Il pirata

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Work data
Title: The pirate
Original title: Il pirata
Title page of the libretto, Milan 1827

Title page of the libretto, Milan 1827

Shape: Opera in two acts
Original language: Italian
Music: Vincenzo Bellini
Libretto : Felice Romani
Literary source: Bertram or the Castle of St. Aldobrand by Charles Robert Maturin
Premiere: October 27, 1827
Place of premiere: Teatro alla Scala , Milan
Playing time: about 3 hours
Place and time of the action: Sicily, 1266
people
  • Ernesto, Duke of Caldora, partisan of the House of Anjou ( baritone )
  • Imogene, wife of Ernesto, former lover of Gualtiero ( soprano )
  • Gualtiero, once Count of Montalto and partisan King Manfredis, now leader of the Aragonese pirates ( tenor )
  • Itulbo, follower of Gualtieros (tenor)
  • Goffredo, formerly Gualtiero's tutor, now hermit ( bass )
  • Adele, partner of Imogenes (soprano)
  • a little son Imogenes and Ernestus (silent role)
  • Fishermen, fisherwomen, pirates, courtiers, ladies ( choir , extras)

Il pirata (German: The Pirate ) is a romantic opera in two acts by Vincenzo Bellini . The libretto was written by Felice Romani based on the novel Bertram or the Castle of St. Aldobrand by Charles Robert Maturin . Bellini's third opera was a commission for La Scala in Milan , which premiered on October 27, 1827.

content

first act

Shipwrecked and defeated pirates, including their leader Gualtiero and his companion Itulbo, land during a storm on the Sicilian coast near Caldora. Gualtiero meets the monk Goffredo, in whom he finds his former teacher, and also asks about his beloved Imogene (whom he had to leave for political reasons after the Anjou drove the Staufers out of Sicily and the Aragonese are now claiming power). The monk withholds the true facts, which Gualtiero only suspects when the Princess of Caldora - the wife of the current Prince Ernesto - comes, who takes the shipwrecked - whom she does not yet know that they are pirates - into the country. In her Gualtiero recognizes his former lover. But Goffredo and Itulbo still prevent an encounter, although the princess has also seen the mysterious stranger. The monk fears a bitter end if they really do meet.

The pirates celebrate their rescue. But the princess' interest in the mysterious stranger and her pity are awakened. She has him summoned. Gualtiero reveals his true identity and learns that Imogene had to marry Prince Ernesto in order to save her imprisoned father from death. Gualtiero feels betrayed by his former lover. When Imogenes' child, whom Ernesto has brought her, is even close to murdering her, but does not do so out of love for his mother. After this encounter Imogene is extremely disturbed while Ernesto's sailors celebrate their sea victory against what they believe to be defeated pirates. Ernesto notices Imogenes' dismay, he wants to find out more about the shipwrecked people who have arrived and summons their leaders and the hermit. Gualtiero's companion Itulbo now pretends to be the captain in order to protect Gualtiero, who can hardly contain himself from anger. At first the prince intends to take the seamen captive until he knows more about them, but at Imogenes request he wants them to leave early the next morning. Finally, the angry Gualtiero secretly demands another talk from Imogene.

Second act

Alessandro Sanquirico: Set design for the second scene of the second act

While Imogene is waiting for it that night, Ernesto comes as a surprise to confront her about her recently so reserved and distant behavior towards him. In the course of the conversation the whole truth comes to light, because news is also brought that pirates and Gualtiero are in the country. In anger, Ernesto ignores all Imogenes warnings that Gualtiero might kill him and his son. When Gualtiero and Imogene then meet, there are only two alternatives for Gualtiero: Either Imogene escapes with him or he kills Ernesto and hands himself over to the death penalty. She can almost persuade him to leave when Ernesto steps in. The dispute leads to a duel (in which Ernesto is killed). Gualtiero stands to await his conviction and punishment. Both follow inevitably in the presence of Imogenes, although Gualtiero's followers try again at the very end to free him before they escape. He doesn't want that. Imogene, for her part, has gone mad over the whole suffering of soul and awaits her own death.

layout

Instrumentation

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

Music numbers

  • Sinfonia - Allegro con fuoco, Andante maestoso, Allegro agitato

first act

  • No. 1. Introduction: Ciel! qual procella orribile - Allegro agitato assai (chorus)
  • No. 2. Scene and Cavatine: Nel furor delle tempeste (Gualtiero)
    • Recitative: Io vivo ancora! (Gualtiero, Solitario, Itulbo)
    • Tempo d'attacco - Allegro moderato: Nel furor delle tempeste (Gualtiero)
    • Tempo di mezzo - Allegro: Del disastro di questi infelici (chorus)
    • Cabaletta - Allegro moderato: Per te di vane lagrime (Gualtiero, Itulbo, Solitario, choir)
  • No. 3. Scene and Cavatine: Lo sognai ferito, esangue (Imogene)
    • Preludio - Maestoso
    • Recitative: Sorgete; è in me dover - Allegro
    • Cantabile - Andante mosso assai: Lo sognai ferito, esangue (Imogene, Adele, choir)
    • Tempo di mezzo - Allegro mosso: Cielo! è dessa! (Imogene, Itulbo, Adele, Gualtiero, choir)
    • Cabaletta: Sventurata, anch'io deliro - Allegro moderato
  • No. 4. Choir of Pirates: Viva! viva!… - Allegro brilliant
  • No. 5. Scene: Ebben?… Verrà… (Imogene, Adele)
  • No. 6 scene and duet: Tu sciagurato! Ah! fuggi ... (Imogene, Gualtiero)
    • Recitative: Perché cotanta io prendo d'uno stranier pietà? - (Andante, Andante sostenuto) (Imogene, Gualtiero)
    • Arioso: Se un giorno fia che ti tragga - Andante mosso
    • Tempo d'attacco: Tu sciagurato! Ah! fuggi… - Allegro
    • Cantabile: Pietosa al padre! and meco - Andante sostenuto
    • Tempo di mezzo: Alcun s'appressa - Allegro
    • Cabaletta: Bagnato dalle lagrime - Allegro
  • No. 7 scene: Grazie, pietoso ciel - Allegro moderato (Imogene, Adele)
  • No. 8. Marcia and choir: Più temuto, più splendido nome - Moderato (Fa maggiore)
    • Tempo di mezzo: Più temuto, più splendido nome - Allegro (chorus)
  • No. 9. Cabaletta: Sì, vincemmo, and il pregio io sento - Allegro marziale (Ernesto)
  • No. 10. Finale I: Parlarti ancor per poco (Gualtiero, Imogene, Ernesto, Itulbo, Solitario, Adele, choir)
    • Recitative: M'abbraccia, o donna - Allegro
    • Tempo d'attacco: All'accento, al manto, all'armi - Allegro
    • Cantabile: Parlarti ancor per poco - Largo agitato
    • Tempo di mezzo: ebb; cominci, o barbara, la mia vendetta - Allegro
    • Stretta: Ah! partiamo, i miei tormenti - Allegro molto agitato

Second act

  • No. 11. Introduction: Che rechi tu? - Allegro moderato (choir, Adele)
  • No. 12 scene: Vieni; siam sole alfin (Imogene, Adele)
  • No. 13th scene and duet: Tu m'apristi in cor ferita (Imogene, Ernesto)
    • Recitative: Arresta. Ognor mi fuggi! - Allegro
    • Tempo d'attacco: Tu m'apristi in cor ferita - Allegro moderato
    • Cantabile: Ah! lo sento: fra poco disciolta - Larghetto
    • Tempo di mezzo (ripresa del tempo d'attacco): Che rechi? - Allegro moderato
    • Cabaletta: Ah! fuggi, spietato, l'incontro fatale - Allegro assai
  • Scene No. 14: Lasciami, forza umana - Allegro molto (Gualtiero, Itulbo)
  • No. 15. Scene, duet and trio: Vieni: cerchiam pe 'mari (Imogene, Gualtiero, poi Ernesto)
    • Recitative: Eccomi a te, Gualtiero - Allegro agitato
    • Tempo d'attacco: Vieni: cerchiam pe 'mari - Allegro moderato
    • Tempo di mezzo: Crudele! and vuoi? - Allegro moderato (Ernesto)
    • Cantabile: Cedo al destino orribile - Andante sostenuto
    • Tempo di mezzo: Parti alfine - Allegro
    • Stretta: Va, t'allontana - Più mosso
  • No. 16. Scene: Sventurata! fa core (Imogene, Adele)
  • No. 17. Choir: Lasso! perir so - Allegro assai maestoso
  • No. 18. Scene and aria: Tu vedrai la sventurata (Gualtiero)
    • Recitative: Giusto ciel! Gualtiero! - Allegro maestoso (Adele, choir, Gualtiero)
    • Cantabile: Tu vedrai la sventurata - Larghetto maestoso
    • Tempo di mezzo: Già s'aduna il gran consesso - Allegro moderato (choir, Gualtiero, Adele)
    • Cabaletta: Ma non fia semper odiata - Allegro cantabile
  • No. 19th scene: Udiste! È forza, amiche (Adele, choir)
  • No. 20. Scene and aria: Col sorriso d'innocenza (Imogene)
    • Preludio - Andante maestoso, Cantabile (assolo di corno inglese)
    • Recitative: Oh! s'io potessi dissipar le nubi
    • Cantabile: Col sorriso d'innocenza
    • Tempo di mezzo: Qual suono ferale - Allegro, Maestoso, Allegro
    • Cabaletta: Oh, sole! ti vela di tenebre oscure - Allegro giusto

history

Il pirata is considered the prototype of romantic opera in Italy, similar to Weber's Freischütz in Germany or Meyerbeer's Robert le diable in France.

Antonio Tamburini (Ernesto), Henriette Méric-Lalande (Imogene), Giovanni Battista Rubini (Gualtiero), Lorenzo Lombardi (Itulbo), Pietro Anzilioni (Goffredo) and Maria Sacchi sang the premiere on October 27, 1827 at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan (Adele). The set was designed by Alessandro Sanquirico .

The opera was Bellini's international breakthrough. The premiere was followed by performances in Vienna 1828, Dresden 1829, London 1830, Madrid 1830, Paris 1832, New York 1832, Havana 1834, Petersburg 1843 and Buenos Aires 1850. Then the opera fell into oblivion.

After first attempts to revive it in Rome in 1935, Catania 1951 and Palermo 1958, Maria Callas succeeded in bringing the work back into the consciousness of the opera world permanently through her interpretation of the Imogene in the new production of the work at La Scala in Milan in 1958. Montserrat Caballé also celebrated success as an imogene . Renée Fleming sang this role in 2002 at the New York Metropolitan Opera and Sonya Yoncheva in 2018 at La Scala in Milan .

Discography (selection)

literature

  • Vincenzo Bellini: Il pirata: melodramma in due atti . T. Gorchs, 1855 ( digitized version )
  • Friedrich Lippmann : Il pirata. In: Piper's Encyclopedia of Musical Theater. Volume 1: Works. Abbatini - Donizetti. Piper, Munich / Zurich 1986, ISBN 3-492-02411-4 , pp. 240-242.

Web links

Commons : Il Pirata  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Friedrich Lippmann : Il pirata. In: Piper's Encyclopedia of Musical Theater. Volume 1: Works. Abbatini - Donizetti. Piper, Munich / Zurich 1986, ISBN 3-492-02411-4 , p. 240.
  2. ^ Il pirata (Vincenzo Bellini) in the Corago information system of the University of Bologna .