La Gioconda

The Ballad Singer, after the Victor Hugo play “Angelo, Tyrant of Padua”. First performed 8/4/1876 though modified soon after. Four acts (The Lion’s Mouth, The Rosary, The House of Gold and The Orfano Canal). Set in Venice in the 17th Century. La Gioconda’s moth is accused of witchcraft but rescued by Enzo, whom she loves but who is in love with Laura, the wife of Alvise. Alvise tells his wife to take poison, but she is saved by La Gioconda but Enzo believes she is dead and is arrested. To save Enzo, la Gioconda agrees to yield to Barnaba, who loves her, but at the last minute she kills herself – just as he admits to strangling her mother to death.