Opera on the Move in the Nordic Countries during the Long 19th ...

276 Camilla Hambro
Daniel Fallström’s plot
Fallström’s libretto revolves around a romantic love story. Duchess di
Vanozza announces a competition for the best portrait of a woman, thus
drawing attention to how women are depicted in art. In fact, there was no
real competition, and after the first scene it would not have been difficult to
predict the story’s outcome. During the Venice carnival season, the poor,
young and beautiful painter Stefano Varezzi makes the acquaintance of a
young lady who goes by the name of Gemma, but eventually turns out to
be the duchess in disguise. The two are infatuated with one another, and
she models for him. Standing obliquely in front of an easel with the canvas
facing the audience, young Stefano shows how he struggles to depict his
model. A kiss reminding her of their secret meetings during the carnival
and their awakening love elicits the desired glow in her cheeks and inspires
him. Pleased with the result, he hopes to win the 500 ducats of prize money
and a trophy. While working on her portrait, he has fallen in love with her,
and so, he is grief-stricken when, at their last session, she reveals that they
never will meet again. Her departure is painful. Before leaving, “Gemma”
contemptuously reveals that she rejected the painter Bardi, who sees Stefano
as a dangerous rival for Gemma and the prize. As Stefano’s landlord
Beppo arrives to collect the rent, Bardi raises his dagger in anger to rip
Stefano’s canvas apart. Bardi tries to persuade Beppo to take Stefano’s picture
as security for his claim of 103 ducats in rent and other necessities.
This is prevented by Stefano’s sudden arrival. Anxious to defend his artwork,
Stefano clashes with his landlord in a fencing match. In the midst of
their duel the veiled, young and eccentric duchess arrives accompanied by
the art professors she has selected to evaluate Stefano’s painting. Before
Gemma reveals her true identity, the art professors are ridiculed. In Gemma’s
view Stefano paints women more skilfully than any art professor could
possibly teach him to do. Stefano falls into her arms. She, the trophy, gives
him her hand, her heart and the prize. And, of course, all ends in joy and
merriment.
Munktell’s musical setting
Munktell set the libretto to eight musical numbers for tenor and soprano.
There are two arias for Gemma, a farewell song and a romance performed
by Stefano, duets between Gemma and Stefano and between Bardi and Beppo
during their duel, a duet between the art professors plus the choir and
a duet between the play’s main characters followed by a final chorus. And,
of course, there was an overture, which almost sounded like a potpourri,