Duets and Arias from Italian Operas

Verdi's La forza dei destino (The Force of Destiny) was first performed in St. Petersburg in 1862. Set in mid-eighteenth century Spain and Italy, the opera deals with the love of Leonora, daughter of the Marquis of Calatrava, and Don Alvaro. The couple plan to elope, but are surprised by Leonora's father, who is accidentally killed, and dies cursing his daughter. Don Carlos, disguised as a student, seeks out his sister and her lover, the former a fugitive, now disguised as a man. She later conceals herself in a hermitage, while Alvaro, believing her dead and also in disguise, does valiant service in Italy, rescuing Carlos from death. In the last act Alvaro has become a monk, near the hermitage of Leonora. He is discovered by Don Carlos, who still seeks revenge, and is challenged by him in Invano Alvaro - Le minaccie, i fieri accenti. The patience of Alvaro, turned monk, is exhausted and the two fight. Carlos is wounded a