The Duchess of Malfi is an opera in three acts by the British composer Stephen Oliver, based on the eponymous play by John Webster. Oliver originally wrote this opera, his ninth, in 1971, at age 21, for a production at the Oxford Playhouse on commission from the Oxford University Opera Club.Glover, Jane, "Stephen Oliver" (December 1974). The Musical Times, 115 (1582): pp. 1042-1044. The premiere was on November 23, 1971, with the following cast members:Caminer, Lesley, "Reports: Oxford" (January 1972). The Musical Times, 113 (1547): pp. 70-74. Jillian Crowe (The Duchess) Keith Jones (Antonio) Marion Milford (Julia) Peter Reynolds (The Cardinal) Stephen Oliver (Bosola) Anthony Sargent (Ferdinand) Alison Stamp (Cariola) The conductor was Peter Robinson, and the director Julian Hope.
Oliver then rewrote the work, and the revised version received its US premiere at Santa Fe Opera on August 5, 1978.
Roles, voice types and interpreters Role Voice type Interpreter The Duchess of Malfi Soprano Pamela Myers The Cardinal Bass-baritone William Dooley Daniel de Bosola Baritone Ronald Hedlund Ferdinand, Duke of Calabria Tenor David Hillman Antonio Bologna Tenor James Atherton Delio Tenor Jonathan Mack Castruccio Bass-baritone Hal Thomas Silvio Tenor Vincenzo Manno Jester Tenor Richard Croft Cariola Soprano Vonna Miller First Officer Tenor James Anderson Second Officer Baritone Neal Schwantes A mad priest Tenor James Justiss A mad astrologer Tenor Vincenzo Manno A mad lawyer Baritone John Brandstetter A mad doctor Bass-baritone Tony Dillon A doctor Bass Thomas Hammons The roles in this list are per the revised 1978 version
Synopsis The play is set in the court of Malfi (Amalfi), Italy. The young Duchess has recently been widowed, but her brothers, Ferdinand and the Cardinal, do not wish her to share their inheritance with a new spouse. They thus forbid her from remarrying. The brothers place Daniel de Bosola in her household as a spy. Nonetheless, the Countess falls in love with Antonio, her steward, and they secretly marry. Eventually, the brothers discover the marriage and imprison their sister. In the climatic duel, Bosola and Ferdinand wind up killing each other.
References
External links Chester Novello page on Stephen Oliver's The Duchess of Malfi Cast list of the revised 1978 version, Santa Fe Opera