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Love, Death, and Paris - "Amore e morte"

Love, Death, and Paris - "Amore e morte"

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 In 1837, the death Gaetano Donizetti's beloved wife Virginia sent him into a profound crisis, prompting him to leave Italy for Paris. This tragic turning point also marked a new direction in his music, which became darker, more harmonically complex, and emotionally charged.In this episode, host Flora Willson is joined by opera scholar Roger Parker to investigate this pivotal period.We contrast the extreme, gothic violence of his opera Maria de Rudenz with the subtle, melancholic beauty of his salon song, "Amore e morte" - Love and Death.Along the way, we explore the 19th century's cultural "cult of death" and reveal the story behind the star tenor nicknamed "the tenor of the beautiful death."It’s a fascinating look at how personal grief and cultural trends can shape great art.Opera Rara is dedicated to uncovering the stories behind the music. If you enjoy these deep dives, please consider making a donation to help us continue our work. Learn more at opera-rara.com/support."The tenor... was known as il tenore della bella morte, the tenor of the beautiful death. So he specialised in death scenes... He did a good stagger, you know, and all those kind of things." - Prof. Roger ParkerChapters:00:00 Introduction: Donizetti's Grief and the Move to Paris02:54 A Darker Sound: The Musical Impact of Tragedy07:22 Melodrama & The Gothic: Inside Maria de Rudenz09:31 From the Stage to the Salon: Donizetti's Songs12:01 "Amore e morte": A Song of Love and Death14:48 Romanticism 101: Unpacking "Love and Death"17:41 The 19th-Century's Beautiful Death21:19 A Glimmer of Light?: The Song's Surprising Finale26:01 Ask Opera Rara: Berlioz, Song Titles & Cello CounterpointsGet InvolvedReview & Subscribe: Follow or subscribe to make sure you never miss an episode. And please leave a review to help other opera-lovers discover our work.Discover: Learn about Opera Rara's work to unearth, restore, and record lost and forgotten operas at opera-rara.com.Support: Help us create more content like this by supporting our unique operatic vision at opera-rara.com/support.Explore: The full Opera Rara catalogue is available at opera-rara.com/shopcatalogue.Follow Opera Rara:YouTubeInstagramX / TwitterFacebookLinkedInBlueSkySupportersThis season of Lives in Song has been made possible by the generous support ofAndrea Pessino, Opera Rara's 2024-25 season Donizetti Songs Supporter and the Opera Rara Donizetti Syndicate.The Donizetti Song Project is supported by the Colwinston Charitable Trust and the Cockayne Grants for the Arts at the London Community Foundation. Opera Rara's work is only made possible by the support of our loyal family of donors and listeners.For more information about supporting Opera Rara, please visit opera-rara.com/support.CreditsLives in Song is produced for Opera Rara by Creative Kin.Output Editor: Jason CaffreyProducer: Milly MarchExecutive Producer: Zachary Vanderburg
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