Program Note
Umberto Giordano (1867-1948) was the last great composer in Italian romantic opera. His best-known work, Andrea Chenier, is an opera in four acts composed in 1895. Giordano, together with librettist Luigi Illica (who co-produced a number of masterpieces with Puccini) shared in this highly successful collaboration. Andrea Chenier is a hallmark of verismo opera, along with Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana and I Pagliacci by Leoncavallo.
The story is based on the life of the French poet Andre Chenier (1762?1794), executed during the 18th century French Revolution. The first act depicts aristocratic society on the verge of collapse, the second act follows the French Revolution, and the third and fourth acts portray Chenier, accused of treachery. This arrangement selects the most dramatic and beautiful scenes of the entire opera.
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The opera begins with a charming harp solo and glamorous music at a party in Countess Coigny's mansion. Next an elegant scene with clarinet, horn, harp (rehearsal #2) leads to "O pastorelle, addio!" by a fantasy female chorus (rehearsal #3).
At rehearsal #7, lush music from the first and second acts is combined in a scene full of color and vitality. The sound of castanets, anvil and carriage bells is striking. A cadence of tragedy sounds (rehearsal #17), followed by the French national anthem La Marseillaise by an antiphonal trombone duet (rehearsal #18).
Hymns representing the citizens' satisfaction after the revolution are sung (rehearsal #19) and conclude with a duet of Chenier and Maddalena's love (rehearsal #23). Please enjoy these endearing highlights from Giordano’s wonderful work.
(Koh Shishikura)
Instrumentation
Piccolo
1st Flute
2nd Flute (div.)
1st & 2nd Oboe
Bassoon (div.)
Clarinet in Eb
1st Clarinet in Bb (div.)
2nd Clarinet in Bb (div.)
3rd Clarinet in Bb (div.)
Bass Clarinet in Bb
Soprano Saxophone in Bb
1st Alto Saxophone in Eb
2nd Alto Saxophone in Eb (div.)
Tenor Saxophone in Bb
Baritone Saxophone in Eb
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1st & 2nd Trumpets in Bb
3rd Trumpet in Bb (div.)
1st & 2nd Horns in F
3rd & 4th Horns in F
1st & 2nd Trombones
3rd Trombone
Trombone (Off Stage) (div.)
Euphonium (div.)
Tuba (div.)
String Bass
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Timpani
1st Percussion
Bass Drum
Wind Chime
Triangle
Snare Drum
Chime
2nd Percussion
Triangle
Castanet
Vibraphone
Glockenspiel
Anvil
Sleigh Bell
Carriage Bell
Tambourine |
3rd Percussion
Glockenspiel
Marimba
Xylophone
Vibraphone
Chime
4th Percussion
Suspended Cymbal
Thailand manjira
Crash Cymbal
Tam-tam
Harp
Female Chorus (Option)
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