Play by Play
1st Inning
“Libiamo” from La traviata
Giuseppe Verdi, composer
Francesco Maria Piave, librettist
Danielle Pastin, Jonathan Johnson
VS
“O soave fanciulla” from La bohème
Giacomo Puccini, composer
Luigi Illica, Giuseppe Giacosa, librettists
Rachel Blaustein, Julius Ahn
2nd Inning
“Il lacerato spirito” from Simon Boccanegra
Giuseppe Verdi, composer
Francesco Maria Piave, librettist
Andrew Potter
VS
“Un bel dì vedremo” from Madama Butterfly
Giacomo Puccini, composer
Luigi Illica, Giuseppe Giacosa, librettists
Danielle Pastin
3rd Inning
“È sogno? O realtà?” from Falstaff
Giuseppe Verdi, composer
Arrigo Boito, librettist
Levi Hernandez
VS
“Chi il bel sogno di Doretta” from La rodine
Giacomo Puccini, composer
Giuseppe Adami, librettist
Rachel Blaustein
There will be no intermission for this performance.
Run Time: 90 Minutes
End Time: 9:00 PM
We invite you to stay after the performance for a fireworks presentation.
Gianni Schicchi Synopsis
The relatives’ worst fears are realized; Buoso has indeed bequeathed his fortune to the church. Rinuccio suggests that Gianni Schicchi could advise them on what to do, but the family scorns the idea, sneering at Schicchi’s humble origins. Zita now says that marriage to Lauretta, daughter of such a peasant, is out of the question.
Gianni Schicchi and Lauretta arrive. Rinuccio begs him for help, but Schicchi, rudely dismissed by Zita, announces that he will have nothing to do with the family. Lauretta makes a desperate plea to her father, and relinquishing, Schicchi begins reading the will. After scrutinizing it and concluding that nothing can be done, an idea occurs to him. Schicchi reveals his plan to the family: he will disguise himself as Buoso and dictate a new will. All are delighted with the scheme, and importune Schicchi with personal requests for Buoso’s various possessions, the most treasured of which are the house, the baseball stadium in Signa, and the Mercedez-Benz. Suddenly, a funeral bell rings, and everyone fears that the news of Buoso’s death has emerged, but it turns out that the bell is tolling for the death of the President’s mother. The relatives agree to leave the disposition of the house, the stadium, and the Mercedez to Schicchi, though each in turn offers him a bribe. The women then sing a lullaby as Schicchi changes places with the dead Buoso Donati. Schicchi warns of the punishment for those found to have falsified a will: twenty years in prison and exile from the church.
The notary arrives, and Schicchi begins dictating the new will, declaring any prior will null and void. He allocates the smaller bequests to general satisfaction, but when it comes to the house, the stadium, and the Mercedez, he orders they be left to “my devoted friend Gianni Schicchi.” Stunned, the family can do nothing while the lawyer is present, recalling Schicchi’s warning of the penalties for falsifying a will. Their outrage when the notary leaves is accompanied by a frenzy of looting as Schicchi chases the family out of his new house.
Meanwhile, Lauretta and Rinuccio embrace rapt in a love duet. Schicchi, returning, stands moved at the sight of the two lovers. He turns to the audience and asks them to agree that no better use could be found for Buoso’s wealth: although the poet Dante has condemned him to hell for this trick, Schicchi asks the audience to forgive him in light of “extenuating circumstances.”