La Gioconda is an opera in four acts by Amilcare Ponchielli to an Italian libretto by Arrigo Boito, based on Angelo by Victor Hugo. First performance: Teatro alla Scala, Milan, 1876.
La Gioconda was a major success for Ponchielli, especially in its third and latest version (Teatro alla Scala, Milan, March 28, 1880), as well as the greatest success in the history of Italian opera between Verdi's Aida (1871) and Otello (1887). It is also the most famous example of the Italian genre of Grande opera, the equivalent of French Grand-Opèra.
There are many recordings of the opera, and it is frequently performed. It is one of only a few operas that features a principal role for each of the six major voice types.
