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Inspired by the life of the poet André Chénier at the time of the French Revolution, Giordano’s opera with libretto by Luigi Illica, faithfully portrays in detail the story of the protagonist, his love for Maddalena di Coigny, his arrest as a counter-revolutionary and their final hours. Andrea Chénier is 19th century Italian composer, Umberto Giordano’s most famous opera. His quest for naturalism led to the inclusion of the Revolutionary songs ‘Ça ira', the ‘Carmagnole' and the 'Marseillaise', and contrasting 18th-century dances and pastoral music. Set against these are the beautiful lyrical melodies for which the opera is famous - Chénier's 'Improvviso', Gérard's ‘Nemico della patria', Maddalena's 'La mamma morta', and the final duet ‘Vicino a te'. The chorus, representing le peuple in their many guises, plays a larger than usual part; the revolutionary zeal in some of their music making a significant contribution to th
