From the programme booklet

Simon Boccanegra – Synopsis

Prologue

Politics in Genoa are locked in an embittered power struggle, and the city has reached a civil war-like state: the noble families Spinola and Doria on the one side and Grimaldi and Fieschi on the other are fighting to grab political power. Furthermore, the city’s burghers are claiming representation and have successfully pushed for a freely elected doge to lead the state. 

Paolo and Pietro, two supporters of the People’s Party, agree to try to convince Simon Boccanegra to stand for election: as a state-employed corsair, he has fought successfully for Genoa and is highly popular among the people. However, Paolo only manages to convince Boccanegra to stand for election by pointing out that this would give him the possibility to liberate his beloved Maria Fiesco and see her again. Maria is the daughter of Jacopo Fiesco, currently the most powerful man in the state and also an implacable enemy of Simon Boccanegra – he has locked his daughter up at his palace to prevent this relationship.

Maria has actually died during her imprisonment. Boccanegra, however, does not know this. He offers Fiesco reconciliation. Fiesco’s condition is that the illegitimate daughter of Maria and Simone – who is also named Maria – is placed in his care. Boccanegra claims that he gave his daughter into an old woman’s keeping. While he was at sea, the old woman died, and he has been searching for the missing child ever since. Fiesco reacts to this information by refusing reconciliation, and the two men part in mutual hatred.

At that moment, Boccanegra’s election as doge is announced. At the same time, however, he realizes that his beloved Maria is dead.

 

Act I – Scene 1

25 years later, the two enemy parties are still struggling for power in Genoa. Simon Boccanegra is still doge, with Paolo as his right hand. Fiesco has gone underground, using the pseudonym Andrea, and is part of a conspiracy to overthrow the doge. 

Amelia Grimaldi, daughter of a patrician family, is waiting for her lover, the young nobleman Gabriele Adorno, who is also part of the plot against Boccanegra. Amelia wants to keep Gabriele away from this conspiracy, since she fears for his life. At this point, a visit from the doge is announced, who, as Amelia knows, has come on behalf of his confidant Paolo to ask for her hand in marriage.

In order to prevent a wedding with Paolo, Amelia sends Gabriele to ask Fiesco, who is a sort of surrogate parent for her, to agree to their immediate wedding. Fiesco tests Gabriele’s devotion by revealing that Amelia is not really a Grimaldi. When their own daughter died as an infant, the family adopted an orphan of the same age, mainly to secure the inheritance claims of the family, whose sons were driven into exile by Boccanegra. 

When Boccanegra asks for Amelia’s hand on Paolo’s behalf, offering to pardon her brothers in return, she refuses. She reveals the truth about herself to Simone, and because of her tale, he believes she is his missing daughter. He gives in to her wishes and refuses to have Paolo marry her. Paolo, who paved the way for Boccanegra’s political career, is unwilling to accept this. He plans to abduct Amelia.

 

Act I – Scene 2

In the council meeting, Boccanegra tries to convince the people’s representatives to seek a peaceful resolution to the conflict with the rivalling sea power Venice. The assembly is disrupted by a raging mob. After Amelia has been abducted, Gabriele Adorno has killed one of the supposed kidnappers. The people demand Gabriele’s punishment, while Gabriele, with Fiesco’s support, accuses Boccanegra of being the mastermind behind the abduction.

When Gabriele points his weapon at Boccanegra, Amelia, who has managed to free herself, steps in front of him to protect him. The subsequent tumult is pacified by Boccanegra, appealing for peace. Until the abduction is cleared up, he has Fiesco and Gabriele, whose plans for an insurrection he is aware of, arrested. At the same time, he suspects that Paolo is behind the abduction. He urges him to curse the unknown perpetrator – in other words, to lay a curse upon himself.

 

Act II

Paolo vows revenge against Boccanegra for the double insult of his prevented marriage and public self-accusation. He poisons Boccanegra’s drinking water and has the two prisoners Gabriele Adorno and Jacopo Fiesco brought, hoping to induce them to murder Boccanegra. Fiesco refuses, as he considers the deed dishonourable. When Paolo convinces Gabriele that Amelia, who is now living with Boccanegra, is also his lover, he is willing to kill Simone.

Gabriele meets Amelia in the doge’s apartments and confronts her, in a raging fit of jealousy. She insists that her love for Boccanegra is pure. When the latter appears, she hides Gabriele. She confesses to Boccanegra that she loves his mortal enemy. Simone fears that he will lose his newly-found daughter again, but asks her to leave him alone. He drinks the poisoned water and falls asleep.

When Gabriele tries to kill the sleeping Boccanegra, Amelia prevents this. Simone then announces that Amelia is his long-lost daughter Maria, whereupon Gabriele regrets his attempt at murder. He asks his forgiveness and assures the doge that he will be a loyal follower henceforth. In exchange, the doge promises him his daughter’s hand. The uprising planned by the conspirators begins.

 

Act III

The uprising has been squelched, but the doge forgives his enemies. Fiesco is set free, while Paolo is sentenced to death. He confesses to Fiesco that he has poisoned Boccanegra. While the poison begins to work, Boccanegra remembers his past happiness. When Fiesco appears, Boccanegra recognizes his former enemy and also reveals that Amelia Grimaldi is his daughter and Fiesco’s granddaughter. The enemies are reconciled. However, Boccanegra is at death’s door. He appoints Gabriele, freshly married to Amelia, his successor, then dies.

Newsletter

News about the schedule
and the start of advance booking
Personal recommendations
Special offers ...
Stay well informed!

Subscribe to our newsletter

Subscribe to our Newsletter and receive 25% off your next ticket purchase.

* Mandatory field





Newsletter