Zoraida di Granata
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Zoraida di Granata (also Zoraide di Granata or Zoraïda di Granata) is a melodramma eroico (opera seria or 'heroic' opera), in two acts by Gaetano Donizetti. The Italian libretto was written by Bartolomeo Merelli, based on the French play, Gonzalve de Cordoue ou Grenade Reconquise by Jean Pierre Claris de Florian (1791), and on a libretto by Luigi Romanelli to an opera by Nicolini called Abenamet e Zoraide.
Although it was Donizetti's first theatrical success, the original 1822 version of this violent love story was never given a complete performance because Amerigo Sbigoli, the tenor originally cast in the role of Abenamet, died shortly before the first night, with no replacement available. Donizetti quickly adapted this role for contralto, though omitting three numbers in the process. The first performance took place at the Teatro Argentina, Rome, on January 28, 1822. The opera was presented in a revised edition at the same theatre on January 7, 1824.
Contents |
[edit] Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, January 28, 1822 (Conductor: - ) |
|---|---|---|
| Almuzir, King of Granada | tenor | Domenico Donzelli |
| Almanzor, friend of Abenamet | bass | Gaetano Rambald |
| Zoraida, in love with, and loved by, Abenamet, Majella Cu | soprano | Maria Ester Mombelli |
| Abenamet, General of the Moors | tenor (then contralto) | Amerigo Sbigoli |
| Ines, a Spanish slave and friend of Zoraida | mezzo-soprano | Gaetana Corini |
| Aw Zegri | bass | Alberto Torri |
[edit] Synopsis
The murderous and duplicitous Almuzir wishes to marry Zoraida, the daughter of the late king, who in turn loves Abenamet, the victorious General of the Moors. To save Abenamet from the sentence of death passed on him consequent to the machinations of Almuzir, Zoraida agrees to the marriage. She survives Abenamet’s doubts as to her fidelity and somewhat implausibly is allowed to marry him.
[edit] The first lines of the libretto
CORO:Ah! patria un di sì forte!...
- Ah! luoghi un dì felici!...
- Ah! vi darà la sorte
- in preda dei nemici
- or che depresso geme
- il vostro difensor.
[edit] Selected recordings
- Donizetti: Zoraida Di Granata
- Given in new performing editions prepared by Chris Moss and Robert Roberts
- Cast for the 1822 edition (CD 1, CD 2. CD 3 trs 1-9)
- Almuzir, King of Granada. Bruce Ford (ten);
- Zoraida, in love with, and loved by, Abenamet, Majella Cullagh (sop);
- Abenamet, General of the Moors, Paul Austin Kelly (ten);
- Ali, Almuzir's confidant, Matthew Hargreaves (bass);
- Almanzor, friend of Abenamet, Dominic Natoli (ten);
- Ines, a Spanish slave and friend of Zoraida, Cristina Pastorello (sop)
- Changes in cast for the 1824 revisions (CD 3 trs.10-14 and CD 4)
- Abenamet, Diana Montague (mezzo)
- The Geoffrey Mitchell Choir. The Academy of St Martin in the Fields/David Parry
- Recorded at St. Clements Church, London. October and December 1998
- OPERA RARA ORC17
- [4CDs: 74.22 + 71.40 + 54.54 + 64.19]
