AMORE DEI TRE RE, L’

(The Love of the Three Kings) Composer: ITALO MONTE MEZZ I Book by Sem BENELLI First performance: La Scala, Milan, A pril 20, 1913 3 acts. A TALE of the early days when Huns still invaded Italy. Archibaldo, a Germanic, is conqueror of Altura. Fiora, beautiful native daughter, is married to Manfredo, the conqueror’s son, against her own wishes, for she loves Avito, an Alturan prince. Flaminio, aid to Archibaldo, helps this romance as Avito visits the castle often during Manfredo’s absences. The affair is a isted by the fact that Archibaldo is blind. Archibaldo is convinced that someone visits Fiora but though he accuses her she will tell him nothing. Manfredo leaves Fiora after a very moving scene in which she almost falls in love with him. But Avito comes immediately after Manfredo leaves and Fiora knows her heart is his. Archibaldo overhears them, Flaminio barely restraining Avito from killing the blind old man. Archibaldo questions her and when she won’t tell the name of her lover, kills her. Manfredo, on his return, is overcome with grief but Archibaldo vows he will find the man who made Fiora unfaithful. He puts Fiora’s body in a crypt and smears poison on her lips. Avito comes to ki her farewell and dies, telling Manfredo, who has entered, that Fiora loved him. At this Manfredo wishes only death and ki es Fiora. When Archibaldo enters to identify the victim of his trap he realises in horror that he has destroyed the one most dear to him, his son.