Les Abencérages, ou L'étendard de Grenade (English: The Abencerrages, or The standard of Granada) is an opera in three acts by Luigi Cherubini with a French libretto by Etienne de Jouy, based on the novel Gonzalve de Cordoue by Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian. It was first performed on 6 April 1813 by the Académie Impériale de Musique (Paris Opera) at the Salle Montansier, with Napoleon and his wife, the Empress Marie-Louise, in the audience. The opera was initially a success but its popularity waned after the fall of Napoleon.
Because of its use of large choruses, spectacle and extensive dance music as well as its story line of a love affair played out against the background of major historical events, Les Abencérages is considered an important precursor of French grand opera. Almanzor's tenor aria, Suspendez de ses murs, was admired by composers such as Berlioz and has been recorded by singers including Georges Thill and Roberto Alagna. The ballet music in the first act contains variations on the popular melody La Follia (known in French as Les folies d'Espagne).
The action of the opera concerns the feud between the families of the Abencerrages and the Zegris. In spite of this conflict, Almanzor, a young Abencerrage warrior, and the Zegri princess Noraïme have fallen in love and are due to be married. Almanzor has also made friends with the Spanish noble, Gonzalve of Cordoba and forged a peace treaty between the Muslims and the Christians. But Almanzor's popularity has made him enemies among many of the Zegris and they plot against him. On the day of the wedding, a revolt breaks out among a subject tribe and Almanzor is forced to leave to quell it. He takes with him the standard of Granada, which is so sacred that its loss would mean exile.
Act 2edit
Almanzor defeats the rebels but he loses the sacred standard and is put on trial. Almanzor defends himself by claiming that one of his enemies, Octaïr, secretly snatched it away, but his excuses are not accepted and he is condemned to exile.
Act 3edit
Almanzor cannot bear life away from Noraïme and steals into the garden of the Alhambra to meet her. But he is ambushed by his Zegris enemies, arrested and condemned to death unless a champion can be found to defend his cause in single combat. An unknown warrior bearing the lost standard of Granada arrives to take up the challenge on Almanzor's behalf. He fights and defeats the Zegris champion, Alamir, before revealing he is Gonzalve of Cordoba and showing proof it was Octaïr and his fellow conspirators who hid the standard in order to destroy Almanzor. The conspirators are arrested and Almanzor and Noraïme's wedding goes ahead to general rejoicing.
Recordingsedit
In Italian as Gli Abencerragi with Anita Cerquetti, Louis Roney, Alvino Misciano and the Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro Comunale di Firenze, conducted by Carlo Maria Giulini (recorded 1956; reissued on CD by Gala, 2001)
Les Abencérages, Margherita Rinaldi, Francisco Ortiz, Jean Dupouy, Coro e Orchestra Sinfonica RAI di Milano, conducted by Peter Maag (radio recording from 1975; issued on CD by Arts Archives, 2006)
Les Abencérages, Anaïs Constans, Edgaras Montvidas, Thomas Dolié; Orfeo Orchestra, Purcell Choir, conducted by György Vashegyi; 2 CDs, Bru Zane BZ1050, 2023[2]
Referencesedit
Notes
^Casaglia, Gherardo (2005). "Les Abencérages". L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian).
^Clive Paget (13 February 2023). "Review: Cherubini: Les Abencérages". Limelight. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
Sources
Booklet notes accompanying the above recordings
External linksedit
Media related to Les Abencérages at Wikimedia Commons
abencérages, étendard, grenade, english, abencerrages, standard, granada, opera, three, acts, luigi, cherubini, with, french, libretto, etienne, jouy, based, novel, gonzalve, cordoue, jean, pierre, claris, florian, first, performed, april, 1813, académie, impé. Les Abencerages ou L etendard de Grenade English The Abencerrages or The standard of Granada is an opera in three acts by Luigi Cherubini with a French libretto by Etienne de Jouy based on the novel Gonzalve de Cordoue by Jean Pierre Claris de Florian It was first performed on 6 April 1813 by the Academie Imperiale de Musique Paris Opera at the Salle Montansier with Napoleon and his wife the Empress Marie Louise in the audience The opera was initially a success but its popularity waned after the fall of Napoleon Les AbenceragesOpera by Luigi CherubiniTitle page of the manuscript scoreLibrettistEtienne de JouyLanguageFrenchBased onGonzalve de Cordoueby Jean Pierre Claris de FlorianPremiere6 April 1813 1813 04 06 Salle Montansier ParisBecause of its use of large choruses spectacle and extensive dance music as well as its story line of a love affair played out against the background of major historical events Les Abencerages is considered an important precursor of French grand opera Almanzor s tenor aria Suspendez de ses murs was admired by composers such as Berlioz and has been recorded by singers including Georges Thill and Roberto Alagna The ballet music in the first act contains variations on the popular melody La Follia known in French as Les folies d Espagne Contents 1 Roles 2 Synopsis 2 1 Act 1 2 2 Act 2 2 3 Act 3 3 Recordings 4 References 5 External linksRoles edit nbsp Lavigne as Gonzalve de Cordoue nbsp Nourrit as Almansor Roles voice types premiere cast Role Voice type Premiere cast 1 6 April 1813Conductor Louis Luc Loiseau de PersuisNoraime soprano Alexandrine Caroline BranchuAlmansor tenor Louis NourritGonzalve de Cordoue tenor Jacques Emile Lavigne Wikidata Alamir baritone DuparcKaled tenor LaforetAlemar bass Henri Etienne DerivisAbderame bass Jean Honore Bertin Octair baritone AlexandreEgilone soprano Josephine ArmandTroubadour bass MouttitSynopsis editPlace The Kingdom of Granada in Moorish Spain Time End of the 15th centuryAct 1 edit The action of the opera concerns the feud between the families of the Abencerrages and the Zegris In spite of this conflict Almanzor a young Abencerrage warrior and the Zegri princess Noraime have fallen in love and are due to be married Almanzor has also made friends with the Spanish noble Gonzalve of Cordoba and forged a peace treaty between the Muslims and the Christians But Almanzor s popularity has made him enemies among many of the Zegris and they plot against him On the day of the wedding a revolt breaks out among a subject tribe and Almanzor is forced to leave to quell it He takes with him the standard of Granada which is so sacred that its loss would mean exile Act 2 edit Almanzor defeats the rebels but he loses the sacred standard and is put on trial Almanzor defends himself by claiming that one of his enemies Octair secretly snatched it away but his excuses are not accepted and he is condemned to exile Act 3 edit Almanzor cannot bear life away from Noraime and steals into the garden of the Alhambra to meet her But he is ambushed by his Zegris enemies arrested and condemned to death unless a champion can be found to defend his cause in single combat An unknown warrior bearing the lost standard of Granada arrives to take up the challenge on Almanzor s behalf He fights and defeats the Zegris champion Alamir before revealing he is Gonzalve of Cordoba and showing proof it was Octair and his fellow conspirators who hid the standard in order to destroy Almanzor The conspirators are arrested and Almanzor and Noraime s wedding goes ahead to general rejoicing Recordings editIn Italian as Gli Abencerragi with Anita Cerquetti Louis Roney Alvino Misciano and the Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro Comunale di Firenze conducted by Carlo Maria Giulini recorded 1956 reissued on CD by Gala 2001 Les Abencerages Margherita Rinaldi Francisco Ortiz Jean Dupouy Coro e Orchestra Sinfonica RAI di Milano conducted by Peter Maag radio recording from 1975 issued on CD by Arts Archives 2006 Les Abencerages Anais Constans Edgaras Montvidas Thomas Dolie Orfeo Orchestra Purcell Choir conducted by Gyorgy Vashegyi 2 CDs Bru Zane BZ1050 2023 2 References editNotes Casaglia Gherardo 2005 Les Abencerages L Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia in Italian Clive Paget 13 February 2023 Review Cherubini Les Abencerages Limelight Retrieved 9 March 2023 Sources Booklet notes accompanying the above recordingsExternal links edit nbsp Media related to Les Abencerages at Wikimedia Commons Portal nbsp Opera Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Les Abencerages amp oldid 1154290164, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
