Angelo, Tyran de Padoue

'Angelo, Tyran de Padoue is a French play by Victor Hugo (1802-1885)[1].

The original text

The play was first performed at the Théâtre Français, Paris, on 28 April, 1835.

Translations and adaptations

Translated into English as Angelo, Tyrant of Padua

The play has been adapted in a variety of forms, including a film and six operas, the most famous of which is probably La Gioconda, the well-known opera in four acts by Amilcare Ponchielli (1834-1886)[], with an Italian libretto by Arrigo Boito (writing as Tobia Gorrio). It was first performed at the Teatro alla Scala, Milan, on 8 April 1876, but Ponchielli revised the work several times and it was especially successful in its third and final version, first performed at the same theatre on 28 March 1880. The opera opened in the USA at the Metropolitan Opera in New York on 20 December 1883.

Performance history in South Africa

Listed below are all the various versions of the original play by Hugo, including the two operas.

1893-4: Performed by the Lyric Opera Company on tour in South Africa, including performances in the Opera House, Cape Town.

Sources

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelo,_tyran_de_Padoue

D.C. Boonzaier, 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage", in SA Review, 9 March and 24 August 1932. (Reprinted in Bosman 1980: pp. 374-439.)

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.203-205

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