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Bomarzo
130
Spanish
Synopsis
A fabulation on the life of Pier Francesco Orsini, Duke of Bomarzo, a 16th‑century Italian nobleman. The deformed and monstrous duke recounts his memories: his incestuous desire for his twin brother and his sister, his obsession with a prostitute, and his search for immortality. The opera explores concealed homoerotic and incestuous desires, the monstrous self-image as a metaphor for forbidden love, and the tragic consequences of ostracism and obsession. The duke dies poisoned, having built a garden of monstrous sculptures (Sacro Bosco) as his legacy.
Composer
Alberto Ginastera
Lyricist / Librettist / Playwright
Manuel Mujica Láinez (based on his own novel)
Year of composition/publication / premiere
1967
Genre
Opera
LGBTQAI+ category
Queer
Level of centrality
Main character
Characters
Pier Francesco Orsini (the Duke), his twin brother (imagined/ghostly), Girolamo (his cousin, an object of desire)
Voice type
Baritone, Tenor
Pronouns
he/him
Publisher / Rights holder
Boosey & Hawkes (Hendon Music)
Where to buy / access the work
Performance rights
For performance rights, please contact the composer and/or publisher to ensure legal compliance.
Official website
Audio recording(s)
Video performance(s)
Keywords
Ginastera, Bomarzo, Orsini, monstrous, incest, homoerotic, queer, Argentine opera, 20th-century