Maometto II
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Operas by Gioachino Rossini |
|---|
La cambiale di matrimonio (1810) |
Maometto secondo is an opera in two acts by Gioachino Rossini, to an Italian libretto by Cesare della Valle, based on his earlier play Anna Erizo. First performance: Teatro di San Carlo, Naples on 3 December, 1820.
Contents |
[edit] Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, December 3, 1820 (Conductor: Nicola Festa) |
|---|---|---|
| Maometto secondo (Mehmed II) | bass | Filippo Galli |
| Paolo Erisso, head of the Venetians in Negroponte |
tenor | Andrea Nozzari |
| Anna, his daughter | soprano | Isabella Colbran |
| Calbo, Venetian noble | mezzo-soprano or contralto | Adelaide Comelli |
| Condulmiero, Venetian noble | tenor | Giuseppe Ciccimarra |
| Selimo, Muslim noble | tenor | Gaetano Chizzola |
[edit] Synopsis
[edit] Act 1
The story takes place during the XVth century in Negroponte. Byzantium has just fallen to the Turks, and the troops of Maometto II are laying siege at the Venetian city of Negroponte. Young Calbo pushes Paolo Erisso to go on fighting and defend the city, while Condulmiero wishes to yield. Erisso's daughter, Anna, is to marry Calbo, as it is the wish of her father. She is, however, in a secret relationship with an unknown noble that she met in Corinth. The Muslims break through the defenses, and Erisso and Calbo are made prisoners. Maometto arrives and is recognized by Anna: he is the secret lover of hers. Erisso and Anna are horrified by this sudden revelation. Anna threatens to kill herself unless Maometto releases Erisso and Calbo, and, promising her a life of luxury, he agrees.
[edit] Act 2
Maometto declares his love for Anna and offers her the throne, but she refuses. Maometto departs in order to mount another attack on the citadel, but he leaves his imperial seal of authority with her in order to guarantee her safety in his absence. Anna joins Erisso and Calbo, who are in hiding. Erisso initially spurns his daughter for consorting with the enemy, but she swears that she will never marry him, and gives Erisso Maometto's seal, which will enable him and Calbo to come out of hiding. Erisso marries Calbo and Anna before the tomb of her mother, and the two men depart for the combat against Maometto. Before long, Anna is told that Maometto has been defeated by Erisso and has fled, but that her life is now in danger, since he will be seeking revenge. She is confronted by Maometto and his men and, after revealing that she gave his seal to her father and that she has married Calbo, she stabs herself and dies on her mother's tomb.
[edit] Selected recordings
- Philips - 1983 - Samuel Ramey (Maometto), June Anderson (Anna), Margherita Zimmermann (Calbo), Ernesto Palacio (Erisso) - Ambrosian Opera Chorus, Philarmonia Orcherstra, Claudio Scimone (conductor).
 |
This article about an opera or opera-related subject is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
