Imelda di Lambetazzi

by Gaetano Donizetti (1797 - 1848).
Opera seria in two acts.
First performed in Naples at Teatro San Carlo, 23 August 1830
Librettist Andrea Tottola
Source: Unidentified

Act one

A town crier, sounding the trumpet, assembles the populace in front of the residence of the Lambertazzi family (Ghibelline supporters), and affixes an appeal for the struggle against the Geremei family (Guelph supporters). The people, however, weary of the war, refuse to be subjected to the constant sufferings caused by the unresolved conflict between the two families and beg pity of the Praetor Orlando Lambertazzi. Orlando at first refuses to accept this popular plea and accuses the citizenry of cowardice, but then he yields. He says that he would be prepared to come to terms with the Geremei family. Then his son Lamberto appears. For Lamberto the question is clear; there is only one possible solution: the enemy must be defeated by force of arms. Stirred by his daring words Orlando and Ubaldo join in Lamberto's war cry. In her apartment Imelda, Oriando's daughter, gives vent to her suffering. Because of Lamberto and his thirst for vengeance against the Geremei family she will never be able to be united with Bonifacio, a member of the enemy family; despite all the difficulties of her situation, however, she promises him eternal love and fidelity. Ubaldo leads a messenger of the enemy army into the house. This messenger is in fact Bonifacio, disguised as a simple soldier with his visor down covering his face. When Ubaldo leaves, Bonifacio reveals himself to Imelda, begging her to come away with him.

Imelda does not, however, intend to become his wife by means of an ignoble action. Orlando and Ubaldo meet Bonifacio and accept a meeting with an ambassador from the enemy camp. Lamberto refuses to make terms with the enemy but his father Orlando forces him to obey. Orlando, Lamberto, Ubaldo and the people await the arrival of the enemy messenger in the entrance to the Lambertazzi residence. To the astonishment of all present Bonifacio himself is the messenger and his message is an offer of a peaceful solution to the conflict. When Bonifacio says that this peace should be guaranteed by his marriage to lmelda he provokes an immediate declaration of war. Imelda enters with other women, lamenting the suffering that war would bring them.

Lamberto insults Bonifacio and challenges him to a duel; Bonifacio accepts the challenge, whilst Imelda offers herself as a victim to avoid further bloodshed.

Act two

Lamberto asks Imelda the dreadful question, does she love Bonifacio? Imelda attempts to evade the question. Lamberto then reminds her of the cause of the family feud: Bonifacio's father had killed their brothers and cast their mother into prison where she had died of starvation. On that day lmelda, like Lamberto, had sworn to revenge the dreadful deed! Finally Lamberto tricks lmelda into admitting her love for Bonifacio. The treachery of one of his soldiers causes Bonifacio's letter to Imelda to fall into the hands of Ubaldo: this is certain proof of Imelda's love for Bonifacio. Orlando is shaken. Lamberto appears and reads the message; in it Bonifacio requests lmelda to grant him a final meeting in a precise place at a fixed time.

Lamberto decides that the letter must be delivered to Imelda but that she should not know that her secret has been revealed. Night fails in the Geremei camp: the soldiers are awaiting their commander. At last Bonifacio arrives and sadly announces that Lamberto has rejected their offer of peace and has declared war. All of the soldiers burst out in a joyous war cry, except Bonifacio who remembers the sad face of lmelda at their last meeting. He calls for moderation, but his followers, deciding to risk everything move to battle. Lmelda awaits her lover in the garden of her own home, with an unhappy foreboding. She is upset to see Lamberto arrive instead of Bonifacio. Her brother tells her in triumphant tone that on his order Bonifacio's father has been killed. Bonifacio's voice is heard as he arrives, calling lmelda. Lamberto hides. Bonifacio, who suspects nothing, tells lmelda about the situation: his troops are attacking and his father is waiting for the two of them in a safe place. lmelda, in desperation, begs him to flee and to leave her; it is only when he accuses her of putting his father's life in danger by hesitating that she tells him that his father has been killed. Bonifacio despairing rushes off, sword in hand. Orlando appears and accuses lmelda of her shameful act as she wanders around beside herself with pain. Lamberto now enters with a bloodstained sword in his hand; he has run Bonifacio through with this sword that had been dipped in poison. lmelda runs off in desperation to succour her beloved. Distant voices, the clash of arms and trumpets of war are heard. Orlando and Lamberto rush off with their swords drawn. The conflict rages in the square outside the Lambertazzi residence. Lamberto with great difficulty drags lmelda forward. Orlando hearing that Imelda has sucked the poison from Bonifacio's wounds in an attempt to save him and is dying of the same poison is filled with horror and drives his daughter away. lmelda admits her guilt and begging her father's pity she dies.