Political Tragedy

GIUSEPPE PENNISI attended a performance
of Wagner's 'Rienzi' in Rome

Although very successful in the nineteenth century (mostly in Germany but also in Italy thanks to a rhythmic translation by Arrigo Boito), Rienzi, Der Letzte der Tribunen is now one of Wagner's least performed operas, for several reasons. The full staging of the Grosse tragische Oper in five acts may last some six hours, including ballet and intermissions, as happened in the Dresden premiere on 20 October 1842 (as the composer recalls in Mein Leben). Normally, it is presented on two different evenings or is drastically cut. In addition, it is a costly 'grand opera' patterned after Spontini's 'Imperial operas' for the French Emperor and for the Prussian Kings...

RICHARD WAGNER

TEATRO DELL'OPERA

ROME

ITALY

GERMANY

HITLER

ROBERTO GABBIANI