Doña Flor is a one-act tragic opera composed by Niccolò van Westerhout on a libretto by Arturo Colautti (Zara, 1851 - Roma, 1914), who also wrote the librettos for Fedora by Umberto Giordano and Adriana Lecouvreur by Francesco Cilea.
Doña Flor was commissioned by the Township of Mola (in the province of Bari, Italy) and dedicated by the composed to Mola, his own birthplace. The opera premiere, on April 18, 1896, was followed by one replica in Mola, eight at the Teatro Piccinni in Bari, three at Teatro San Carlo in Naples, which was reopened for the occasion.
Van Westerhout chose both the librettist and the singers. The title role was given to Nadina Bulicioff, a dramatic soprano, capable of both the vocal power and the soffiato techniques, needed on one hand by the vehement Duetto d'amore and on the other by the delicate tessitura of Salve Regina. Don Filippo was sung by Carlo Buti, a baritone gifted with the strong vocality and good discharge of high notes required by the insidious L'invettiva a Venezia. The role of young Alvise was interpreted by tenor Angelo Angioletti, an experienced singer and actor, with a dramatic voice commanding a very high tessitura, giving in to lyricality and hints of subtle mannerism, as in the Sonetto aria.
Doña Flor was composed for the theatre already named after van Westerhout, and was designed to fit into its small orchestra pit and stage dimensions, which did not allow large vocal and instrumental groups nor changes of set and scenery. There are only three singers and an offstage small chorus of gondoliers. For the premiere in Mola, the composer chose a 43 element orchestra: strings, winds, arpa and percussions. From his well calibrated orchestra, a source of endless symphonic and psychological nuances, Niccolò draws intelligently without overwhelming the singing voices. There is only one set: a room with a balcony in XVII century Venice. Throughout the opera, the singers wear only one costume.
Doña Flor is one of the finest and unique late XIX century Italian operas. It may well compare with other longer lived compositions, the authors of which were more fortunate.
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