The Garden of the Finzi Continis
An opera in two acts
Libretto by Michael Korie
Published by Theodore Presser Company
Duration: Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, with one intermission
Premiere:
January 27th, 2022
NYTF – National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene/NYC Opera
Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust
Edmond J. Safra Plaza
36 Battery Place New York, NY 10280
Commission: National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene/NYC Opera
Instrumentation:
Flute (doubling Piccolo)
Oboe (doubling English Horn) Clarinet in B
Bassoon
Horn in F Trumpet in C Bass Trombone
Percussion (1 player)
Glockenspiel, Xylophone, Chimes, Triangle, Suspended Cymbal, Mark Tree, Snare Drum, Concert Tom-toms (4), Bass Drum
Piano (doubling Celesta)
Violin 1, 2, 3 Viola Violoncello Contrabass
Voices:
GIORGIO (Tenor) Plays early twenties to early-thirties
MICÒL FINZI-CONTINI (Soprano) plays early 20s
ALBERTO FINZI-CONTINI (Lyric baritone) plays early 20s
GIAMPI MALNATE (Baritone) plays early 20s
PAPÀ (Baritone) Giorgio’s father
PROFESSOR ERMANNO (Tenor) doubles as RABBI/TENNIS CLUB PROPRIETOR 50s
MAMMA (Soprano or High Mezzo) Giorgio’s Mother 40s
SIGNORA OLGA (Soprano or High Mezzo) doubles as CRISTINA/RICCA COHEN 50s
PEROTTI (Tenor) doubles as MUSSOLINI/UNCLE FEDERICO Finzi-Contini Servant, 50s
SIGNORA REGINA (Mezzo) doubles as SOFIA Micol’s grandmother, 70s
YOUNG GIORGIO (Baritenor) doubles as his brother ERNESTO Age 14
YOUNG MICÒL (Light soprano) doubles as COUSIN/ADRIANA and ENSEMBLE Age14
CANTOR
BANK TELLER LIBRARIAN
BRUNO LATTES
CITY COUNCILMAN MOVIE THEATRE USHER
JEWISH CONGREGANTS CITIZENS OF FERRARA VENICE MERCHANTS
ENSEMBLE (6)
(All roles played by 3 men, 3 women)
VENETIAN GLASS MERCHANT
AUNT BELLA
UNCLE ARTURO
LIDIA
GISELA
FASCISTI GUARD LEADER
ENSEMBLE ALSO PLAYS
BLACK SHIRTS FASCISTI SOLIDERS STREETWALKERS
Note: With a libretto by Michael Korie (Flying Over Sunset, War Paint, Grey Gardens), The Garden Of The Finzi-Continis begins on the eve of World War II and tells the story of an aristocratic Italian-Jewish family, the Finzi-Continis, who believe they are immune to the changes happening around them.
As they make a gracious haven for themselves in their garden, walling out the unpleasantness of the world outside, Italy forms its alliance with Germany and begins to enforce anti-Semitic racial laws. But the Finzi-Continis discover too late that no one is immune, no one is untouchable.
Based on Giorgio Bassani’s 1962 novel, The Garden of The Finzi-Continis is a modern classic. Vittorio De Sica’s 1970 film adaptation starred Dominique Sanda and Helmet Berger – and took home a 1972 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
New York City Opera/Yiddish Theater Folksbiene
2022
Photos by Steven Pisano
