Perelà, uomo di fumo (Perelà, man of smoke) is an opera in ten chapters composed by Pascal Dusapin. Dusapin himself wrote the Italian libretto, based on the novel, Man of Smoke by the Italian Futurist writer, Aldo Palazzeschi. The opera had its world premiere on 24 February 2003 at the Opéra Bastille, conducted by James Conlon.
Roles +RoleVoice typePremiere cast, 24 February 2003Conductor: James ConlonPerelà tenor John Graham-HallOld woman contralto Martine MahéMarchesa Olivia di Bellonda mezzo-soprano Nora GubischAlloro, a valet bass Scott WildeAlloro's daughter coloratura soprano Chantal PerraudPilone, a philosopher bass Gregory ReinhartThe Queen soprano Youngok ShinThe Archbishop countertenor Dominique VisseRodella, a banker bass-baritone Nicolas CourjalPresident of the Tribunal bass Scott WildeThe king's first guard bass Gregory ReinhartThe king's second guard bass-baritone Nicolas Courjal The minister bass Jaco HuijpenThe chamberlain bass Jaco HuijpenA parrot countertenor Daniel Gundlach
Synopsis The enigmatic protagonist, Perelà, is literally a man made of smoke, formed over thirty-three years in the chimney of a fireplace tended by three old women, Pena, Rete, and Lama.The three women's names are actual words in Italian – "pena" = "sorrow", "rete" = "net" and "lama" = "blade" One day he finds the fireplace abandoned. He gives himself a name made up of the first syllable of the names of his "mothers" (Pe-Re-La), puts on a pair of boots that will anchor him to the ground, and sets off for a city that he sees on the horizon. On the way, he is met by an old woman and then by one of King Torlindao's guards who brings him to the royal court. Once there, everyone is fascinated by the strange story of his origin and by his "lightness", which they consider a unique gift. He is admired and feted by all. So much so, that the Queen and the king's minister ask him to devise a new legal code for their society, and a noblewoman who had previously sworn off men, Marchesa Oliva di Bellonda, falls in love with him. But one day, his fortunes change. The old valet, Alloro, sets himself on fire hoping to emulate the lightness of Perelà. The accusations by Alloro's daughter turn the people against Perelà whom they now revile as a murderer. The Marchesa tries to defend him, but he is condemned to prison. After singing a final oration, Perelà escapes by removing his boots and floating out through the chimney of his cell to become a moving form in the sky.
References
Further reading De Angelis, Giovanna and Giovanardi, Stefano, Storia della narrativa italiana del Novecento, Feltrinelli, 2004. Serrou, Bruno, "Entretien – Pascal Dusapin – Perelà, l'homme de fumée", ResMusica, 11 February 2003.
Tamburri, Anthony Julian, Of saltimbanchi and incendiari: Aldo Palazzeschi and avant-gardism in Italy, Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1990.
External links