Francesca da Rimini
Opera byRiccardo Zandonai
Sketch for a set design (undated)
Librettist	Tito Ricordi
Language	Italian
Based on	Gabriele D'Annunzio'sFrancesca da Rimini
Premiere	19 February 1914 (1914-02-19) Teatro Regio, Turin

Francesca da Rimini,Op. 4, is an opera in four acts, composed byRiccardo Zandonai, with alibretto byTito Ricordi II [it], after D'Annunzio's playFrancesca da Rimini. It was premiered at theTeatro Regio in Turin on 19 February 1914 and is still staged occasionally.

This opera is Zandonai's best-known work. In theNew Grove Dictionary of Opera, Renato Chiesa calls it "one of the most original and polished Italian melodramas of the 20th century, [which] combines a powerful gift for Italian melody ... with an exceptional command of orchestration." Celebrated performers of the title role have includedGilda dalla Rizza,Magda Olivero (who recorded excerpts from the opera in 1969, forDecca Records),Raina Kabaivanska andRenata Scotto.

The story takes place inRavenna andRimini.

Francesca, daughter ofGuido I da Polenta, for state reasons, is to be married to Giovanni, known as Gianciotto, the malformed son ofMalatesta da Verucchio. But as Francesca would certainly refuse to marry the lame and deformed Gianciotto, she is introduced in the first act, by means of a well-laid plot, to his handsome younger brother, Paolo, known asIl bello. Under the impression that Paolo is her destined bridegroom, Francesca falls deeply in love with him at first sight; he also falls passionately in love with her, although they do not exchange a single word.

The next act takes place on the platform of a tower of theMalatesti, while a battle rages between theGuelphs and Ghibellines. Francesca, now married to Gianciotto, meets Paolo and reproaches him for the fraud practised on her. He begs forgiveness and reveals his intense passion for her. Gianciotto brings the news of Paolo's election as Captain of the People and Commune of Florence. Paolo departs for Florence.

In the third act Francesca, in her luxurious apartment, is reading the story ofLancelot andGuinevere to her women. They then dance and sing in celebration of the advent of Spring, until, on a whispered word from her slave, Francesca dismisses them. Paolo, sick with longing for her, has returned from Florence. He enters; they continue reading the story of Guinevere together, until, no longer in control of their feelings, they let their lips meet in a long kiss.

In the fourth act, Malatestino, Gianciotto's youngest brother, who himself lusts for Francesca, has discovered her secret meetings with Paolo. After Francesca refuses to give in to his sexual advances, Malatestino betrays Francesca and Paolo to Gianciotto, who determines to find out the truth for himself. Accordingly, Gianciotto lies in wait outside Francesca's door, and surprising her and Paolo together at early dawn, he slays them both.

• Modern Music and Musicians, vol. 1. The University Society, New York. (1918)
• The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, ed.Stanley Sadie, 1992

• Francesca da Rimini: Scores at theInternational Music Score Library Project
• Libretto

• Italian-language operas
• Operas by Riccardo Zandonai
• Verismo operas
• Operas
• 1914 operas
• Operas set in Italy
• Operas based on plays
• Operas set in the 13th century
• Operas about Francesca da Rimini
• Operas based on works by Gabriele D'Annunzio
• Operas based on Inferno (Dante)

• Works with IMSLP links
• Articles with International Music Score Library Project links
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata