Today is a Black Friday special – three finales for the price of one. Donizetti’s Anna Bolena was his 37th opera and his first success. He is the undoubted holder of the Persistence in Lyric Composition Award. He wrote over 30 operas after Bolena, a few of which were also successful.
Anna Bolena is about the events leading to her (Anne Bolyen’s) execution. King Henry VIII is ready to move on to a new Queen at the opera’s start. The libretto is a tale of undiminished woe – at least for the title character.
The first finale ends Scene 8 of the first act. Henry’s suspicion of Anne’s infidelity causes him to order his spies to watch her every move. He then leaves to go hunting. Donizetti’s lyric and dramatic skills honed after much work are easily recognized. All three excerpts presented here are from Beverly Sills’ 1972 recording of the opera. The late soprano was in fine shape for this recording. She had an exceptionally lovely and expressive voice for a high soprano. A great artist. Paul Plishka is wonderfully aggressive as Henry VIII. Anna Bolena finale Act 1 scene 8
The final scene of Act 1 ends with Henry ordering Anna arrested along with those he thinks, or pretends to think, guilty of sexual misconduct with the unfortunate Queen. Note the brilliant high E effortlessly produced by Sills. Anna Bolena Act 1 finale
Act 2, the opera’s last, ends with Anna in prison awaiting execution. She hears the sounds of Henry’s wedding to Giovanna (Jane Seymour). Apparently, Tudor Kings didn’t have to wait until the wife was dead to take another. Anna Bolena Act 2 finale
For a complete history of the opera and a synopsis of its plot go here. The libretto with an English translation is here.
Thank you so much. I had forgotten how exciting this opera is.