La Gioconda

Raised in poverty, street singer Gioconda has always craved security. But now she craves something more. Oliver Mears's new staging transports the action to modern-day Venice. Antonio Pappano conducts a star cast including Anna Netrebko and Stefan Pop.

The story of La Gioconda

Street singer Gioconda has a secret. She is in love with Enzo, a disguised aristocrat. But Enzo is secretly in love with Laura, married to Alvise, a high-ranking Inquisitor. Meanwhile, the scheming spy, Barnaba, has his sights set on Gioconda. When jealousy strikes, the results are deadly, and tragically for Gioconda, it is her blind mother who pays the ultimate price.

Read the full synopsis

Act I

The inhabitants of the city of Venice are looking forward to the imminent regatta. Barnaba watches the street singer Gioconda and her blind mother Cieca from afar. But Gioconda loves Enzo, with whom she had a previous relationship, and evades Barnaba’s repeated advances. While Cieca sings an ‘Ave Maria’, Barnaba devises a plan to accuse her of witchcraft in order to make her daughter pliant to his wishes. After the regatta’s victory celebrations, Barnaba tells the crowd that the blind woman has the evil eye. The mob threatens her, but Enzo appears and defends her. The scene is observed by Laura, the wife of Alvise, an aristocrat and the highest public official of the Inquisition. She also has strong feelings for Enzo.

The case is now heard by Alvise. Laura sees how Enzo takes sides with Gioconda and her mother. She discovers a rosary in the old woman’s hands and tells Alvise that it is proof of the woman’s faith. Alvise decided to pardon La Cieca. The old woman gives Laura the rosary as a gift for saving her life and Gioconda is deeply moved. Shortly before Laura disappears into the church with her husband, she reveals herself. Enzo recognises her as his former lover.

Barnaba confronts Enzo in private with the story of his true identity: He is Enzo Grimaldo, an aristocratic exile from the city of Venice. He and Laura were lovers before she became Alvise’s wife. Barnaba uses this knowledge to blackmail Enzo. Barnaba could denounce his rival for infidelity to Gioconda, and similarly denounce Laura of infidelity to Alvise. But he pretends to offer Enzo help to escape at night with Laura. Once he has hatched this intrigue, he betrays their plan by throwing a piece of paper into the lion’s mouth, the secret letterbox for the Inquisition. Gioconda observes this act of betrayal while party-goers are in the streets.

Act II

The shores of the uninhabited lagoon of Fusina. Barnaba approaches Enzo’s boat, disguised as a fisherman in order to spy on the scene and await Alvise’s arrival. From his hiding place, Barnaba observes the reunion of Enzo and Laura as they prepare their elopement from Venice. Laura prays for forgiveness for her infidelity before a statue of the Virgin Mary. She is now confronted by Gioconda – but just as she is about to kill Laura, Gioconda sees the approach of Alvise’s boat, now in pursuit of his wife. Gioconda decides to leave Laura to the wrath of her husband. Laura begs in vain for help.

But when Gioconda recognises Cieca’s rosary in Laura’s hands, revealing her as the saviour of her mother, Gioconda helps her to escape. Barnaba’s plan has been foiled. Enzo and Gioconda speak together, at which she also reveals Barnaba’s betrayal. At this, Enzo sets fire to his ship and flees.

Act III

Alvise is in his Golden Palace on the Grand Canal (the Ca’ d’oro), shortly before a banquet he is hosting. He is pondering his plans to murder Laura, who has now returned to him. He accuses her of infidelity, hands her a vial of poison, and tells her she has to drink it before the end of the feast. At the last moment, Gioconda manages to snatch the vial from Laura and exchanges it for a second, non-lethal potion that will simulate her death. Accompanied by the sounds of the feast, they pretend to carry out Alvise’s orders. Gioconda has once more saved her rival’s life. The ‘Dance of the Hours’ is performed at the party. Immediately after, Barnaba – accompanied by Enzo – drags Gioconda’s mother into the palace and repeatedly accuses her of witchcraft. When Enzo hears the death knell and learns that it’s for Laura, he reveals himself to be a Grimaldo. Alvise had once robbed him of both his fatherland and the woman he loved. An uproar ensues. Alvise finally presents his wife Laura to the party, apparently dead. Enzo is prevented from attacking Alvise. Gioconda implores Barnaba to save Enzo and agrees to give herself to him in return.

Act IV

Some of Gioconda’s friends carry Laura to Gioconda. She asks them to look for her mother, La Cieca, who has disappeared. Realising Enzo will never love her, Gioconda contemplates suicide and for a brief moment, is ready to drink Alvise’s poisoned vial herself. She is then tempted by the idea of instead killing her still-sleeping rival when Enzo, who had been summoned by Gioconda, arrives. He becomes furious with Gioconda and her continued obsession with him, declaring he still loves Laura. Gioconda is initially furious but once more stifles her own feelings once Laura starts to awaken. In a final gesture of renunciation, she helps Laura and Enzo flee. After they have gone, Gioconda again contemplates suicide, she is stopped by the thought of her mother. At this moment, Barnaba appears and demands the recompense promised for Enzo’s rescue, as their final confrontation begins.