大象传媒

This evening's opera is Rossini's rarely heard Tancredi, based on Voltaire's tragedy Tancrede. This performance, which received superb reviews, was recorded at the 2017 Beaune Festival with Accademia Bizantina conducted by Ottavio Dantone.
Rossini is perhaps best known now for his comedies but he wrote many more tragedies and was highly regarded for them in his day. This is the first of them, a spirited and lyrical work that was an instant success. It's set in Syracuse at the start of the 11th century, and in a similar way to the Montagues and Capulets in Romeo and Juliet, the families of Argirio and Orbazzano are constantly fighting. The tragedy is based around the doomed lovers, Amenaide and Tancredi, sung by Sylvia Schwartz and mezzo Teresa Iervolino.

Presented by Martin Handley who talks to his guest Flora Willson about Rossini's opera which was to become a watershed moment for the young composer.

Tancredi ..... Teresa Iervolino, mezzo-soprano
Amenaide ..... Sylvia Schwartz, soprano,
Argirio ..... Matthew Newlin, tenor
Orbazzano ..... Luigi De Donato, bass
Roggiero ..... Alix Le Saux, mezzo-soprano
Isaura ..... Anthea Pichanick, contralto,
Namur Chamber Choir
Accademia Bizantina
Ottavio Dantone, conductor

Photo Credit Giulia Pappetti

SYNOPSIS
Argirio and Orbazzano, two warring nobles, celebrate a truce. Argirio names Orbazzano the leader against the Moors but warns him of the threat of the banished Tancredi. His daughter Amenaide is in love with Tancredi and she is worried about his absence. Argirio offers Amenaide to Orbazzano in marriage. She pleads with him to postpone the marriage ceremony for another day.

Tancredi arrives on the seashore and is determined to seek out his beloved and defend his city from invaders. He dispatches Roggiero with a message for Amenaide and has his followers spread a message throughout the city of an unknown knight coming to save the city.

Tancredi spots his beloved and her father in the garden. Amenaide continues pleading with him, but he informs her that Solamir, the enemy has asked for her hand in marriage after surrounding the city. Orbazzano pledges to fight the enemy.

Tancredi and Amenaide share a moment and she tells him that he must escape. She rejects his vows of love.

At the wedding ceremony, Tancredi offers his services to Argirio, the latter not knowing the titular character鈥檚 identity. Amenaide refuses the marriage and Orbazzano denounces her publicly. He produces a letter that he feels was intended for Solamir and claims that she has betrayed her people. This letter had been intended for Tancredi but never arrived. Amenaide, despite swearing that she is innocent, is denounced by her father and even Tancredi.

Arigirio signs a death warrant for his daughter. Orbazzano and his followers prepare to see the execution carried out. He asks if anyone wants to defend her and Tancredi steps forward. He challenges Orbazzano to a duel. He defeats Orbazzano and the people rejoice at his victory. He sets out to leave Sicily, still believing that Amenaide has been unfaithful to him.

Alone in the Saracens camp, Tancredi reflects on his sad fate. Amenaide and Argirio go searching for him and reveal that there will be peace if she agrees to marry Solamir. He goes off to battle and learns that Solamir has testified to Amenaide鈥檚 innocence. Tancredi is mortally wounded and learns of Amenaide鈥檚 innocence as he dies in her arms. He is still able to be married to her in this version before dying.