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 had been partly prepared by Bartolomeo Merelli (about whose tardiness the composer complained), 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.
When Donizetti arrived in Rome, carrying a letter of introduction from his teacher and mentor Johann Simon Mayr to poet and librettist Jacopo Ferretti, he secured his help in revising Merelli's text.[1]
Although it was Donizetti's first theatrical success "and the opera in which he began to adopt 'Rossinian' techniques",[2] 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 launched himself strongly in his truly serious opera, Zoraida. Unanimous, sincere, universal was the applause he justly collected from the capacity audience...".[3]
The opera was presented in a revised edition at the same theatre on 7 January 1824, and given a revival in Lisbon in 1825.[3]
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.
Bruce Ford, Majella Cullagh, Paul Austin Kelly, Matthew Hargreaves
David Parry, Geoffrey Mitchell Choir, Orchestra of the Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields
Opera Rara, ORC17;
(CD 1, CD 2, CD 3 tracks 1-9)
1824 versionEdit
The Opera Rara recording contains an additional twenty pieces from the 1824 version, with Diana Montague in the role of Abenamet (CD 3, tracks 10-14, and CD 4).
(in Italian) Ashbrook, William (1986), Donizetti. I: La vita, Turin: EDT. ISBN8870630412
Osborne, Charles, (1994), The Bel Canto Operas of Rossini, Donizetti, and Bellini, Portland, Oregon: Amadeus Press. ISBN0-931340-71-3
Other sources
Allitt, John Stewart (1991), Donizetti: in the light of Romanticism and the teaching of Johann Simon Mayr, Shaftesbury: Element Books, Ltd (UK); Rockport, MA: Element, Inc.(USA)
Ashbrook, William (1982), Donizetti and His Operas, Cambridge University Press. ISBN0-521-23526-X
Weinstock, Herbert (1963), Donizetti and the World of Opera in Italy, Paris, and Vienna in the First Half of the Nineteenth Century, New York: Pantheon Books. LCCN 63-13703
External linksEdit
Donizetti Society (London) website
Information and Libretto (Italian) 1
October 18, 2023
zoraida, granata, also, zoraide, granata, zoraïda, granata, melodramma, eroico, opera, seria, heroic, opera, acts, gaetano, donizetti, italian, libretto, been, partly, prepared, bartolomeo, merelli, about, whose, tardiness, composer, complained, based, french,. Zoraida di Granata also Zoraide di Granata or Zoraida di Granata is a melodramma eroico opera seria or heroic opera in two acts by Gaetano Donizetti The Italian libretto had been partly prepared by Bartolomeo Merelli about whose tardiness the composer complained 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 Zoraida di GranataOpera by Gaetano DonizettiGustave Dore Zoraida falls in the Captive s armsLibrettistBartolomeo MerelliLanguageItalianBased onGonzalve de Cordoueby Jean Pierre Claris de FlorianPremiere28 January 1822 1822 01 28 Teatro Argentina RomeWhen Donizetti arrived in Rome carrying a letter of introduction from his teacher and mentor Johann Simon Mayr to poet and librettist Jacopo Ferretti he secured his help in revising Merelli s text 1 Although it was Donizetti s first theatrical success and the opera in which he began to adopt Rossinian techniques 2 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 launched himself strongly in his truly serious opera Zoraida Unanimous sincere universal was the applause he justly collected from the capacity audience 3 The opera was presented in a revised edition at the same theatre on 7 January 1824 and given a revival in Lisbon in 1825 3 Contents 1 Roles 2 Synopsis 3 Recordings 3 1 1822 version 3 2 1824 version 4 References 5 External linksRoles Edit nbsp Domenico Donzelli 1842Role Voice type Premiere cast 28 January 1822 Conductor Almuzir King of Granada tenor Domenico DonzelliAlmanzor friend of Abenamet bass Gaetano RambaldiZoraida in love with and loved by Abenamet soprano Maria Ester MombelliAbenamet General of the Moors originally tenor then substitute contralto Amerigo Sbigoli Adelaide Mazzanti 4 Ines a Spanish slave and friend of Zoraida mezzo soprano Gaetana CoriniAw Zegri bass Alberto TorriSynopsis EditTime 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 Edit1822 version Edit Year Cast Almuzir Zoraida Abenamet Almanzor Conductor Opera House and Orchestra Label 5 1998 Bruce Ford Majella Cullagh Paul Austin Kelly Matthew Hargreaves David Parry Geoffrey Mitchell Choir Orchestra of the Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields Opera Rara ORC17 CD 1 CD 2 CD 3 tracks 1 9 1824 version Edit The Opera Rara recording contains an additional twenty pieces from the 1824 version with Diana Montague in the role of Abenamet CD 3 tracks 10 14 and CD 4 References EditNotes Allit 1991 pp 26 27 Ashbrook and Hibberd 2001 p 226 a b Osborne 1994 p 146 Ashbrook 1986 p 20 The first name Adelaide is reported by Richard Zoraida di Granata Donizetti Opera 51 1 January 2000 pp 119 120 Recordings of the opera on operadis opera discography org uk Cited sources Ashbrook William and Sarah Hibberd 2001 in Holden Amanda Ed The New Penguin Opera Guide New York Penguin Putnam ISBN 0 14 029312 4 pp 224 247 in Italian Ashbrook William 1986 Donizetti I La vita Turin EDT ISBN 8870630412 Osborne Charles 1994 The Bel Canto Operas of Rossini Donizetti and Bellini Portland Oregon Amadeus Press ISBN 0 931340 71 3Other sources Allitt John Stewart 1991 Donizetti in the light of Romanticism and the teaching of Johann Simon Mayr Shaftesbury Element Books Ltd UK Rockport MA Element Inc USA Ashbrook William 1982 Donizetti and His Operas Cambridge University Press ISBN 0 521 23526 X Ashbrook William 1998 Donizetti Gaetano in Stanley Sadie Ed The New Grove Dictionary of Opera Vol One London Macmillan Publishers Inc ISBN 0 333 73432 7 ISBN 1 56159 228 5 Loewenberg Alfred 1970 Annals of Opera 1597 1940 2nd edition Rowman and Littlefield Sadie Stanley Ed John Tyrell Exec Ed 2004 The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians 2nd edition London Macmillan ISBN 978 0 19 517067 2 hardcover ISBN 0 19 517067 9 OCLC 419285866 eBook Weinstock Herbert 1963 Donizetti and the World of Opera in Italy Paris and Vienna in the First Half of the Nineteenth Century New York Pantheon Books LCCN 63 13703External links EditDonizetti Society London website Information and Libretto Italian 1 Recording on Opera Rara website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Zoraida di Granata amp oldid 1085727712, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
