Tamerlano
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| Operas by George Frideric Handel |
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Almira (1705) |
Tamerlano ('Tamerlane') (HWV 18) is an opera in three acts by George Frideric Handel to an Italian text by Nicola Francesco Haym adapted from Agostin Piovene's Tamerlano together with another libretto entitled Bajazet after Nicholas Pradon's Tamerlan, ou La Mort de Bajazet.
One of Handel's major works, he composed it in the space of 20 days in July 1724, in a year in which two more great operas were composed by him: Giulio Cesare and Rodelinda.
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[edit] Performance history
It was first performed at the King's Theatre, London on 31 October 1724. There were 12 performances and it was repeated on 13 November 1731. It was also performed in Hamburg. The first modern production was in Karlsruhe on 7 September 1924.
[edit] Roles
| Premiere 1724 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tamerlano, Emperor of the Tartars | alto castrato | Andrea Pacini |
| Bajazet, Sultan of the Turks | tenor | Francesco Borosini |
| Asteria, Bajazet's daughter | soprano | Francesca Cuzzoni |
| Andronico, Greek prince | alto castrato | Senesino |
| Irene, Princess of Trebizond, betrothed to Tamerlano | alto | Anna Dotti |
| Leone, friend of Andronico and Tamerlano | bass | Giuseppe Maria Boschi |
[edit] Synopsis
It is set in Anatolia and based around Tamerlane after his defeat of the Ottoman emperor Bajazet (Bayezid).
[edit] Sources
Tamerlano by Anthony Hicks, in 'The New Grove Dictionary of Opera', ed. Stanley Sadie (London, 1992) ISBN 0-333-73432-7
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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