Anna Bolena facts for kids

Anna Bolena is an Italian opera that tells a dramatic story through music. It has two main parts, called acts. The famous composer Gaetano Donizetti wrote the music for this opera. The words and story, known as the libretto, were written by Felice Romani.

The opera was first performed in Milan, Italy, on December 26, 1830. Anna Bolena was Donizetti's thirty-third opera, and it became his first really big success. This opera helped him become well-known across Europe. For a long time, the opera wasn't performed very often. But then, a famous singer named Maria Callas brought it back to life at La Scala in Milan in 1957. Since then, many other great singers, like Joan Sutherland, Montserrat Caballé, and Beverly Sills, have performed it regularly.

Main Characters

• Anna Bolena - The main character, sung by a soprano (a high female voice).
• Giovanna Seymour - Another important character, sung by a mezzo-soprano (a middle female voice).
• Enrico VIII - The King, sung by a bass (a low male voice).
• Lord Percy - A nobleman, sung by a tenor (a high male voice).
• Smeaton - A young musician, sung by a mezzo-soprano.
• Lord Rochfort - Anna's brother, sung by a bass.
• Hervey - A court official, sung by a tenor.

The Story of Anna Bolena

The story of Anna Bolena takes place in England in the year 1536. The opera shows the difficult relationship between King Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn. The King has become interested in another woman, Jane Seymour.

In the opera, Anne is accused of serious wrongdoing. These accusations are made so that the King can remove her from her position. This allows Jane Seymour to become his next wife and the new Queen of England. The opera explores the emotions and drama surrounding these events.

See also

In Spanish: Ana Bolena (ópera) para niños

Images for kids

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  Set design by Alessandro Sanquirico for the 1830 premiere

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  Rubini as Lord Percy in Anna Bolena

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  Disegno per copertina di libretto, drawing for Anna Bolena (undated).