Anna Bolena

Composer : Gaetano Donizetti
Librettist : Felice Romani
Language : Italian
Opera Year : 1830

Roles in this Opera include :
Anna Bolena
Enrico
Giovanna Seymour
Percy
Smeton

Productions of this Opera are listed below:
Anna Bolena
Anna Bolena

Reviews of this Opera are listed below:
Anna Bolena audition review
Anna Bolena review

ANNA BOLENA

ACT ONE.
Scene 1: A hall in Windsor Castle outside the Queen’s apartments
The Chorus speculate as to why King Henry is late visiting his Queen, Anne Boleyn. One of her ladies-in waiting, Jane Seymour, confesses in an aside that the King loves her, and her guilt at the relationship. Anne enters and asks her musician, Smeaton to play her a song to cheer them all up. Smeaton is secretly in love with Anne, so sings about first love, which has a profound effect on Anne. Finally despairing of the King visiting her, Anne calls Jane aside to warn her that the glories of a throne are not worth the pain.

After Anne has retired to her rooms, Jane worries that Anne has realised her guilty secret. King Henry arrives via a secret door, and is angered by Jane’s insistence that she should not see him anymore. He wants to make their relationship public, and hints that Jane, like Anne, wants the throne, not the lover. Jane denies this, but remains guilt-ridden.

Scene 2: The park surrounding Windsor Castle
Lord Percy, Anne’s former lover who had been exiled by the King, is discovered in the park by Lord Rochefort, Anne’s brother. Percy has been summoned back to court by the King himself, and hopes that seeing Anne again will relieve the pain of his exile.

As the hunt approaches, Anne and her ladies appear, eager to see the King. He is surprised by their presence, and as Percy comes forward to take his hand, the King rejects him. The King explains that Anne alone is responsible for Percy’s return, since she believes him innocent. Anne is much affected by the sight of Percy, and the feel of his tears as he kissed her hand sets her heart on fire. Henry quietly instructs one of his courtiers, Hervey, to spy on Percy and Anne, but publicly declares that Percy is pardoned.

Scene 3: The antechamber of the Queen’s apartments
Smeaton sneaks into Anne’s apartments to return a stolen locket with Anne’s portrait, which he kisses fervently. However, before he can replace it, Rochefort enters with Anne, requesting that she see Percy. Reluctantly Anne agrees, and confesses to Percy that her crown is one of thorns. Percy sees in her the pretty girl he fell in love with, and declares that he still loves her. Anne tries to persuade him to leave the country, but Percy refuses. Percy threatens to kill himself and draws his sword, but Smeaton leaps out from his hiding place and confronts Percy. Anne faints, just before the King arrives

Henry is furious to see two men in his wife’s apartments. Smeaton protests their innocent, and to prove it, offers his breast to Henry. The locket falls out from his jacket at the king’s feet, and Henry sees Anne’s portrait in it. It seems to confirm his worst suspicions.

Anne regains consciousness and now protests their innocence, but Henry orders her away in fury. Jane arrives, tortured by guilt. Henry has them arrested and ignores Anne’s pleas; she will be tried by judges, not Henry. All agree their Queen’s fate is as good as sealed.

ACT TWO.
Scene 1: The antechamber of Anne’s room in the Tower of London
Hervey appears to summon the ladies-in-waiting to give evidence to the Council of judges, leaving Anna alone. Jane arrives, and Anne is sympathetic to the weeping girl. Jane has a message from the King; if Anna will confess her guilt and renounce her title, she will be spared. Anne refuses, and Jane pleads in the name of the woman whom Henry plans to make Queen. Unaware of who that woman is, Anne curses her and calls on the heavens to punish this mystery rival, describing how her ghost will haunt the King’s marriage bed.

Finally Jane can bear it no longer and confesses that she is the guilty woman in question. She tell of her love for Henry and Anne forgives her, saying it is Henry’s fault, not hers.

Scene 2: Outside the chamber where the Council are in session
Hervey announces that Smeaton has confessed to an affair with the Queen, an admission that Smeaton mistakenly believes will save Anne’s life. Henry is delighted that Smeaton has fallen into their trap.

Anne begs Henry to spare her the disgrace of a trial. Henry refuses, citing how Smeaton has just confessed to their affair. Percy is initially horrified, but is hopeful that justice will be done; Anne has no such illusions. In a bid to save the day, Percy reveals that he and Anna were once married. He reminds Anne of happier days together, and she wonders why she ever left him for the King in the first place. Henry is furious, and only thinks of revenge on Anne and her daughter, Elizabeth.

Jane is wracked with remorse over her role in the whole business, and tries to leave Henry. She declares she does love him, but cannot bear the guilt of causing Anne’s death. Hervey announces that the Council have condemned Anne and her associates to death, but while both the Chorus and Jane beg the King to show mercy, he refuses.

Scene 3: The Tower of London
Anne emerges from her cell, clearly distracted. She believes it is her wedding day, but then sees an imaginary Percy and begs his forgiveness. Smeaton confesses his part in her downfall, but Anne’s mind is wandering, and she asks why he doesn’t play his lute.

Anne hears bells ringing and on being told they are for the King’s wedding to Jane, realises the celebrations will only be complete when her blood is shed… As she begs for mercy, she faints, and the sheriff comes to take all the prisoners to the block.

© 2009 Kirsty Young
Internet rights 2009 OperaTalent