Cilea: Adriana Lecouvreur

One of the greatest recordings showcasing the artistry of soprano Magda Olivero, “the Queen of Verismo.” Also stars one of the greatest tenors of the twentieth century, Franco Corelli, with legendary mezzo Giulietta Simionato in the main supporting role. Francesco Cilea (1866–1950) was one of the “minor masters” of Italian opera. His masterpiece is Adriana Lecouvreur, a work that, ever since its Milan premiere starring Enrico Caruso at the Teatro Lyrico in November 1902, has been a standard opera on Italian stages. Its story is a romanticized treatment of the life of a real person, the celebrated French actor Adrienne Couvreur (original spelling, 1692–1730), who was the beloved of the great Voltaire, among many other men. She caused a sensation at her debut in 1717 at the Comédie Française in Paris when she appeared on stage in a simple robe, her bare shoulders covered only by her long luxurious hair. Previously, all female actors were normally costumed in elaborate drapery and plumed headdresses. In one stroke, Mlle. Couvreur (by now known under the more aristocratic form of Lecouvreur) changed the style of stage declamation forever, and became the favorite actress in France for the rest of her short life. When she died at the age of thirty-eight, rumor had it that a jealous noblewoman had poisoned her, as in the opera. Live performance, Naples, November 28, 1959.