her vengeful husband insists she must die by poisoning herself (effectively committing suicide and condemning herself to Hell). Once again Gioconda has followed and has found her way into the palace, this time with the intention of saving her rival. Finding Laura alone Gioconda replaces the phial of poison with a powerful drug which creates the appearance of death. The second scene begins with Alvise welcoming his fellow members of the nobility to the palace; Barnaba and Enzo are amongst those present. Lavish entertainment is provided and the act ends with the famous ballet Dance of the Hours. The mood of revelry is shattered as a funeral bell begins to toll and the body of Laura is revealed awaiting burial. A distraught Enzo flings off his disguise and is promptly seized by Alvise's men. Act 4 The Orfano Canal A crumbling ruin on the island of Giudecca In exchange for Enzo's release from prison, La Gioconda has agreed to give herself to Barnaba. When Enzo is brought in, he is initially furious when Gioconda reveals that she has had Laura's body brought from its tomb. He is about to stab her when Laura's voice is heard and Gioconda's part in reuniting the lovers becomes clear. Enzo and Laura make their escape, leaving La Gioconda to face the horrors awaiting her with Barnaba. The gondoliers' voices are heard in the distance telling that there are corpses floating in the city. When Gioconda tries to leave, she is caught by Barnaba. She then pretends to welcome his arrival, but under cover of decking herself in her jewellery, seizes a dagger and stabs herself to death. In frustrated rage Barnaba tries to perpetrate one last act of evil, screaming at the lifeless body "Last night your mother offended me. I drowned her!" Famous arias and excerpts "Voce di donna o d'angelo" (La Cieca) "O monumento" (Barnaba) "Cielo e mar" (Enzo) "Stella del Marinar" (Laura) "E un anatema!... L'amo come il fulgor creato" (duet Gioconda with Laura) "Si! Morir ella de!" (Alvise) O madre mia nell'isola fatale (Gioconda) Dance of the Hours "Suicidio!" (Gioconda) "Ora posso morir... Vo' farmi più gaia" (final duet Gioconda with Barnaba) Parodies of the ballet music The Dance of the Hours in Act 3 is considered one of the most popular ballets in history. The ballet was used in the 1940 Walt Disney animated film Fantasia. The segment consists