Alzira (opera)

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Work data
Title: Alzira
Title page of the libretto, Naples 1845

Title page of the libretto, Naples 1845

Shape: Tragedia lirica in a prologue and two acts
Original language: Italian
Music: Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto : Salvatore Cammarano
Literary source: Alzire, ou Les Américains by Voltaire
Premiere: February 12, 1845
Place of premiere: Naples , Teatro San Carlo
Playing time: approx. 1 ½ hours
Place and time of the action: Lima and the surrounding area, mid-16th century
people
  • Alvaro, Governor of Peru ( Bass )
  • Gusmano, his son ( baritone )
  • Ovando, Spanish general ( tenor )
  • Zamoro, Inca chief (tenor)
  • Ataliba, ruler of the Incas (bass)
  • Alzira, his daughter ( soprano )
  • Zuma, Alzira's sister ( mezzo-soprano )
  • Otumbo, Inca warrior (tenor)
  • Spanish officers and soldiers
  • Incan people

Alzira ( [alˈdziːra] ) is an opera (original name: "tragedia lirica") in a prologue and two acts by Giuseppe Verdi after the tragedy Alzire, ou Les Américains by Voltaire . The libretto is by Salvatore Cammarano . The work was written alongside 15 other operas by the composer in the so-called "galley years" between 1844 and 1850, of which Rigoletto in particular stands out. Despite its numerous musical finesses, the opera Alzira is one of Verdi's most unknown works.

The first performance of Alzira took place on August 12, 1845 in Naples at the Teatro San Carlo , the first Alzira was Eugenia Tadolini . The opera had its German premiere 150 years later on March 14, 1998 at the Stadttheater Passau .

action

Prologue: “Il prigioniero” - The prisoner

Wide plain, traversed by the Rima

Alvaro, governor of Peru, is in the hands of an Inca tribe led by Otumbo and is said to die a slow and agonizing death. As a Christian, he asks God to forgive the savage. The tribe chief Zamoro, who was believed to be dead, appears unexpectedly, who was able to flee from the torture of Gusmano, Alvaro's son. Zamoro reports on his rescue. He gives life to the old man Alvaro (Del primo rieder mio non vo 'la gioia / mista col sangue - “On my first return I don't want blood and joy to mix”). When he learns that his bride Alzira and her father Ataliba are being held captive by the Spaniards in Lima, he gathers the Incas into an army with which he wants to go against the Spaniards.

First act: “Vita, per vita” - life for life

First picture: Square in Lima

Alvaro has returned to Lima and is handing over his governorship to his son Gusmano in front of the Spanish soldiers. As the first official act, he orders peace between the Incas and Spaniards and announces that Ataliba, ruler of the Incas, has promised him the hand of his daughter Alzira.

Second picture: The apartment intended for Ataliba

Zuma looks after her sleeping sister Alzira. In the dream the princess thinks she is united with Zamoro, whom she loves and who she believes was killed in battle. Ataliba comes to her to persuade her to marry Gusmano, but Alzira refuses. Zamoro appears and the two swear eternal loyalty to each other. The brief love affair is destroyed by Gusmano. The governor has his enemy and rival captured. Zamoro accuses Gusmano of being a butcher without a sense of honor. Alvaro, who recognizes Zamoro as his lifesaver, asks for mercy for Zamoro. But mercy for the rival is worse for Gusmano than death. Only when the Spaniard learns that new Inca troops are approaching does he release Zamoro. On the battlefield, the two swear, they will kill each other.

Second act: “La vendetta d'un selvaggio” - The revenge of a savage

First picture: In the fortress of Lima

The Spaniards have crushed the Inca army and are celebrating victory. Zamoro, Alzira and the Inca leaders are back in their hands. Gusmano reads out the death sentence on Zamoro, who is to be executed at dawn. Alzira begs Gusmano for mercy for her fiancé. He promises to release Zamoro if Alzira becomes his wife. She tearfully agrees. Gusmano celebrates his triumph over the warriors of the Incas and the heart of Alzira and orders the imminent wedding.

Second picture: Dark Cave

Otumbo has now managed to free Zamoro by a trick. On the field of the lost battle, Zamoro learns of the impending wedding. He swears revenge.

Third picture: Great hall in the governor's residence

The celebrations have started. The Inca women conjure up the time of reconciliation, which should begin with the wedding. Gusmano introduces his future wife, who, completely broken, only wants death. Before the two can marry, Zamoro rushes over and stabs Gusmano in the chest. But Gusmano thinks about the moment of his god's death. He forgives the murderer and unites the lovers. In the end, all praise the nobility of the dying man.

Instrumentation

The orchestral line-up for the opera includes the following instruments:

Work history

After the failure in Rome, few theaters in Italy re-enacted the opera: Lugo, Milan, Ferrara, Venice and Turin. The opera had a handful of premieres abroad, twice in Lisbon (1847 and 1849), as well as in Barcelona (1849), Lima (1850), Valparaiso (1850) and La Valletta (1858).

  • 1936: For the first time in the 20th century, the opera is brought to life on the ORF in Vienna and performed in concert in German.
  • 1938: On the 125th birthday of Giuseppe Verdi , the Reichssender Berlin records the abridged version of the opera. Elisabeth Schwarzkopf is hired at short notice, learns the role in the taxi from the airport and sings the title role prima vista .
  • 1967: The scenic revival begins in Rome with Virginia Zeani , Cornell MacNeil and Gianfranco Cecchele.
  • 1968: Concert performance at Carnegie Hall , New York City .
  • 1973: Concert performance at the RAI in Turin .
  • 1981: Revival in Parma, Reggio Emilia and Modena.
  • 1990: New production at the Verdi Festival in Parma and Fidenza, which was resumed a year later in Parma.
  • 1994: New production at the Viva Verdi Festival ! the Grand Opera House Company in New York, where all of Verdi's works are shown in the chronology of their creation.
  • 1998: German premiere in Italian at the southeast Bavarian city theater under music director Roger Boggasch in the staging by Norman Warmuth , the set by Thomas Dörfler and with Barbara Schneider-Hofstetter in the title role. The critics and the audience are enthusiastic, all performances are completely sold out.
  • 2010: Swiss premiere at the St. Gallen Theater in the production of Denis Krief .

Discography (selection)

literature

  • Stefano Castelvecchi, Jonathon Cheskin: Foreword to the Critical Score, Chicago 1994.
  • Rein A. Zondergold: Alzira. In: Piper's Encyclopedia of Musical Theater. Volume 6: Works. Spontini - Zumsteeg. Piper, Munich / Zurich 1997, ISBN 3-492-02421-1 , pp. 406-407.
  • Thomas H. Kaspar: Alzira , program for the German premiere. Passau 1998.
  • Attila Csampai: Supplement to the CD, Orfeo 1983.
  • William Weaver: Verdi. A documentation. Henschelverlag, Berlin 1980.
  • Wolfgang Marggraf : Giuseppe Verdi - life and work. Schott, Mainz 1982.

Web links

Commons : Alzira (opera)  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. KJ Kutsch , Leo Riemens : Large singer lexicon . Unchanged edition. KG Saur, Bern, 1993, second volume MZ, Sp. 2914, ISBN 3-907820-70-3
  2. ^ Rein A. Zondergeld : Alzira. In: Piper's Encyclopedia of Musical Theater. Volume 6: Works. Spontini - Zumsteeg. Piper, Munich / Zurich 1997, ISBN 3-492-02421-1 , p. 406.