Violanta
Violanta, Op. 8, is a one-act opera by Erich Wolfgang Korngold. The libretto is by the Austrian playwright Hans Müller-Einigen. It is Korngold's second opera, written when he was seventeen years old. Performance history It was premiered on 28 March 1916 at the National Theatre Munich together with the composer's other one-act opera Der Ring des Polykrates, Op. 7, with Bruno Walter conducting. The North American premiere was given on 5 November 1927 at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City with Maria Jeritza as Violanta, as Alfonso, Clarence Whitehill as Simone, Angelo Badà as Giovanni, and Artur Bodanzky conducting. Roles Synopsis The opera is set in 15th-century Venice, at the house of Simone Trovai, military commander of the Venetian Republic. On the night of the great Carnival, Simone in vain searches his house for his wife Violanta. Ever since her sister Nerina committed suicide (after having been seduced by Alfonso, the Prince of Naples), she has been bent on vengeance. Simone is about to leave for the Carnival with the painter Giovanni Bracca, when Violanta appears. After dismissing Bracca, she reveals to Simone that she has (anonymously) arranged a meeting with Alfonso in their house, where she wants her