Adelson e Salvini (Adelson and Salvini) is a three act opera semiseria composed by Vincenzo Bellini and first performed at the Teatro del Conservatorio di San Sebastiano in Naples
on February 12 1825. The libretto was by Andrea Leone Tottola.
Background
Bellini's first opera was written as his final project at the
Naples San Sebastiano Conservatory, when the composer was 23 years
old. It was the custom at the Conservatory to introduce promising
students to the public with a dramatic work. Bellini styled his
project an
opera semiseria. It was presented at the
Conservatory's theater.
Adelson e Salvini is based on the
1772 novel
Épreuves du Sentiment by
François-Thomas-Marie
de Baculard d'Arnaud, and the opera draws on a previously
performed play by
Prospère
Delamare. Bellini's score does not bring out much of the humor
of the piece. Nevertheless, the work was so popular among the
Conservatory's student audience that it was performed every Sunday
for a year. It was successful enough to generate a commission from
the royal court, and it captured the interest of the impresario
Domenico Barbaja of the San Carlo
Opera, who launched Bellini's career, commissioning him to write
his next work,
Bianca e
Gernando.
Bellini greatly revised the opera for another production in 1829,
and later revised it further. Although much influenced by the music
of
Gioacchino Rossini, this early
piece exhibits some of the characteristic tuneful style and
delicate vocal line that Bellini achieved in his mature works.
Bellini used some of the music from the opera in later works.
Domenico De Meo further revised and edited
the score of Adelson to prepare it for a 1992 production
at the Teatro Bellini in the
composer's hometown, Catania
, in Sicily. The following year, the Italian label
Nuova Era issued
Adelson e
Salvini on two compact discs.
Roles
| Role |
Voice type |
Premiere Cast, February 12, 1825
(Conductor: - )
|
| Nelly |
soprano |
|
| Fanny |
mezzo-soprano |
|
| Madame Rivers |
mezzo-soprano |
|
| Salvini, friend of Adelson |
tenor |
|
| Lord Adelson |
baritone |
|
| Struley |
bass |
|
| Bonifacio, servant of Salvini |
bass |
|
| Geronio |
bass |
|
|
Synopsis
- Place:
Ireland
- Time: 17th century
It concerns the friendship of the Anglo-Irish Lord Adelson with a
young Italian painter, Salvini, who falls in love with Nelly, the
beautiful fiancé of the wealthy and powerful Adelson. The plot
proceeds to a curiously murderous twist.
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