- Demetrio e Polibio
-
Demetrio e Polibio (Demetrius and Polybius) is a two-act operatic dramma serio by Gioachino Rossini to a libretto by Vincenzina Viganò-Mombelli. The opera was orchestrated for strings only.[1]
Demetrio e Polibio was Rossini's first attempt at a full-scale opera, though it was not his first staged opera. Written for the Mombelli family of singers, Rossini completed the opera in 1806, during his student days at the Philharmonic Academy of Bologna.[2] However it was not staged until May 18, 1812 when it premiered at Rome's Teatro Valle.[3]
Contents
Roles
Role Voice type Premiere Cast, May 18, 1812[4]
(Conductor: )Polybius, King of Parthia bass Lodovico Olivieri Lisinga, his daughter soprano Maria Ester Mombelli Siveno, Lisinga's lover contralto Marianna "Anna" Mombelli Demetrius, King of Syria, Siveno's estranged father tenor Domenico Mombelli Synopsis
- Time: 2nd Century,B.C.
- Place: Parthia[5]
Act 1
The good Polybius, King of Parthia, is the protector of both his own daughter Lisinga and her lover Siveno. Everyone believes Siveno to be the son of Minteus, a minister of King Demetrius of Syria, but he is actually the long estranged son of Demetrius. Demetrius, holding Minteus responsible for his son's disappearance, arrives at the court of Parthia in the guise of Eumeno, a royal messenger, and demands that Siveno be turned over to Syria. Polybius refuses. Siveno and Lisinga celebrate their marriage. Polybius confides to Siveno that he is worried about what has happened, but Siveno reassures him. Meanwhile, Eumene (Demetrius) plots to kidnap Siveno and bring him back to Syria. He bribes the servants and guards and at night manages to enter the Parthian court. However, when he arrives in the bed-chamber of the young couple, he finds Lisinga alone and kidnaps her instead. Polybius and Siveno try in vain to stop him.
Act 2
Polybius and Siveno plead for Lisinga's release. In reply, Euemeno (Demetrius) threatens to kill her unless Siveno is turned over to him. In turn, Polybius threatens to kill Siveno unless Lisinga is released. The situation starts to resolve when Eumene (Demetrius), looks at an old medallion and realizes that Siveno is actually his lost son. Meanwhile, Polybius does not want to lose Lisinga, and Eumene (Demetrius) only wants Siveno. Desperate at their impending separation, Lisinga tries to kill Eumene, but he finally reveals his true identity as King Demetrius and announces that Siveno is his son. Peace is restored, and the couple live happily ever after.[6]
Recordings
Year Cast: Conductor,
Opera House and OrchestraLabel [7] 1992 Giorgio Surjan,
Christine Weidinger,
Sara Mingardo,
Dalmacio GonzálezMassimiliano Carraro,
Graz Symphony Orchestra and Sluk Chamber Choir of Bratislava
(Recording of a performance at the Festival della Valle d'Itria, Martina Franca. 27 July)
Audio CD: Dynamic
Cat: CDS 171/1-21996 Pietro Spagnoli,
Maria Costanza Nocentini,
Sonia Ganassi,
Aldo BertoloGiuliano Carella,
Orchestra unknown
(Recording of a performance in Dordrecht, 8 September)Cassette: Lyric Distribution Incorporated
Cat: ALD 4085References
- Notes
- ^ Kennedy
- ^ "Rossini, Gioachino", Encyclopædia Britannica
- ^ Osborne, Richard
- ^ Amadeus Almanac online (in Italian).
- ^ Osborne, Charles, p.5
- ^ This synopsis is translated from Demetrio e Polibio in the Italian Wikipedia
- ^ Recordings of Demetrio e Polibio on operadis-opera-discography.org.uk
- Sources
- Encyclopædia Britannica 2008, online (Retrieved on March 22, 2008)
- Holden, Amanda (Ed.), The New Penguin Opera Guide, New York: Penguin Putnam, 2001. ISBN 0-140-29312-4
- Kennedy, Michael, "Demetrio e Polibio", The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music Oxford University Press, 2007 Oxford Reference Online (Retrieved on March 21, 2008)
- Osborne, Charles, The Bel Canto Operas of Rossini, Donizetti, and Bellini, Portland, Oregon: Amadeus Press, 1994 ISBN 0931340713
- Osborne, Richard, "Demetrio e Polibio", Grove Music Online, ed. L. Macy (Retrieved on March 21, 2008)</ref>
External links
- Libretto, Deutsche Rossini Gesellschaft. Accessed 23 March 2008.
Categories:- Operas
- 1812 operas
- Operas by Gioachino Rossini
- Italian-language operas
- Operas set in the Middle East
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
