Ricciardo e Zoraide

"Ricciardo e Zoraide" ("Ricciardo and Zoraide") is an opera in two act by Gioacchino Rossini to an Italian libretto by Francesco Berio de Salsa. The text is based on cantos XIV and XV of "Il Ricciardetto", an epic poem by Niccolò Forteguerri.

Performance history

"Ricciardo e Zoraide" was first performed at the Teatro San Carlo, Naples, on 3 December 1818.

Roles

Brief synopsis

:Setting: the city of Dongola in ancient Nubia during the time of the Crusades

As the opera opens the Nubian King Agorante, who is infatuated with Zoraide, has defeated her father, Ircano and captured her. Ricciardo, a Christian knight, and Zoraide's lover accompanies an emissary to plead for her release. Agorante's jealous wife, Zomira, arranges the capture of Ricciardo as well and plots to have the young lovers executed to protect her position as Queen. The opera ends with an army of Christian knights rescuing Ricciardo and Zoraide. Ricciardo spares Agorante's life.

elected recordings

*Rossini: "Ricciardo e Zoraide" (Nelly Miricioiu, William Matteuzzi, Bruce Ford, Della Jones, Alastair Miles, Paul Nilon; Geoffrey Mitchell Choir; Academy of St Martin in the Fields; Conductor: David Parry) 1995. Label: Opera Rara

ources

*Osborne, Richard: "Ricciardo e Zoraide" in "The New Grove Dictionary of Opera", Stanley Sadie (Ed.). (London: MacMillan, 1992) ISBN 0-333-73432-7
* [http://www.amadeusonline.net/almanacco.php?Start=0&Giorno=3&Mese=12&Anno=1818&Giornata=&Testo=Ricciardo&Parola=Stringa Amadeus Almanac] (in Italian)
*Robert J Farr, [http://www.musicweb-international.com/classRev/2005/Apr05/Rossini_Ricciardo_orc14.htm Recording review: "Ricciardo e Zoraide", Opera Rara] , "Music Web International".
*Michael Steen, Richard Osborne, " The Lives and Times of the Great Composers: His Life and Works", Oxford University Press, 2007, pp. 271-278. ISBN 0195181298

External links

* [http://www.karadar.com/Librettos/rossini_ricciardo.html Italian libretto at Karadar.com]