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From Hugo’s "Hernani" and "Le roi s’amuse" to Verdi’s "Ernani" and "Rigoletto" : new directions in theatre and music

University of British Columbia

In this thesis I propose to examine the process by which two romantic dramas of Victor Hugo--"Hemani" and "Le Roi s'amuse"--were transformed first into libretti by Francesco Maria Piave, and then into-operas by Giuseppe Verdi. Most scholars and critics agree that Piave's and Verdi's adaptations of Hugo's plays are the more successful as dramatic works, and one of my objectives is to illustrate why this judgement has been made. Since both the plays and the operas in question are products of European romanticism, they are infused with the revolutionary spirit that characterizes many of the artistic endeavours of the time. Since both Hugo's and Verdi's art was often viewed as politically subversive, it was subjected to official scrutiny and censorship. Thus, my second main objective is to show how Hugo and Verdi played active roles in the struggle for political and artistic freedom in nineteenth-century European society. My approach throughout the thesis is primarily historical , since the artistic creations of both Hugo and Verdi were clearly a reflection of the social and political upheavals of their times.

Thesis/Dissertation

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2009-03-23

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http://hdl.handle.net/2429/6351

French

University of British Columbia

UBCV

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