10).
- Morois A. "Olympio, or the Life of Victor Hugo".
Excerpt characterizing Lucretius Borgia (play)
An hour later Tikhon came to call Princess Mary. He called her to the prince and added that Prince Vasily Sergeyevich was there too. The princess, while Tikhon came, was sitting on the sofa in her room and holding the weeping m lla Bourienne in her arms. Princess Mary gently stroked her head. The beautiful eyes of the princess, with all their former calmness and radiance, looked with tender love and pity at the pretty face of m lle Bourienne.- Non, princesse, je suis perdue pour toujours dans votre coeur, [No, princess, I have lost your favor forever,] - said m lle Bourienne.
– Pourquoi? Je vous aime plus, que jamais, said Princess Mary, et je tacherai de faire tout ce qui est en mon pouvoir pour votre bonheur. [Why? I love you more than ever, and I will try to do everything in my power for your happiness.]
- Mais vous me meprisez, vous si pure, vous ne comprendrez jamais cet egarement de la passion. Ah, ce n "est que ma pauvre mere ... [But you are so pure, you despise me; you will never understand this infatuation of passion. Ah, my poor mother ...]
- Je comprends tout, [I understand everything,] - answered Princess Mary, smiling sadly. - Calm down, my friend. I'll go to my father, - she said and went out.
Prince Vasily, with his leg bent high, with a snuffbox in his hands, and as if utterly moved, as if he himself regretted and laughed at his sensitivity, sat with a smile of tenderness on his face when Princess Marya entered. He hurriedly raised a pinch of tobacco to his nose.
“Ah, ma bonne, ma bonne, [Ah, dear, dear.],” he said, standing up and taking both of her hands. He sighed and added, “Le sort de mon fils est en vos mains.” Decidez, ma bonne, ma chere, ma douee Marieie qui j "ai toujours aimee, comme ma fille. [The fate of my son is in your hands. Decide, my dear, my dear, my meek Marie, whom I have always loved like a daughter. ]
He went out. A real tear appeared in his eyes.
“Fr… fr…” snorted Prince Nikolai Andreevich.
- The prince, on behalf of his pupil ... son, makes a proposition for you. Do you want or not to be the wife of Prince Anatole Kuragin? You say yes or no! he shouted, “and then I reserve the right to say my opinion. Yes, my opinion and only my own opinion, ”added Prince Nikolai Andreevich, turning to Prince Vasily and answering his imploring expression. - Yes or no?
“My desire, mon pere, is never to leave you, never to share my life with yours. I don’t want to get married,” she said resolutely, looking with her beautiful eyes at Prince Vasily and at her father.
- Nonsense, nonsense! Nonsense, nonsense, nonsense! - Prince Nikolai Andreevich shouted, frowning, took his daughter by the hand, bent her to him and did not kiss, but only bending his forehead to her forehead, touched her and squeezed the hand he was holding so that she frowned and screamed.
Prince Vasily got up.
- Ma chere, je vous dirai, que c "est un moment que je n" oublrai jamais, jamais; mais, ma bonne, est ce que vous ne nous donnerez pas un peu d "esperance de toucher ce coeur si bon, si genereux. Dites, que peut etre ... L" avenir est si grand. Dites: peut etre. [My dear, I will tell you that I will never forget this moment, but, my kindest, give us at least a small hope of being able to touch this heart, so kind and generous. Say: maybe... The future is so great. Say maybe.]
- Prince, what I said is everything that is in my heart. I thank you for the honor, but I will never be your son's wife.
“Well, it’s over, my dear. Very glad to see you, very glad to see you. Come to yourself, princess, come, - said the old prince. “Very, very glad to see you,” he repeated, embracing Prince Vasily.
“My vocation is different,” Princess Marya thought to herself, my vocation is to be happy with another happiness, the happiness of love and self-sacrifice. And whatever it costs me, I will make poor Ame happy. She loves him so passionately. She repents so passionately. I will do everything to arrange her marriage to him. If he is not rich, I will give her money, I will ask my father, I will ask Andrey. I will be so happy when she is his wife. She is so unhappy, a stranger, lonely, without help! And my God, how passionately she loves, if she could so forget herself. Perhaps I would have done the same!…” thought Princess Mary.
For a long time the Rostovs had no news of Nikolushka; only in the middle of winter was a letter handed over to the count, at the address of which he recognized the hand of his son. Having received the letter, the count, frightened and hastily, trying not to be noticed, ran on tiptoe to his office, locked himself and began to read. Anna Mikhailovna, learning (as she knew everything about what was going on in the house) about the receipt of the letter, with a quiet step went to the count and found him sobbing and laughing together with the letter in his hands. Anna Mikhailovna, despite her improved affairs, continued to live with the Rostovs.
Borgia Lucrezia
(born in 1480 - died in 1519)
A worthy daughter of the Borgia family, who has become a toy in the political game of her father and brother. She became famous for her beauty, depravity, cruelty and ... patronage of literature and the arts.
The story of Lucretia Borgia cannot be preceded by the history of her family. Without her in personal life this woman, much can remain unclear or misinterpreted.
The Spanish genus Borja from Xativa has been known since the 12th century. Gradually, the family strengthened its position among the nobility. And doctor of law Alonso de Borja (born 1378), having timely supported the king of Aragon and Neapolitan Alphonse Y, became his closest adviser, personal secretary (1418), head of the rich Valencian episcopate (1429) and mentor of the king's illegitimate son . Yes, and Alonso himself did not differ in special holiness. The bishop was attached to the families of his sisters and patronized his nephews in everything. He especially singled out Rodrigo and Francisco, who, according to the historian A. Shakon (Chakonnius), were his illegitimate sons, the sin of incest, but this fact remains unproven, although at that time there was nothing unusual in it.
Before the master of political intrigue, the cardinal-bishop of Valencia opened the road to Rome in exchange for the betrayal of his king. In 1455, the conclave elected Alonso Borgia as pope (as he began to be called in the Italian manner). He took the name Calixtus III. A year later, Rodrigo and Francisco become cardinals. The family uses all conceivable and unthinkable means to strengthen the power and wealth of their clan, as opposed to the Medici, Sforza, Este, Gonzaga, and in the two years of the papacy of Calixtus III succeeds in this. An especially strong position was secured by Rodrigo, an educated, active, unabashed intriguer who skillfully used his mind and connections. For 12 years of cardinality, he helped four popes ascend the Holy Throne, receiving lucrative posts and huge money for this. And in 1491, Rodrigo himself puts on the papal tiara under the name of Alexander VI and unfolds violent political and conquest activities, strengthens the power, prestige and financial capabilities of the Holy See, and at the same time the Spanish Borgia clan becomes richer and stronger than the Italian ones.
But Rodrigo does more than just that. Violating all church vows, he leads a depraved life, and from numerous mistresses to different time he has nine children. But he especially singled out Rosa Vanozzi, who bore him Cesare (or Caesar, born in 1475), Juan (in literature more often Francesco, born in 1476), Lucrezia (born in 1480) and Jofre (1482). R.). While still a cardinal,
Rodrigo regularly successfully marries his mistress and her spouses honor their horns as an honor. In addition, he not only recognizes, but also legitimizes the birth of all children, which does not cause objections from the church, besides, he carefully monitors the upbringing of his sons and raises them as princes.
Little Lucrezia, who was born in Subiaco Abbey, was not left without care. The voluptuous father entrusted his daughter to his widowed cousin Andrienne de Mila, the mother of the young Orso (evil tongues claimed that he was also the son of the pope). The cardinal often visited her house, but not so much because of her daughter (she was still small), but because of Orso's young bride, Giulia Farnese. Then Lucretia was educated at the monastery of St. Sixtus, but at the age of 11, the early-blooming beauty was returned home. How prettier she is: lush blond hair, charming body lines, light green eyes, inviting and languid at the same time ...
Alexander VI had special views on her. Lucretia had to pick up a politically advantageous groom. The contract with the Spaniard Don Cherubino Juan de Centella was terminated two months later and concluded with another applicant, 15-year-old Don Gaspare, but even then the father changed his mind. He decided to intermarry with the influential Sforza family. Without even breaking off the previous engagement, Lucretia becomes the bride, and then the wife of Giovanni Sforza, ruler of Pesaro (1493). Vain, intrigued by rumors, a 26-year-old widower and a 13-year-old newlywed, after a luxurious wedding ceremony, attend a feast that lasts almost a week, turning into a real bacchanalia at night. The young woman was no stranger to such spectacles, for two recent years she spent in the house of Andrienne de Mila and Giulia Farnese - her father's mistresses. In addition, it was rumored that the immaculate beautiful Lucretia still managed to become the wife of Count Averza, and Alexander VI barely paid off his first son-in-law.
But the political situation showed that this marriage was rushed. Feeling a threat to his life, Sforza retired to his fiefdom, and Lucrezia remained in the Vatican. Rumors spread around Rome, and it seems not unfounded, that she began to live with her father and brothers Juan and Cesare. Lucrezia blossomed and prettier so much that as a married, but single woman, she began to attract many admirers. One oddity - her admirers soon died from the knife, not even having time to climb into her warm bed. The slightest inclination from the Venetian Marcello Candiano and the Ferrarese Dalbergetti was enough for the jealous Cesare to send them to the forefathers. While her husband was on the run, Lucrezia gave birth to a daughter, Laura. “Yes, this is a living portrait of dad, this, of course, is his child!” exclaimed one of the relatives, prelate Lorenzo Pucci. The child was given to some nurse. When her mother remembered her before her death, the girl was no longer alive. For decency, Lucrezia lived a little with her husband in Pesaro, but life there seemed insipid to her, and her relatives missed her.
The war between Alexander VI and the French king Charles VIII proved to the pope how important it was for the family to strengthen its secular influence. The 16-year-old Countess Sforza again becomes a bargaining chip in resolving this issue. Frightened by constant threats, the husband flees Rome again. Lucrezia complains to everyone that he left her. She tried to get word to Giovanni that they were going to kill him. Although her husband was tired of her, Lucretia nevertheless took pity on her unlucky husband, she really did not want him to become another victim of the jealous brothers, Juan and Cesare, who hated each other. Neither was going to give up the criminal love for his sister. Lucrezia herself liked Juan of Gandia more - he was more beautiful, gentler and more courteous than the assertive and rude Cesare. The brothers were second only to their father. There were few women capable of refusing Rodrigo Borgia. One of his contemporaries wrote: “He has a penetrating voice. He speaks both passionately and very softly at the same time. His black eyes are magnificent. The face is always nice. It expresses joy and happiness. Conversation with him in a strange way is able to excite the weaker sex. He attracts women like a magnet attracts iron. But he cleverly hides his victories, and no one knows how many women have submitted to him. And the obedient daughter did not refuse him.
While her future fate was being decided, the "abandoned wife" withdrew, according to custom, to the monastery of San Sisto, where she secretly received only Juan. Brought to rage by this, Cesare decided on blood murder. After the feast at Vanozzi, at which Lucrezia managed to “reconcile” the brothers and they parted amicably, Juan went on a love date prepared by Cesare, but never returned home. On the night of June 16, 1497, he was killed by mercenaries who dumped the body into the Tiber, and even in the place where garbage is usually dumped. Actively initiated investigation safely came to a standstill. Everyone in Rome knew who the killer was, but for the honor of the family, the pope forgave Cesare for the death of his most beloved son and even appointed him legate to Naples. Lucretia prayed for sins in the monastery and left him occasionally to "comfort" the pope.
Alexander VI, meanwhile, is trying to get his daughter's marriage annulled by Giovanni Sforza, accusing him of male failure. Lucrezia is dying of boredom. The Pope sends tender letters to her at the monastery with promises that her seclusion will end soon. His permanent and "reliable" postman is the handsome and young Spanish chamberlain Pedro Caldes (Calderon), also called Perotto. He did not have to persuade the 17-year-old beauty, who suffered greatly without male company, for a long time. But, having surrendered to young passion, they completely forgot about the caution and plans of the family - Lucrezia became pregnant. In the sixth month, in spacious clothes, a beautiful lady appeared at the annulment ceremony (1497), where she was declared a virgin, with the consent of her husband (what you will not sacrifice to save a life!).
As soon as they announced the divorce, the names of the three contenders for the “pristine” beauty became known. But while the pope was deciding which groom was preferable, Lucretia was relieved of her burden by the boy Gianni (1498). Only three years later, his birth was legalized, and he had two fathers at once. In one bull he was recognized by Cesare, and in another by Alexander VI himself. Lucrezia's name was not even mentioned. Mother was an "unmarried woman". And the real father (or maybe he was not the culprit and only got caught on a hot one) was first imprisoned, and then “fell into the Tiber against his will,” wrote the master of ceremonies of the papal palace Burkard (Burchard). Scabrous jokes crawled around Rome. The humanist Sannazaro even composed an epigram in the form of an epitaph: “Lucretia sleeps in this grave, which would be better called Thais, because she was the daughter, wife and daughter-in-law of Alexander VI.” But the Borgia kept absolute calm, and Lucrezia was preparing for the wedding.
Finally, a groom was found for the weary woman - Alfonso of Aragon, Duke de Biseglie (Bishegli) - one of the most beautiful princes of that time, with amiable manners and a gentle character, but most importantly - the son of the King of Naples, albeit a side one. future husband, picked up by his brother, Lucretia really liked. In July 1498 a magnificent wedding took place. At the evening masquerade, Cesare appeared in a unicorn costume - a symbol of purity and fidelity. It was very funny. But this marriage was even shorter than the first. Oddly enough, Lucretia became attached to her husband and was expecting a child from him. She calmed down after the marriage and the departure of Cesare, but could not convince Alfonso that there was no threat. He knew well how many people had suffered from the disfavor of the Borgia.
Having taken refuge in Genazzano, the duke calls his wife to him. But Alexander VI, to whom his daughter meekly obeyed in everything, appointed her governor in the main papal fortress north of Rome, Spoletto and in Foligno (1499). This office was usually held only by cardinals and prelates. Lucretia stayed as governor for only two months, but, according to contemporaries, she successfully coped with her duties: at the expense of the commune, she organized a gendarmerie corps to help the police, obliged Spoletto and Terni to conclude a three-month truce. She was calm and happy, especially after the return of Alfonso, who was near her at the time of the birth of their son Rodrigo, the first legitimate grandson of the pope from all his children.
Lucretia is just beginning to get a taste family life, as political interests demanded from her a new victim. On June 15, 1499, Cesare's assassins seriously wounded the young duke, but they considered him dead and threw him on the pavement. The servants carried the bleeding master to Lucretia, and she left him for a month. Cesare tore and metal after visiting the duke, seeing the care of Lucrezia. He still preferred her to his wife and mistresses. Those present heard the strange words spoken by him at parting: "What is not done for lunch will be done for dinner." And Burkard writes in his diary: "Considering that Don Alfonso refused to die from his wounds, he was strangled in his bed." The grief of Lucretia this time was unfeigned. The Duke became her first true love. Her behavior irritated the Pope and Cesare, they were tired of her tears and swollen face. The widow was sent to Nepi "to seek solace", as the caustic Burkard writes (as it turned out later, he was a supporter of Giulianno della Rovere and his words cannot be trusted in everything). Of course, it is hard to believe that such a depraved woman among her shameless relatives could sincerely grieve, but she ended each of her letters with the words: "The most unfortunate woman." There was no need for her to play in front of her father, who had drowned her in the mud.
But returning to Rome, the young widow again plunges into voluptuous debauchery. Her body, accustomed to love pleasures, requires men. Now that Cesare is far away and fighting for land and wealth, Lucrezia herself can successfully cope with any annoying lover. For this, there is the famous Borgia poison. Her senses were sharpened to the limit in anticipation of the death of the admirer. Poisoned fruits, wine, gifts… And Lucretia also had a key to the bedroom, a small thorn of which was covered with poison. The castle is tight, the fan is impatient, a small scratch, a night of passion, and in a day or two - death ... Not one applicant for sweet pleasures was killed in this way, everyone knew about it, but nevertheless, those who wanted did not decrease. Lucrezia was a worthy daughter of her father, who resolved difficult issues and amassed a huge fortune by poisoning many church fathers and objectionable but wealthy guests.
All the murders, orgies, sacrileges did not surprise anyone - Rome was the most depraved city. No wonder Petrarch wrote: "It is enough to see Rome to lose faith." No one was outraged that the depraved Lucrezia ruled the Vatican three times in 1501, occupied the papal apartments (even women are forbidden to enter there) and conducted the current affairs of the Church. She is only 21 years old, her name is trampled into the mud, but you can’t refuse her mind. She made no mistakes in leadership.
Two years later, Lucrezia again picked up the groom. Prince, heir to the Duchy of Ferrara, Alfonso d'Este, son of Hercules I. He is a childless 24-year-old widower. From the first marriage with Anna Sforza, unpleasant memories remained: the wife avoided intimacy with him, being content with a black slave. The representative of d'Este in the Vatican, D. Castellini, reported to the prince about the new bride that “she is undoubtedly beautiful, has become even more majestic and seems so tender that it is impossible and should not suspect her of sinister crimes ... Don Alfonso will be completely satisfied with her, because In addition to her perfect grace, modesty, affability and honesty, she is a zealous Catholic and God-fearing. The young duke was interested, but his father demanded a huge dowry in exchange for the princely title. Alexander VI fulfilled all the conditions, especially since Lucretia herself asked for this, realizing that this marriage would be her triumph ... Even the sons of Gianni and Rodrigo received a huge dowry confiscated from the Roman barons.
Before her departure, Cesare arranged a farewell feast, to which he invited 50 famous courtesans of Rome for guests. Burkard writes: “After supper, women of easy virtue danced with servants and other guests. At first they were in dresses. Then they were completely naked. Since dinner was over, candlesticks with lit candles were placed on the floor. The guests began to scatter chestnuts, and the courtesans gathered them, crawling between the candlesticks. Finally, silk capes, shoes, headdresses were put on public display - they were promised to those who would best demonstrate their masculine strength to the courtesans. The copulations took place right there in front of everyone in the hall. Those present, who acted as arbitrators, handed out prizes to those who were declared the winner. Lucrezia sat with her father on a high stage, holding in her hands a prize intended for the most ardent and tireless lover. This is exactly how the Roman nobility and clergy had fun, but most historians doubt the presence of Lucretia at the orgy. It was not profitable for her to show herself in such a light in front of the Ferrara guests.
The road from Rome to Ferrara was a fabulous journey for Lucrezia. Alfonso d'Este, who met her, was at first sight subdued by the amiable, charming bride, sparkling with intelligence and jewels. Tales of filthy adventures only aroused his desire, but dulled his attention. The taste and joy of life were the key to Lucrezia's success with all representatives of the groom's family. On February 2, 1502, a magnificent wedding took place in Ferrara.
After the brilliance of the wedding celebrations, the d'Este family, distinguished by stinginess, returned to their former dull life in a gloomy castle. Lucretia and her husband had a complete idyll. A swarthy, broad-shouldered, sensual, handsome man in bed suited his ardent wife quite well. And while he was engaged in cannons, horses, tournaments, played the viola and painted faience, Lucretia surrounded herself with a select society, gravitating towards fine literature. Many were surprised when, among the expensive outfits, they found a quite decent library that belonged to Lucretia. This circle of her chosen ones included: Nicolo Correggio - a poet, singer, director of ancient comedies (he will remain devoted to his patroness until his death); Tito Vespasiano Strozzi - a venerable old man, a member of the highest tribunal of the "Twelve", the most famous poet of Ferrara, and his son Ercole, who wrote melancholy poems; as well as the scientist and poet Antonio Tybaldeo. All this impressed the gloomy husband, and gradually he truly fell in love with his wife. And he was also struck by the attention with which the frivolous, according to reviews, woman treats her son and "nephew" Gianni. Married to Alfonso, Lucretia became pregnant 11 times, but only four children survived. Despite the huge loss of strength and health, she remained an attractive woman, noteworthy other men. Thus, the tender friendship and platonic love between Lucrezia and the famous poet, scientist and leader of the humanists, Pietro Bembo, was replaced by a fiery passion. In passionate elegies, subtle sonnets, he sang her beauty and intelligence, and dedicated his "Azolan Conversations" - dialogues about love - to "The Beautiful Lady from Ferrara". However, for some time, Lucretia had to forget about her love for the poet: she received terrible news about the painful death of Alexander VI (August 18, 1503). The gloomy Alfonso remained indifferent to her grief. Lucrezia could not blame her father for anything, because all his crimes were committed in the name of the prosperity of the Borgia family and she, the illegitimate daughter, is now a princess. Pietro consoled her only, and then with letters, but the duke became suspicious, and soon the correspondence and love faded away.
After the death of the pope and the disgrace of Cesare, against whom all the offended took up arms, the rulers of Ferrara were unequivocally hinted at getting rid of the imposed daughter-in-law and wife, but everyone became attached to her. Lucrezia was only forbidden to bring Cesare's son and children to her, since she gave birth to her husband's heir (Hercules II) only in April 1508, when her brother was no longer alive. But they could not forbid her to help financially and protect their future, especially after the death of the old duke, when Lucrezia became the ruling duchess of Ferrara. Only her care saved the lives of Cesare's children.
And replaced the extinguished passions new love. And although the jealous Alfonso tried to alienate his wife from the Spaniards and even built an internal passage from the official apartments to Lucrezia's private quarters, she found herself a new admirer - her brother-in-law, Francisco Gonzaga, Margrave of Mantua, delicate and attentive. But the matter did not go beyond correspondence either: the admirer was corroded by syphilis, and he was impotent. However, on the orders of a jealous husband, the lovers' attorney Ercole Strozzi was killed.
Lucrezia's lifestyle has changed, now her father and brother did not dominate her, in whose hands she was an obedient toy, a trump card and in some ways a victim. After all, to live among debauchery and remain pure is the lot of the saints, and she was born a passionate woman. Now Lucrezia patronized poets and artists, and the d'Este court was recognized as one of the most enlightened. Alfonso, leaving for business or another war, calmly left the administration of the duchy to his wife, who was assisted by a council of ten citizens. The dangers experienced together with her husband - the campaign against Ferrara of Pope Julius II, the four-year war, the capture and escape of Alfonso, his excommunication - completely reconciled the spouses. Louis XII, who insistently demanded the resignation of Lucretia after the death of the pope, admitted that "this woman is one of those empresses who are worthy to compete with the queen of France." In addition, it turned out that she was a wonderful mother and devoted wife.
After the death of the evil Julius II (1513), Pope Leo X reconciled with Ferrara and Mantua, and the poet and old friend of Lucrezia, Pietro Bembo, became his personal secretary. The beautiful lady from Ferrara changed a lot, became religious, wore a hair shirt under thin shirts and diligently attended church. Children grew up in a decent environment and received a proper education. Lucretia was calm in advance for the fate of everyone: Duke Hercules II was married to Rene of France, daughter of Louis XII, and became the ancestor of Henry de Guise; Hippolytus II became a cardinal and was one of the most generous patrons of the arts; Francesco received the title of Marquis de Massalombard; Eleanor became a nun and became abbess of the Corpus Christi convent in Ferrara. Lucrezia was still beautiful. Ludovico Ariosto, who sang of her on the eve of the wedding, again extols her in the poem "Furious Roland": "With her special beauty, her great caution, she surpasses perfection itself." The inhabitants of Ferrara also cannot boast of their mistress.
In 1518, the 77-year-old mother of Lucrezia Rosa Vanozzi died. After the death of Alexander VI, lover and father of her children, she managed to earn universal respect and bequeathed her entire vast fortune to churches, hospitals and the children of the poor. By order of Leo X, she was accorded the honors usually accorded to cardinals. Lucrezia could not say goodbye to her mother - she was expecting a child and the pregnancy was very difficult. She was not yet 40 years old, and she had no vitality left. The daughter died immediately after baptism, and Lucretia began to have puerperal fever. She received from Leo X a complete remission of sins. For ten days, her husband did not leave her bed, with whom they lived together, suffering and rejoicing, for 17 years.
Lucrezia Borgia died on June 24, 1519 and was buried in the family vault. Alfonso wrote to his nephew how hard it was for him "to part with my dear and tender companion, because she was dear to me and sweet with her virtues and tenderness that unite us." And this is all about the insidious, cruel, depraved, adulteress who did not disdain murders ... Perhaps, if there had not been so much abomination around her, she would have become a decent woman, and not a terrible ghost that appears through the centuries in the novel by A. Dumas and in the drama B Hugo. After all, it was not for nothing that D. Campori in his study called her “a victim of history”.
But the Duke d'Este very quickly consoled himself in the arms of his mistress, the daughter of a hosiery. But what is not a sin for a man is a shame for a woman ...
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Lucrezia Borgia
History of creation[ | ]
Portrait of Gaetano Donizetti
Characters[ | ]
| Alfonso d'Este, Duke of Ferrara | bass |
| Lucrezia Borgia | soprano |
| Maffio Orsini | contralto |
| Gennaro | tenor |
| Jeppo Liverotto | tenor |
| Don Aposto Gacella | bass |
| Ascanio Petrucci | baritone |
| Holoferno Vitellozzo | tenor |
| Rustigello, servant of Don Alfonso | tenor |
| Gubetto, servant of Lucrezia | bass |
| Astolfo, servant of Lucrezia | tenor |
| Princess Negroni | without words |
| The action takes place in Venice and Ferrara in the 16th century. | |
Libretto [ | ]
Prologue [ | ]
Terrace of the Palazzo Grimaldi in Venice. Night masquerade. On the terrace, which overlooks the Giudecca canal, the merry young people run out. These are Liverotto, Gazella, Vitellozzo, Orsini and Gennaro. They are the last day in Venice, tomorrow they go to Ferrara to the court of Duke Alfonso. Lucrezia's servant Gubetta is secretly watching the youth. Orsini talks about the murders and other crimes that the duke and especially his wife Lucrezia Borgia (Nella fatal di Rimini e memorabil guerra ...) are accused of. Friends come to the conclusion that for such deeds she deserves to die. Gradually, the fun fades. Gennaro falls asleep right on the bench on the terrace. The rest leave. A gondola appears on the canal. Gubetto helps the lady in the mask get out of it. This is Lucrezia Borgia. She is looking for Gennaro. With love she looks at the sleeping young man. This is her son, who was brought up secretly and never knew or saw his mother (Com "? bello! Quale incanto ...). Lucrezia is watched from afar by her husband Don Alfonso with his servant Rustigello. The Duke thinks that the young man is another lover of Lucrezia, and orders Rustigello to watch Gennaro. Gennaro wakes up. He is surprised by the attention of an unknown lady. Lucrezia admits that she is Gennaro's mother, but does not give her name. Gennaro is delighted, he has long dreamed of meeting his mother (Di pescatore ignobile esser figliuol credei ...). Gennaro's friends return. He introduces them to their mother. Suddenly, Orsini recognizes Lucrezia Borgia in a stranger and tears off her mask. All those present throw accusations of murder in the Duchess's face, name the dead people. Lucrezia covers her face in horror with her hands. The youth leaves, leading away the weeping Gennaro Lucrezia is in despair.
Act one. Picture one. Square in Ferrara[ | ]
The crowd welcomes the returned Duke Alfonso. But the duke himself is not cheerful. He is jealous of his wife for what he considers to be a young lover and orders Rustigello to find a way to destroy the young man who arrived in Ferrara (Vieni: la mia vendetta...). The Duke enters the palace. Gennaro and his friends come out of one of the houses. After the holiday, they say goodbye. Gennaro, in whom feelings for his mother and solidarity with friends struggle, decides on a dangerous trick: he knocks down the letter B from the coat of arms of the duchess depicted on the palace, leaving the word orgia (debauchery) from the name Borgia. Gubetto emerges from the palace. Everyone is running away. The whole incident was observed by Rustigello. He summons Astolfo, Lucrezia's head of security, and reports that the Duchess's prestige has been damaged, for which the death penalty is due, and that he knows the culprit. Astolfo calls the guards and they go to arrest Gennaro.
Act one. Picture two. In the palace of Don Alfonso[ | ]
Rustigello reports to the Duke that Gennaro has been arrested. Lucrezia appears. She complains about the insults she is subjected to in Ferrara and demands that the person responsible for damaging the Borgia coat of arms be found and executed. Don Alfonso, reports that the desire of the Duchess has already been satisfied, and orders to bring Gennaro. Lucrezia is horrified. She asks her husband to forgive the criminal, but the duke reminds her that she has just demanded the insult of the death penalty for the culprit, and insists that retribution be done, and orders Gennaro to be taken back to the dungeon. After a dramatic explanation from the couple, the duke announces that he agrees to pardon Gennaro. Gennaro is again brought into the hall, and the duke invites him to drink in honor of reconciliation, ordering Lucrezia to serve the golden cups of Borgia (Guai se ti sfugge un moto ...). The Duke leaves. Lucretia explains to her son that there is poison in the Borgia cups, and gives him an antidote, confirms that she loves him, and asks him to leave Ferrara immediately to avoid the persecution of the duke (Bevi e fuggi ... te'n prego, o Gennaro ...). In the struggle of feelings, Gennaro again wins love for his mother, he promises to leave, and Lucrezia releases him through a secret door.
Act two. Picture one. Alley near Gennaro's house[ | ]
Rustigello continues to keep an eye on Gennaro at the Duke's behest. Orsini comes to the house and knocks on the door. Opened by Gennaro. Orsini invites a friend to a farewell carnival ball with Princess Negroni. Lent begins tomorrow and this is the last opportunity to have fun. Gennaro says that he promised his mother to leave immediately. Orsini laughs at his obedience. In the end, Gennaro decides to take part in the celebration and leave in the morning. Together with Orsini, he leaves. Rustigello, who has heard all this conversation, hurries to the palace to tell the duke everything.
Act two. Picture two. Hall in the Negroni Palace[ | ]
Orsini and Gennaro join the merry company. It's all the same friends. Goubetta enters the hall. On behalf of a Greek merchant, he brought fine Syracusan wine to the noble society. The youth enthusiastically accepts the gift. They fill the goblets. Orsini sings a drinking song (Il segreto per esser felici...). The song is interrupted by the singing of penitent monks coming from the street. Carnival is over, Lent begins. Suddenly, Orsini becomes ill. Then everyone else feels unwell. The hall doors open. A triumphant Lucretia appears. She did not forgive Orsini and the company for the insults inflicted on her in Venice, and most importantly, because they tried to turn her son against her. And now, having sent Gennaro from Ferrara, she sent them poisoned wine on behalf of the Greek. In less than a few minutes, everyone will be dead. Suddenly, Lucrezia notices Gennaro among the guests. She asks her son to take the antidote, but Gennaro does not want to leave his friends. He is torn between a feeling of love for his mother and the horror of her crimes (Tu pur qui? non sei fuggito? ..). Gennaro dies. Enter Duke Alfonso. He came to watch the death of Gennaro at the hands of Lucrezia. He knew from Rustigello that Gennaro would take part in the celebration, but he did not warn his wife. Lucrezia reveals the truth - Gennaro is her son (Era desso il figlio mio...). Love for her son was her only bright feeling, but Heaven punished her. Lucrezia unconsciously falls on the body of her son.
Productions [ | ]
In the city, the opera Lucrezia Borgia became the first opera to be staged entirely in
The illegitimate daughter of the Pope, a pawn in the political game of her own family. It's all the same woman - Lucrezia Borgia.
Childhood and youth
The illegitimate daughter of Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia was born on April 18, 1480 in the Italian city of Subiaco. Her mother was the mistress of Cardinal Vanozza dei Cattanei, who, in fifteen years of communication, gave birth to Borgia three sons - and Giovanni before her daughter and Gioffre after. Officially, all the children of the cardinal were considered his nephews.
Little is known about Lucrezia's childhood. The girl was taken from her mother and given to her great aunt on her father's side. Adriana de Mila, who at one time successfully married a representative of the Orsini clan, had already been widowed by that time. The teacher from her aunt turned out to be good: the girl spoke several languages, understood art, danced well, was fond of history and alchemy.
The girl, naturally pretty, blossomed early. It was rumored that the older brothers had not quite brotherly love for her. Contemporaries noted excellent addition, correct form nose, golden hair, white teeth and graceful neck of the girl, not forgetting to mention her constant smile and cheerful character.
Now no one can say with certainty whether such a description is true. Historians and art historians tend to believe that there are no reliable portraits of Lucretia painted during her lifetime, noting that some paintings by the masters of the brush probably reflect her features.
By the age of 13, Lucretia was engaged twice, but the engagements did not end in a wedding.
Daughter of the Pope
In 1492, Cardinal Borgia became pope and henceforth bore the name Alexander VI. Then began the manipulation of Lucretia, which became a bargaining chip in the political bargaining of the Renaissance. The daughter of the pope (and the rumors about his paternity could not be kept) is a tasty morsel for suitors from the aristocracy, and the Borgia clan, famous for promiscuity, enjoyed this with pleasure.
Rodrigo Borgia, Pope Alexander VI - father of Lucrezia Borgia A puppet of the pope and brother Cesare Borgia, Lucrezia married three times. Marriages were with Giovanni Sforza, Duke of Pesaro, Alfonso of Aragon, Duke of Bisceglie, Prince of Salerno, and Alfonso d'Este, Prince of Ferrara.
It is generally accepted that the girl was happily married to her second husband, the bastard of the King of Naples. But happiness is nothing when it comes to politics, especially someone else's happiness. By order of Cesare, Alfonso was killed as soon as he became useless for the Borgia.
It is unlikely that a girl from a cruel and unprincipled clan was meek, but there is no reliable information that Lucretia was directly involved in the dark affairs of her relatives. We should not forget about the dependent position of women in the 15th century.
Personal life
In 1493, Giovanni Sforza, the cousin of the ruler of Milan, a widower of 26 years old, received Lucretia as a life partner, and with her 31 thousand ducats and a place in the papal army. A 13-year-old wife was considered not yet mature enough to fulfill her marital duty, so at first there was no marriage between the newlyweds. intimate relationships. It probably didn't happen after that either.
In 1497, the union of Borgia and Sforza ceased to exist as unnecessary - the balance of power in the political arena has changed too much. The Pope insisted on recognizing his daughter's marriage as invalid due to the lack of its consummation.
The fact that the husband could not make his wife a woman was a significant reason for divorce in the Middle Ages. The Sforza clan insisted that Giovanni confirm the Pope's version, and the marriage was annulled at the end of 1497. After that, Sforza began to spread rumors about Lucrezia's relationship with his father.
Lucrezia Borgia in his youth Young Borgia swore at the divorce proceedings that she was a virgin. But in the spring of 1498, they started talking about the birth of a baby in a girl. One of the possible "heroes of the occasion" was called Pedro Calderon (aka Perotto), who served as a courier between the pope and Lucretia when she was in the monastery of St. Styx. However, they quickly got rid of the probable lover, the child, if there was one, was not given to the mother, and Lucretia was married again.
In June 1498, Alfonso of Aragon became the girl's husband. A year later, Borgia's friendship with the French alerted the King of Naples, and Alfonso left his wife, though not for long. The pope then presented Lucretia with the castle of Neli and put him in the chair of the governor of the town of Spoleto. The girl showed the talent of a manager and politician - in a short time she established relations between Spoleto and Terni, who were at enmity with each other.
Lucrezia Borgia (left) and Alfonso of Aragon (right) An alliance with the Neapolitan crown, which had greatly lost ground at that time, was of no use to Cesare. At first, the Naples bastard was guarded on the street, but, having received a series of stab wounds, Alfonso survived. For almost a month, his wife tried to put him on his feet, but the killers got to the prince - they strangled him right in bed. Lucrezia had to be of benefit to her father in the Vatican - answering letters when the pope was not there. Then she got the castle of Sermoneto.
In 1502, the Pope of Rome found Lucrezia a more profitable party than previous husbands - Alfonso d'Este, heir to the Duke of Ferrara. Alexander VI planned an alliance with Ferrara against Venice. At first, father and son refused the papal daughter, mindful of her slander against her first husband and an illegitimate child. But the ruined reputation was outweighed by the influence of Louis XII and a dowry of 100,000 ducats.
Subsequently, Lucretia managed to win the good disposition of her husband and father-in-law. When Alexander VI died in 1503, the marriage was lost political sense, but until his death, Borgia remained the wife of d'Este, although he was offered to get rid of her.
In 1503, Lucrezia became the beloved of the poet Pietro Bembo. They probably did not have a love affair, but a tender correspondence existed. Another woman's lover was Francesco Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua, until his death in 1519. He may have been Lucrezia's lover, but if true, Borgia took a huge risk.
Alfonso became duke in 1505 after the death of his father and often left on business of the duchy. And the duchess remained regent, dealing with the affairs of Ferrara with the help of her brother-in-law, Cardinal Ippolito. The husband, like his father once, paid tribute to the administrative talents of Lucretia and trusted his wife. And not in vain - the castle of the Dukes of Este was considered a brilliant courtyard. Lucrezia patronized poets and artists, founded in Ferrara convent and a charitable organization.
Children
Part of Lucrezia's pregnancies ended in miscarriages, several babies died in infancy. The list of children known to posterity begins with the result of a probable connection between the daughter of the Pope and his servant - Giovanni Borgia, whom Alexander VI secretly recognized as his child.
The woman gave birth to a son, Rodrigo, to the Duke of Bisceglie, but, having entered into a third marriage, she left the boy in her father's family. The child lived for 13 years.
The remaining children appeared in a marriage with d'Este. The first-born Alessandro died at the age of one, then there was a stillborn girl. In 1508, Alfonso had an heir - Ercole II d'Este. After him were born Ippolito II, who later became the archbishop of Milan and a cardinal, Alessandro (lived 2 years), Leonora, Francesco and Isabella Maria, who died on her second birthday.
Death
Lucretia seemed to have a premonition of her death. Shortly before the end of her biography, the duchess often and for a long time visited the temple, compiled an inventory of property and jewelry, wrote a will in which she mentioned the Ferrara temples.
In June 1519, Lucretia, exhausted by her pregnancy, went into premature labor. On June 14, a premature baby girl was born. And on June 24, 1519, 39-year-old Lucrezia Borgia died of puerperal fever. She was buried in the monastery Corpus Domini.
Lucrezia Borgia in art
In most books and films, the daughter of the Pope is the embodiment of evil. Occasionally she is presented as a victim, a pawn in the hands of relatives. in 1833 he wrote the play Lucrezia Borgia, based on which Gaetano Donizetti composed an opera in the same year. Thanks to Hugo, readers have learned the story of Lucrezia, enriched by the author's fiction.
The writer spoke about the birth of an 11-year-old Lucrezia child from brother Giovanni, about a ring with poison inside, with which the woman poisoned unwanted people, that in Ferrara her husband kept her in prison.
Authors who later wrote novels about the Borgia family took pleasure in using Hugo's version and embellishing it in their own way. Lucrezia is a character in the works of Friedrich Klinger, Louis Gastin, Jeanne Kalogridis, and others.
Filmmakers could not get past the vivid image of Lucretia. There is a long list of films and TV shows in which, since 1922, the daughter of the Pope has been embodied by actresses from to. In the photo in the image of Lucrezia, they are all different, but equally beautiful.
The Borgia family was noted even in computer games- "Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" and "Assassin's Creed II".
