The first opera of Giacomo Puccini Le Villi is a dance-strewn tale of spirits and broken hearts. Anna and Roberto were tied by a promise of marriage, but the fiancé was captivated by a siren. Anna dies. The revenge of the spirits of abandoned women – the villi – is ruthless… This production is the first staging of Le Villi in Riga, whereas, Gianni Schicchi, outstandingly directed by Viesturs Kairišs, has already been hailed as a comic opera favoured by the public in Riga and critics alike. Initially conceived to spring from the plot of The Divine Comedy by Dante, it reveals human greed and avarice with ironic touch. Against the background of squabbles and intricate plots of deception, weaved by good old family over parts of inheritance, a love couple manages to stumble into their sweet share of happiness.
For the set of "Le Villi" Reinis Dzudzilo recieved the Latvian Theatre Award as the Best Set Designer of the Season 2014/2015.
Synopsis
LE VILLI
Family and friends dance at Roberto and Anna’s engagement. Before the wedding, Roberto must go to Mainz in order to collect a large inheritance. Anna is concerned that she may not see her fiancée again, however Roberto consoles Anna assuring her that everything will be fine and the wedding will take place soon after his return. Anna tells Roberto of her dreams of him dying but Roberto tells Anna that she should not worry about his love failing and that she may doubt her God but not his love for her. Roberto asks Anna’s father Guglielmo for his blessing and sets off for Mainz.
In Mainz, Roberto gets carried away with a courtesan and forgets about his fiancée. In the meantime, Anna waits for Roberto until winter comes. Anna dies, turning into a villi.
Anna’s father Guglielmo asks the villi to revenge his daughter’s death. Forsaken by the Mainz courtesan without a penny to his name, Roberto returns and hears of Anna’s death. The villi observe how Roberto mourns his loss. Anna appears and speaks of the sorrows she has experienced. Roberto asks for forgiveness, but is not given it. Anna gathers the villi who place a curse on Roberto. Anna and the villi dance with Roberto as his strength subsides and he collapses and dies.
GIANNI SCHICCHI
At the deathbed of a wealthy patriarch, Buoso Donati, each of the greedy family members hopes to inherit the biggest share of the estate. When they find the testament, they realize Donati has left his entire fortune to a monastery. They are desperate for a solution how to get hold of the estate after all. Rinuccio suggests they consult the wily Gianni Schicchi. At first, the family rejects the idea, but Rinuccio, who is in love with Schicchi's daughter Lauretta, convinces them to summon Schicchi who arrives together with Lauretta. Schicchi suggests he himself will impersonate the dying Donati and make a new will that would bequeath all of Donati's properties to the family members. He warns everybody that forgery of a testament is a serious crime which will be severely punished by the law, so nobody must ever find out about their scheme. The family hides the corpse of Donati, while Schicchi takes the place of the dying man. When the notary arrives, Schicchi dictates a new will and, to the outrage of the family, makes sure that he himself gets the most valuable properties.
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