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I gioielli della Madonna

I gioielli della Madonna (English: The Jewels of the Madonna) is an opera in three acts by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari to an Italian libretto by Carlo Zangarini and Enrico Golisciani, based on news accounts of a real event.

It was first performed at the Kurfürstenoper, Berlin, 23 December 1911 under the title Der Schmuck der Madonna. That performance was in German, but now it is usually given in Italian. (Wolf-Ferrari stated that his operas were often first given in German simply because he had a German publisher). Its controversial themes include love between a brother and his adopted sister, implied criticism of the Catholic Church, and an on-stage orgy.

I gioielli della Madonna is not often performed today though it remains in the repertory. There is a recording of it. The opera was given its Italian premiere in 1953.

Sources

• John C G Waterhouse, 'Gioielli della Madonna, I' in The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, ed. Stanley Sadie (London, 1992) ISBN 0-333-73432-7
• "Wolf-Ferrari here to hear his operas", The New York Times, January 6, 1912
• Gustav Kobbé, I gioielli della Madonna, The Complete Opera Book (1919 edition), G. P. Putnam.