About the work
Tragedia lirica in three acts by Gaetano Donizetti to a libretto by Andrea Leone Tottola, based on Pierre-Laurent de Belloy's tragedy "Gabrielle de Vergy". Donizetti composed a first version in 1826 and an entirely new second version in 1838, but neither was performed during his lifetime.
Plot
Gabriella is married against her will to Count Fayel de Vergy although she loves the knight Raoul. After his presumed death she resigns herself to the marriage, but when Raoul appears at court, he accuses Gabriella of infidelity. In the ensuing duel Fayel kills his rival and has Raoul's heart delivered to Gabriella in an urn — the shock causes her collapse.
Cultural significance
Not until 29 November 1869 — twenty-one years after Donizetti's death — did a version titled "Gabriella" reach the stage at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples, a pasticcio assembled by other hands from several Donizetti works that closed after just four performances following scathing reviews. The score Donizetti actually completed in 1838 was first heard, in concert, only in 1978 in Belfast.