Torvaldo e Dorliska (Torvaldo and Dorliska) is an operatic dramma semiserio in two act by Gioachino Rossini to an Italian libretto by Cesare Sterbini, based on Les amours du chevalier de Faublas by the revolutionary Jean-Baptiste Louvet de Couvrai, whose work was the source of the Lodoïska libretto set by Luigi Cherubini (1791), and Lodoiska set by Stephen Storace (1794), and Simon Mayr (1796).
Torvaldo e Dorliska is a rescue opera with an eventual happy ending. The inclusion of buffo roles is the reason for its designation as a 'semiserio' work, similar to Rossini's La gazza ladra.
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Torvaldo and Dorliska was first performed at the Teatro Valle, Rome, on 26 December 1815. It remained in the repertory in Italy for many years though it was never a great critical success.
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, December 26, 1815[1] (Conductor: - ) |
|---|---|---|
| Torvaldo | tenor | Domenico Donzelli |
| Dorliska, wife of Torvaldo | soprano | Adelaide Sala |
| Duke of Ordow | bass | Filippo Galli |
| Giorgio, guardian of the castle | baritone | Raniero Remorini |
| Carlotta, his sister | mezzo-soprano | Agnese Loiselet |
| Ormondo | bass | Cristoforo Bastianelli |
| Year | Cast: Dorliska, Torvaldo, Il Duca d’Ordow, Giorgio, Carlotta |
Conductor, Opera House and Orchestra |
Label [2] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Paola Cigna, Huw Rhys-Evans, Michele Bianchini, Mario Utzeri, Annarita Gemmabella |
Alessandro De Marchi Czech Chamber Soloists and the ARS Brunensis Chamber Choir |
Audio CD: Naxos Cat: 8.660189-90 |
| 2006 | Darina Takova, Francesco Meli, Michele Pertusi, Bruno Praticò, Jeannette Fischer |
Victor Pablo Pérez, Orchestra Haydn di Bolzano e Trento and the Prague Chamber Chorus (Audio recording made at performances at the Rossini Opera Festival, Pesaro) |
Audio CD: Dynamic Cat: CDS 528/1-2 |