Lucrezia Borgia

by Gaetano Donizetti
Opera Orchestra of New York
Eve Queler, conductor
Performers listed below

Lucrezia Borgia was a 15th century Italian noblewoman and a member of one of Italy's most powerful families. The Borgias included military leaders, Dukes, two Popes, and even a saint. Now, the real Lucrezia Borgia seems to have been a pretty solid citizen. Though she did go through three husbands, she eventually settled down, patronized the arts, and even did a little charity work. But, over the years, her life and times have made for great theater - despite the fact the theater hasn't treated her too well, to say the least.

Then again, maybe that's understandable. Lucrezia wasn't exactly your everyday aristocrat. Her first husband was ushered out the door under shady circumstances. Her second husband was murdered by her brother. And her father? Well, her father was the Pope, and some historians think he didn't like his daughters' husbands because he and Lucrezia were actually ... Well, let's not "go there."

All of that was a long time ago, and, by now, Lucrezia Borgia is more familiar from the theater than from history books. And she's a lot more fun in fiction than in fact. Actually, she's developed a reputation as one of history's greatest poisoners. This murderous Lucrezia is the one Victor Hugo depicted in a grisly play - the same play that inspired this week's opera, a scarcely more flattering portrayal, by Gaetano Donizetti. Ok, so Donizetti's version of Lucrezia Borgia isn't historically accurate, either. Then again, historical operas always work better with a few extra poisonings thrown in, don't you think?

This week on NPR World of Opera, Steve Curwood hosts a spectacular performance of Donizetti's Lucrezia Borgia, with soprano Renee Fleming in the title role. And don't forget to tune in At the Opera, with Lou Santacroce, 30 mintues before curtain time.



Performers:
Renee Fleming (Lucrezia); Marcello Giordani (Gennaro); Dean Peterson (Duca); Stephanie Blythe (Maffio Orsini); Charles Robert Stevens (Gazella)


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