Zaira

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Work data
Title: Zaira
Poster for the premiere in 1829

Poster for the premiere in 1829

Shape: Tragedia lirica in two acts
Original language: Italian
Music: Vincenzo Bellini
Libretto : Felice Romani
Literary source: Zaire from Voltaire
Premiere: May 16, 1829
Place of premiere: Nuovo Teatro Ducale, Parma
Playing time: about 3 hours
Place and time of the action: Jerusalem in the sultan's harem, 14.-15. century
people
  • Orosmane, Sultan of Jerusalem ( bass )
  • Corasmino, vizier ( tenor )
  • Zaira, slave of the Sultan ( soprano )
  • Fatima, slave of the Sultan (mezzo-soprano)
  • Meledor, Sultan's official (bass)
  • Lusignano, Prince of the Blood of the Ancient Kings of Jerusalem ( baritone )
  • Nerestano, French knight, brother of Zaira ( mezzo-soprano )
  • Castiglione, French knight (tenor)
  • Courtiers, guards, slaves, knights ( choir )

Zaira is a tragic opera (original name: "tragedia lirica") in two acts by Vincenzo Bellini . The libretto wrote Felice Romani , based on the 1732 drama incurred Zaire of Voltaire . The first performance took place on May 16, 1829 at the Nuovo Teatro Ducale in Parma .

action

first act

The harem is preparing for the wedding of Orosmane, Sultan of Jerusalem, with his favorite Zaira. The chosen one is a Christian, but happy to have been chosen by the man of her heart. She ignores the past, only a small golden cross that she wears around her neck reminds of her previous life. Orosmane loves her and shows her the highest regard.

Her friend Fatima is jealous and accuses her of wanting to marry a Muslim in disregard of her Christian faith. Zaira proclaims: "Zaira loves, and love is her own law."

Even a group of court officials do not want to see a Christian on the throne in Jerusalem and resist, but are reassured by the vizier Corasmino. Corasmino, also disapproves of the marriage, but is also the sultan's best friend and therefore does not want to oppose his love.

Orosmane receives a visitor from Franconia without knowing that the guest is Zaira's brother Nerestano. Together with Zaira, he visits compatriots who have been captured, including Prince Lusignano. From the golden cross, a baptism present that Zaira carries, Lusignano recognizes that Zaira and Nerestano are his own children, whom he thought were lost when he was captured. He is appalled by the upcoming wedding of Zaira to the Sultan. Father and brother now exert psychological pressure on Zaira, but this does not affect their love for the Sultan. Nonetheless, she gives in and vows not to marry the sultan.

Nerestano ends his visit. The separation between brother and sister is painful and highly emotional. Corasmino observes the farewell scene and, without knowing the relationship, draws the conclusion that Zaira is planning to run away with the Franconian.

Second act

Fatima urges Zairas to make the decision not to marry Orosmane, to keep the Christian faith and to keep the love of the father and the brother. When the Sultan visits Zaira, she asks him to give her some time to think it over.

Lusignano dies, the Frankish knights gather and mourn their leader. The sultan gives permission to bury the prince in an honorable manner according to the Christian rite. In view of the upcoming wedding, Zaira is not allowed to be present at the funeral ceremony.

The vizier reveals the alleged betrayal to the sultan: A slave was intercepted who was supposed to bring Zaira a letter. The letter is from Nerestano. He wants to meet Zaira in a garden the next night. “If you don't come,” the letter ends, “you will find me dead in the morning”. Orosmane has no doubt that Zaira was betrayed. Corasmino advises the Sultan to let the letter reach Zaira. When she got the message, she was once again torn between her love and her oath to the Father. Then she hears the mourning song and only now does she find out about her father's death. Unable to withstand the emotional pressure and grief, she faints.

The last scene shows a secluded place outside the palace. Orosmane and Corasmino wait in secret for Zaira, who also comes with Fatima. She has decided to give up her love for Orosmane in order to return to Franconia. Nerestano is there a little later. Orosmane suddenly jumps out of the cover of darkness and stabs Zaira. Only from the last words of the dying Zaira does he learn that Nesterano is her brother and not her lover. The sultan regrets his jealousy too late. Orosmane kills himself and collapses over the lifeless body of Zaira.

Instrumentation

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

Work history

The first performance of the work on May 16, 1829 at the Nuovo Teatro Ducale in Parma was a failure. Bellini therefore used larger parts of Zaira in other works, especially in the opera I Capuleti ei Montecchi composed in 1830 . There was no further performance during Bellini's lifetime. In 1836 a posthumous performance took place in Florence. More recently, Zaira was only performed again in Catania in 1976 with Renata Scotto in the title role.

Discography (selection)

literature

Web links

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

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Friedrich Lippmann : Zaira. In: Piper's Encyclopedia of Musical Theater. Volume 1: Works. Abbatini - Donizetti. Piper, Munich / Zurich 1986, ISBN 3-492-02411-4 , p. 244.