SIMON BOCCANEGRA

Composer: GIUSEPPE VERDI Book by Francesco Marta Piave (revised by Arrigo Boito) from a play by Antonio Garcia Gutierrez First performance: Teatro la Fenice, Venice, March 12, 1857 Prologue and 3 acts. By POPULAR ACCLAIM of workmen Simon Boccanegra is elevated to the estate oi a Doge from his position as corsair. Among those who a ist in this fourteenth century conspiracy are Paolo and Pietro. Simon happens upon the house of Grimaldi and discovers that Amelia Grimaldi is in reality his own lost daughter. She is to marry Gabriele Adorno, of Genoa. Paolo, by reason of his a istance to Simon, asks her hand in marriage and is refused. Paolo and Pietro decide te avenge themselves by unseating Simon. They begin by having Amelia kidnapped. Simon is accused of this act by Amelia’s tutor, Andrea, and Gabriele. Gabriele tries to stab Simon on his coronation day but Amelia stays him. Andrea and Gabriele are imprisoned. Pietro and Paolo are not succe ful in persuading them to kill Simon. [One of the several inconsistencies of the libretto.] Gabriele overhears a conversation between Simon and Amelia whereupon he again tries to stab her father. Again she averts the tragedy. When Gabriele finds who Simon is he asks his pardon, and swears to be his defender. But his defense cannot save Simon from the poison that Paolo has given the Doge. Simon dies as he ble es Amelia and Gabriele before their wedding feast.