Nina (Dalayrac)
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| Operas by Nicolas Dalayrac |
|---|
L'amant statue (1785) |
Nina, ou La folle par amour (Nina, or The Woman Crazed with Love) is an opera in one act by the French composer Nicolas Dalayrac. It was first performed at the Comédie-Italienne, Paris on May 15, 1786. The libretto, by Benoît-Joseph Marsollier des Vivetières, is based on a short story by Baculard d'Arnaud. Nina was a popular success. Its most famous aria, Quand le bien-aimé reviendra ("When my sweetheart returns to me"), is mentioned by Hector Berlioz in his Memoirs as his "first musical experience" (he heard an adaptation of the tune in church). An Italian version of the libretto was set by Giovanni Paisiello as Nina, o sia La pazza per amore in 1789.
[edit] Roles
| Cast | Voice type | Premiere, May 15, 1786 |
|---|---|---|
| Nina | soprano | Rose-Louise Dugazon |
| Count Lindoro | tenor | |
| Germeuil | tenor | |
| Mathurine | mezzo-soprano | Marie Crétu-Simonet |
| Georges | baritone | |
| A musician | ||
| A second musician |
[edit] Synopsis
Nina is in love with Germeuil but her father, Count Lindoro, favours another suitor. Germeuil and his rival fight a duel. Nina believes that Germeuil has been killed and goes mad. She only regains her reason when Germeuil reappears unharmed and her father finally allows him to marry her.
[edit] Sources
- The Viking Opera Guide ed. Holden (Viking, 1993)
- Amadeus Online (in Italian)
