Imelda de' Lambertazzi

Imelda de' Lambertazzi is a melodramma tragico or tragic opera in two acts by Gaetano Donizetti from a libretto by Andrea Leone Tottola, based on the tragedy Imelda by Gabriele Sperduti. It received its first performance on 5 September 1830 at the Teatro San Carlo, Naples.

Imelda de' Lambertazzi
Opera by Gaetano Donizetti
Gaetano Donizetti c. 1835
LibrettistAndrea Leone Tottola
LanguageItalian
Based onGabriele Sperduti's Imelda
Premiere
5 September 1830 (1830-09-05)

Performance history

edit

The opera was not a great success and performances of it are very rare. A concert performance was given on 10 March 2007 at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, conducted by Mark Elder, which was recorded by Opera Rara.[1]

Roles

edit
Role Voice type Premiere Cast, 5 September 1830
(Conductor: - )
Imelda soprano Antonietta Galzerani
Bonifacio Geremei baritone Antonio Tamburini
Lamberto tenor Berardo Winter
Orlando Lambertazzi tenor Giovanni Basadonna
Ugo bass Michele Benedetti
Ubaldo bass Gennaro Ambrosini
Customers, followers of Lambertazzi, friends of Gieremei, soldiers, people

Synopsis

edit
 
"Imelda e Bonifacio": death of Bonifacio in Imelda's arms, by Giovanni Pagliarini (1809-1878)

(This is a variation of the story of Romeo and Juliet.)

Time: 16th century
Place: Bologna[2]

Imelda Lambertazzi (of the family supporting the Guelfs) loves Bonifacio, heir of the Geremei (of the family supporting the Ghibellines). When Bonifacio proposes peace between the families, to be sealed by their marriage, he is met with the ire of Imelda's father and brother. When Bonifacio attempts to see Imelda, he is stabbed with a poisoned dagger by her brother. Imelda pleads for forgiveness from her father before expiring herself, having sucked the poison from Bonifacio's wound.

Recordings

edit
Year Cast:
Imelda, Lamberto,
Orlando Lambertazzi,
Bonifacio
Conductor,
Opera House and Orchestra
Label[3]
1989 Floriana Sovilla,
Diego D' Auria,
Fausto Tenzi,
Andrea Martin
Marc Andreae,
Italian Switzerland Radio/TV Orchestra
(Recorded at performances in Lugano, 15–19 February)
Audio CD: Nuova Era
Cat: 6778/6779
2007 Nicole Cabell,
Massimo Giordano,
Frank Lopardo,
James Westman
Mark Elder,
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
Audio CD: Opera Rara
Cat: ORC 36

References

edit

Notes

  1. ^ Ashley, Tim (17 April 2008). "Donizetti: Imelda de' Lambertazzi". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  2. ^ Osborne 1994, p. 192
  3. ^ Source for recording information: Recording(s) of Imelda de' Lambertazzi on operadis-opera-discography.org.uk Archived 2013-04-06 at the Wayback Machine

Cited sources

Other sources

edit