Lodoïska

For the 1796 opera by Simon Mayr on the same subject, see La Lodoiska.
Luigi Cherubini

Lodoïska is an opera by Luigi Cherubini to a French libretto by Claude-François Fillette-Loraux after an episode from Jean-Baptiste Louvet de Couvrai’s novel, Les amours du chevalier de Faublas. It takes the form of a comédie héroïque (a type of opéra comique) in three acts, and was a founding work of rescue opera.[1][2] It has also been called one of the first Romantic operas, though Cherubini's work was basically classical.[3]

Stephen Willis has explained the importance of the work:

"With Lodoïska Cherubini turned his back on his training as an Italian composer of opera seria, choosing the freer form of opéra comique over the more stilted and confining tragédie lyrique and embarking on a course of development of opéra comique which was to lead to the eradication of almost all differences between the two genres, except for the spoken dialogue."[4]

Basil Deane has called the opera "entirely original in its depth of psychological insight, dramatic tension, and musical depth."[3]

Contents

Performance history

It was first performed at the Théâtre Feydeau in Paris on 18 July 1791.

The opera was received enthusiastically and ran for 200 performances. It was so popular that it was revived again at the Feydeau in 1819 and was performed frequently in the Germanic countries in the early 19th century, including a production in Vienna in 1805, while Cherubini was there. John Philip Kemble produced an English version in 1794.[3] It was first produced in New York on 4 December 1826.

Roles

Role Voice type Premiere cast,
18 July 1791
(Conductor: — )
Count Floreski tenor Pierre Gaveaux
Lodoïska, Princess of Altanno soprano
Dourlinski baritone
Titzikan tenor
Altamoras bass
Lysinka soprano
Varbel baritone

Synopsis

Place: Poland
Time: 1600

Recordings

References

Notes
  1. ^ Scott, Bruce (January 14, 2011). "Fanning Revolutionary Fires: Cherubini's 'Lodoiska'". NPR. http://www.npr.org/2011/01/14/132903213/fanning-revolutionary-fires-cherubinis-lodoiska. 
  2. ^ Boyden, Matthew; Kimberley, Nick; Staines, Joe (2002). The rough guide to opera. Rough Guides. p. 116. http://books.google.com/books?id=bLDaqKzJF08C&pg=PT116. 
  3. ^ a b c Fenner, Theodore (1994). Opera in London: views of the press, 1785-1830. SIU Press. p. 106; note at 691. http://books.google.com/books?id=hOMA5RMyI4IC&pg=PA106. 
  4. ^ Willis, p. ??
Sources