Grange Park Opera

A colourful community has chosen an unconventional life that espouses a freedom beyond social norms.  Amongst them is an outsider, the brooding  Aleko, who has abandoned his own people to his passion for  Zemfira.  There is an ominous foreboding that such a love will be his downfall.

Zemfira’s father tells the story of his own life. He had a wife, whom he loved deeply.  She deserted him for another man, leaving behind their small daughter.  The story shocks and scares Aleko, he is outraged that the old man didn’t seek the pleasure of revenge.

Zemfira disagrees.  For her, as for her mother, love is free.

The old man warns Aleko not to expect Zemfira to be faithful.

Zemfira has, indeed, tired of Aleko’s possessiveness and has a young lover.  They have an evening tryst and she returns to put her child to sleep with a lullaby.  The words of the song are designed to taunt Aleko.

Alone,  Aleko contemplates the catastrophe of his existence and the failure of his attempt to flee the ordinary world.

Zemfira spends the night with her young lover and the dawn heralds disaster.  Aleko catches them and kills them both.

The Old Man tells him to leave.  Though they live beyond the law, they do not judge, do not torture, do not kill.  They spare  Aleko his life but cast him out.

“Grief, anguish, once again alone” sings Aleko.

Before the opera 

The Donatis are old money. Buoso Donati, the family head, is in the process of dying.

Meet the Donatis

Buoso dies. 

Relatives have gathered around – seemingly in respect – but crucially to see how much they have inherited. It is Buoso’s down–at–heel brother-in-law, Betto, who mentions a local rumour: Buoso has left everything to a local community of fat monks. 

Simone, the eldest, is consulted. If the notary has the will, all is lost. If it is in the house, there is hope. They search high and low but can’t find it.

It is young Rinuccio who finds the will.

But he won’t let anyone see it unless his Aunt Zita allows him to marry Lauretta, the daughter of Gianni Schicchi, a canny newcomer. The Donati family look down on him.

(Rinuccio quietly asks a young Donati, Gherardino, to fetch Gianni Schicchi.)

They read the will. It is true: the monks get everything. The Donatis are dumbfounded – the will must be changed. But how?

They need someone with cunning. Rinuccio knows just the man: Gianni Schicchi. He is always brimming with ideas; he is definitely the man to sort this out.

The Donatis are firmly in the saddles of their high horses. Gianni Schicchi is a peasant who has arrived in the city recently. 

Rinuccio protests: Florence is the greater for having men like Schicchi.

Schicchi and his daughter, Lauretta, arrive and sense the hostility. Schicchi is halfway out the door when Lauretta intercedes. If she can’t marry Rinuccio, she will throw herself in the river Arno.

Schicchi scrutinises the will. Does anyone else know that Buoso has died? At the wrong – or right – moment, Buoso’s doctor arrives. The family deny him entry. Buoso is improving, they say, and mustn’t be disturbed. 

Schicchi fakes Buoso’s voice, telling the doctor to leave. The doctor is delighted that his patient has responded so well to his treatments and he departs.

Schicchi outlines the plan. 

Next they must call the notary and have their version of the will ratified. Each family member sidles up to Schicchi to map their ‘wishes’. 

There are the lesser assets:

– the farms at Fucecchio, Figline and Prato
– the lands at Empoli and Quintole.

And the most valuable assets:

– the mule
– the house
– the mills at Signa. 

A tolling bell sends them into a panic. Does the town know of Buoso’s death? False alarm. Somebody else has died. Time is running out . . . rather than argue, they will leave it up to Schicchi to distribute Buoso’s goods and chattels. 

They disguise Schicchi as Buoso and he gets into the bed. He warns them that there is a law which forbids the fabrication of a will. Anyone guilty of such a crime would have their hand amputated and they would be exiled. 

The notary and witnesses are ushered in. 

The family waits with baited breath . . .