A Noite do Castelo

"A Noite do Castelo" ("The Night of the Castle") is the first opera written by the Brazilian Romantic Era composer, Antônio Carlos Gomes, with the libretto by A. José Fernando dos Reis, based on a the drama by Antônio Feliciano de Castillo. "A Noite do Castelo" is a three act opera written in the Brazilian Portuguese language, which premiered at the Teatro Lírico, also known then as Teatro Lírico Provisório, or just Teatro Provisório, in Rio de Janeiro, on September 4, 1861.

In 1860, Carlos Gomes wrote a letter from the city of Rio de Janeiro, where he was living then, to his father, inviting him to the opening night of "A Noite do Castelo", which would happen the following year in that very city. Carlos Gomes writes in Portuguese::"Meu bom pai. Escrevo esta só para não demorar uma boa notícia. Afinal tenho um libreto. Foi extraído do poema de Castilho - A Noite do Castelo. Hoje mesmo começo a trabalhar na composição da ópera, prepare-se portanto, para vir ao Rio de Janeiro em 1861. Saudades muitas às manas e aos manos, principalmente ao Juca, abençoe-me como a seu filho muito grato. Carlos" (Translation- "My good father. I write you this so that I do not delay any longer some good news to you. Finally, I have a libretto. It has been taken from Castillo---"A Noite do Castelo". Today, I started working on the composition for the opera. Get yourself ready, then, to come to Rio de Janeiro in 1861. Send my longing love to my sisters and brothers, specially to Juca, bless me as your very thankful son, Carlos.").

The opera was originally written for four solo voices, plus orchestra and choir.

Roles

References

* [http://www.ccla.org.br/ccla/museu_carlos_gomes Museu Carlos Gomes] The complete and original archive of Antônio Carlos Gomes´compositions, letters and other papers and collections in the "Museu Carlos Gomes" located in the "Centro de Ciências Letras e Artes." Campinas, Brazil. In Portuguese. Visited July 21, 2008.
* Nogueira, Lenita Waldige Mendes. "Museu Carlos Gomes: catálogo de manuscritos musicais." (Catalogue of Antônio Carlos Gomes´ works in the Carlos Gomes Museum---in Portuguese), Editora Arte & Ciencia, 415 pages, 1997.
* [http://pro-memoria-de-campinas-sp.blogspot.com/2006/09/personagem-antnio-carlos-gomes-o-maior.html "Pro-Memory Carlos Gomes"] Chronology pro-memory of Carlos Gomes with sources from the Museum Carlos Gomes and other sources from his native city, Campinas. (in Portuguese)
* [http://www.unicamp.br/unicamp/en/divulgacao/2007/09/27/lenita-nogueira-lanca-a-historia-de-carlos-gomes-por-ele-mesmo] UNICAMP´s release of the autobiography of Carlos Gomes´ publication with quotes of original letter the composer wrote in 1860 to his father, inviting him to the opening night of "A Noite do Castelo", 9/27/2007.
* [http://www.sbpcnet.org.br/livro/58ra/SENIOR/RESUMOS/resumo_2687.html Original letters by the composer] at UNICAMP´s Center Pro-memory and at the Carlos Gomes Museum.
* [http://www.brasilcultura.com.br/conteudo.php?menu=92&id=927&sub=953 Teatro Lírico Provisório]
* [http://www.amadeusonline.net/almanacco.php?Start=0&Giorno=4&Mese=09&Anno=1861&Giornata=&Testo=&Parola=Stringa Amadeus Almanac]