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Title: NAPOLI

Reference number: 12302

Date: 1980, December 23

Production company: [ BBC]

Sound: sound

Colour: col

Fiction: fiction

Running time: 121.02 mins

Description: A production of Napoli performed by Scottish Ballet and filmed by the BBC. The footage in this video is a different edit from the production that aired. This performance was recorded at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow.

Please note this recording is Acts 1 and 2 only. Act 3 is missing though possibly a section of it can be found on the recording at ref. 11275?

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.

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

See also ref 11274 for 1978 recording of Napoli.

The Scottish Theatre Archive holds material relating to this production including:
Napoli, Theatre Royal Glasgow, Programme, 22-24 August 1978: STA SB 7/31-7/33
Napoli. King's Theatre, Edinburgh, 1986 May 13-17. Programme: STA SB 7/24
Napoli. Robin Anderson Theatre, Glasgow, 1991 June 7. Leaflet: STA SB 16/1c

See also https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b74924044

Credits: [Choreographer: August Bournoville
Music: Edvard Helsted, Holger Simon Paulli, Niels W Gade, Hans Christian Lumbye
Design: Peter Cazlet
Conductor: Bramwell Tovey
Staged by: Poul Gnatt

Cast:
Gennaro: Peter Schaufuss
Teresina: Elaine McDonald
Veronica, Teresina's mother: Cecilia Barrett
Friar Ambrosio: Christopher Long
Giacomo: Peter Royston
Peppo: Gordon Aitken
Pascarillo: Jim Hastie
Carlino: Garry Trinder
Giovania: Alison O'Neal
Drummer: William Brown
Violin player: Jonathan Williams
Golfo: Paul Tyers
Ballabile: Veronica Butcher, Gwendoline Edmonds, Anna McCartney, Eleanor Moore, Jeanette Newell, Noriko Ohara, Cristopher Gillard, Robert Hampton, Vincent Hantam, Kit Lethby, Robert Ryan, Nigel Spencer
Pas de Six: Sally Collard-Gentle, Anna McCartney, Eleanor Moore, Noriko Ohara, Vincent Hantam, Kit Lethby
Tarantella: Robert Ryan, Nigel Spencer]

Shotlist: Act One – The Quayside at Santa Lucia (03:50-27.22)
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 (01:50-27:36)
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.

[Note: Accompanying recording of Act 3 is missing]