SIMON BOCCANEGRA

Simon Boccanegra is a story about politics and love—a deadly combination. Simon Boccanegra is the Doge of Genoa, but twenty-five years earlier he fathered a child with Marie, the daughter of his then-political rival Fiesco. Marie died while still young, and their daughter disappeared. Ever since Boccanegra came to power, Fiesco has lived under an assumed name out in the country with his adopted daughter Amelia. Amelia is actually Boccanegra’s daughter, and thus Fiesco’s granddaughter, but at first neither man knows it. Fiesco attempts to give her in marriage to man she doesn’t love, but once Boccanegra find out her true identity, he lobbies to have her wed to her true love, Gabriele, even though Gabriele has been secretly plotting against the Doge with the exiled Fiesco. Gabriele and Fiesco still do not know Amelia’s true identity, so they continue with their plans to kill the Doge. Boccanegra is tricked into drinking poison by one of Fiesco’s friends, but shortly before he dies, Amelia’s identity is revealed to Gabriele, who begs the Doge for forgiveness. The benevolent Boccanegra forgives him and blesses the marriage of Gabriele and Amelia. Soon, Fiesco also finds out Amelia’s lineage, and when the Doge dies, everyone—even his former rivals—mourn the passing of the great man.