Zoraida di Granata

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 "and the opera in which he began to adopt 'Rossinian' techniques"[1], 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 28 January 1822 and it and its composer received great acclaim in the weekly Notizie del giorno:

"A new and very happy hope is rising for the Italian musical theatre. The young Maestro Gaetano Donizetti...has launced himself strongly in his truly serious opera, Zoraida. Unanimous, sincere, universal was the applause he justly collected from the capacity audience..."[2].

The opera was presented in a revised edition at the same theatre on 7 January 1824, and given a revival in Lisbon in 1825[2].

Contents

Roles

Role Voice type Premiere cast, 28 January 1822
(Conductor: - )
Almuzir, King of Granada tenor Domenico Donzelli
Almanzor, friend of Abenamet bass Gaetano Rambald
Zoraida, in love with, and loved by, Abenamet 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

Synopsis

Time: 1480
Place: Granada, Spain.

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.

Recordings

1822 version

Year Cast
(Almuzir, Zoraida, Abenamet, Almanzor)
Conductor,
Opera House and Orchestra
Label[3]
1998 Bruce Ford,
Majella Cullagh,
Paul Austin Kelly,
Matthew Hargreaves
David Parry,
Orchestra of the Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields
Audio CD: Opera Rara
Cat: ORC 17
On CDs 1, 2, and 3 (part).

1824 version

The Opera Rara recording contains an additional six pieces on CDs 3 (part) and 4.

References

Notes
Cited sources
Other sources

External links