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King for a Day
A Comedy by Giuseppe Verdi
Performances: Guildford’s Holy Trinity Church Wed May 27 @7pm, Friday May 29 @7pm & Sat May 30th @7.00pm
A little background to the opera and it's composer
Giuseppe Verdi was approached to write three more operas after the success of his first opera, in 1839, Oberto. He was asked to select a libretto by the obiquitous Felice Romano and although he did not like any of the libretti he had very little time in reality so chose what he considered to be the least bad of them!
The first performances in 1840 did not go at all well, but given Verdi’s personal circumstances at the time this is hardly surprising. Over the three years preceding the operas premiere, he lost his two sons and his wife, a circumstance which surely would have shattered many, and is a testament perhaps to Verdi’s inner strength.
To compound the problem, Verdi was given a cast that was reported to have had no experience of comedy. Obviously Verdi came through this experience and had an extraordinary career, but he did not write another comedy until he was in his 80th year, with his last opera Falstaff.
Un giorno di Regno or King for a day follows very much the tradition of Donizetti and Rossini, but also shows us musical and stylistic glimpses of his future works.
Synopsis and staging
One man. One masquerade. Two Weddings - All in a day
Excitement fills the household of Baron Kelbar as preparations are
completed for a prestigious ‘high society’ double wedding: his daughter
Giulietta is to marry the elderly Treasurer, La Rocca, while his niece, the Marchesa, is engaged to Count Ivrea. The preparations are disrupted by the arrival of the guest of honour, Mr King, billionaire owner of the racing car company, Kings Motors. However, Mr King has been called away on secret trade negotiations, leaving his friend, Count Belfiore to masquerade as ‘the boss’.
Emboldened by his assumed authority, Belfiore intervenes in the
matrimonial arrangements. He reunites Giulietta with her true love, Edoardo, and rekindles his own romance with the Marchesa, thwarting Count lvrea. Once he hears that Mr King has been successful, Belfiore can reveal his true identity.
Based on a historical tale, ‘King for a Day’ is now recognised as one of
Verdi’s finest works. Valeria Perboni’s stylish production relocates the action to 1950s America, transforming Guildford’s Holy Trinity church into the interior of Baron Kelbar’s home. Singing in English, with surtitles, and accompanied by a chamber orchestra under the direction of Lewis Gaston, Guildford Opera’s production is an opportunity to see this rarely performed early comic opera.
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