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Title: NAPOLI

Reference number: 11274

Date: 1978, August 4

Sound: sound

Colour: bw

Fiction: fiction

Running time: 95.54 mins

Description: A recording of Napoli, performed by Scottish Ballet at the King's Theatre in Edinburgh in 1978. [The performance on this tape was on 4 August 1978, but the recording was re-recorded on 18 September 1980.]

The plot revolves around two young lovers, Teresina and Gennaro who are separated at sea by a violent storm. Believing her to be drowned, Gennaro almost loses his mind and sets out to find her. [STA SB 16/1c]

Napoli was premiered by the Royal Danish Ballet at the Royal Theatre Copenhagen on 29 March 1842, and this production by The Scottish Ballet was first performed at the King’s Theatre, Edinburgh on 2 August 1978. The performance on this tape was on 4 August 1978, but the recording was re-recorded on 18 September 1980.

Napoli has been recorded in Benesh Movement Notation by Diana Curry.

See also ref 12302 for recording of Napoli made in 1980.
There is also some footage of Napoli at ref. 11275 - this could be a section from Act 3 which is missing from the 1980 recording?

Please note this is a copy of the raw capture of the original analogue video for preservation and as such may display defects such as dropout, washed out colour and sound fluctuation.

Credits: [Choreographer: August Bournoville
Music: Edvard Helsted, Holger Simon Paulli, Niels W Gade, Hans Christian Lumbye
Design: Peter Cazlet
Lighting: John B Read]

Shotlist: Act One - The Quayside at Santa Lucia (00:16-33:12)
On the wharf at Santa Lucia there is hustle and bustle, the fishermen are expected to return and everyone is in a festive mood. The widow Veronica lives here with her attractive daughter, Teresina, The macaroni vendor, Giacomo, and the lemonade seller, Peppo, are competing for Teresina’s hand, but she in turn laughingly refuses them. Veronica, however, would prefer a marriage to either of these two rather than Gennaro, the captain of a fishing boat, whom Teresina loves and from whom she will not be parted.
The fishermen arrive home with their catch which is handed out and sold. Gennaro embraces Teresina but does not forget to give thanks to the Holy Virgin. Fish are given to Friar Ambrosio and Teresina also gives an offering of a little silver heart. Jealousy awakens when she sees Gennaro flirting with a coquettish customer, Giovania, but after a little quarrel everything is peaceful. Intrigues are being made against the couple by Peppo. During the dance which follows, Teresina sneaks out of the house with Gennaro to go to the Gulf, taking with them their beloved guitar.
Passcarillo, a street singer, and Carlino, a marionette performer, appear on the quayside. Suddenly a storm arises. During the storm Gennaro’s boat capsizes and Teresina is lost. Believing that Teresina has vanished in the sea, Gennaro almost loses his mind. Veronica and all the townsfolk abandon Gennaro – only Friar Ambrosio can comfort him. He hands Gennaro a Holy Cross and encourages him to search for Teresina.

Act Two - The Blue Grotto (33:17-59:01)
Golfo, the Sea Sprite, inhabits the grotto with his nereids. Teresina is brought to him and after a ritual to make her forget her past, he transforms her into a nereid.
Gennaro arrives and finds their guitar. Teresina on seeing Gennaro does not recognise him until, with the help of the Holy Cross, her memory returns and she is transformed back into human form. The Holy Cross curbs Golfo’s anger and he bestows untold riches of the sea upon the young couple before they depart.

Act Three - At Monte Virgine, outside Naples (00:09-33:20)
A pilgrimage is held to the miraculous Virgin. The rejected suitors Peppo and Giacomo make trouble for Gennaro. Father Ambrosio arrives and blesses Gennaro and, at the same time, the widow Veronica and Teresina arrive. After giving thanks to the Holy Cross, the young lovers are united in a feast of dancing and rejoicing.

Curtain call: 33:32-35:53 [much of this footage is lost]