Le Villi

Unlike fairies, elves or sylphs, who repeatedly step into the limelight of world literature, willis tend to lead a discreet stage existence. However, this species of elemental spirits is unjustly overshadowed by their more prominent counterparts, as they are the ones who ensure justice in the deadly battle of the sexes.

Alphonse Karr’s romantic tale of the same name, in which young women turn into avenging ghosts called Willis and which became the basis of Adolphe Adam’s successful ballet Giselle , inspired the 25-year-old Puccini to compose his first opera. The occasion was a composition competition, which Puccini was unable to win, but which gave him the opportunity to demonstrate his great dramatic and melodic talent.
Anna and Roberto are the first of a whole series of Puccini couples whose love affair fails. After their engagement, Roberto travels to Mainz for an inheritance and falls for an attractive stranger. Anna dies of pain and unites her soul with the Willis, the souls of dead women abandoned before their wedding. Roberto’s remorse comes too late. He is entangled in a deadly dance by the vengeful elemental spirits.
With Le Villi , Puccini created an impressive piece of music theater in which symphonic orchestral passages alternate with large solo scenes and choral tableaux and in which the role of a speaking narrator is also provided!