forza del destino, La

Opera by Giuseppe Verdi (libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, based on the drama by A P de Saavedra, Duke of Rivas, Don Alvaro, o La fuerza de sino), first produced in St Petersburg, Russia, on 10 November 1862, and first performed in Italy at the Teatro Apollo, Rome, on 7 February 1863. In the story Leonora and Alvaro elope together, but he accidentally kills her father and the two are separated in their flight. Leonora's brother Carlo searches to find her ‘seducer’, to avenge the dishonour fallen upon the family. After a series of coincidences, Leonora and Alvaro die together.