Maometto II

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Bowing to a need to significantly change the original ending, thus "spar(ing) Venetian sensibilities by providing a happy ending"<ref name=Osborne-R/>, the Venice production "was well received when Rossini revised it for performances in Venice at the [[Teatro La Fenice]] in December 1822."<ref name="Osborne"/> In 1823 and 1824, ''Maometto II'' was presented in Vienna and in Milan and then in Lisbon in 1826, but after that it dropped out of sight because "a large part of its score (was adapted) to a new French libretto"<ref name="Osborne"/>and staged in Paris on 9 October 1826 as ''Le siège de Corinthe'', the 1820s wars between the Greeks and the Turks then being more topical than those between the Turks and the Venetians of the original.<ref name="Holden">Holden p. 787</ref>

  

Bowing to a need to significantly change the original ending, thus "spar(ing) Venetian sensibilities by providing a happy ending"<ref name=Osborne-R/>, the Venice production "was well received when Rossini revised it for performances in Venice at the [[Teatro La Fenice]] in December 1822."<ref name="Osborne"/> In 1823 and 1824, ''Maometto II'' was presented in Vienna and in Milan and then in Lisbon in 1826, but after that it dropped out of sight because "a large part of its score (was adapted) to a new French libretto"<ref name="Osborne"/>and staged in Paris on 9 October 1826 as ''Le siège de Corinthe'', the 1820s wars between the Greeks and the Turks then being more topical than those between the Turks and the Venetians of the original.<ref name="Holden">Holden p. 787</ref>
   
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As ''Maometto II'', the opera disappeared and, although rarely performed today, it was revived by the [[Rossini Festival]] in Pesaro in 1985.<ref name="Osborne"/> It was given its first performance in the US on 17 September 1988, when it was presented by the [[San Francisco Opera]].<ref name="Holden"/><ref>Holland, ''New York Times'' review</ref> No references to a production in the UK exist<ref name="Osborne"/>. The Venice version was given at La fenice in February 2005, while performances using a version edited by conductor [[Claudio Scimone]] in the 1980s<ref>[http://www.rossinioperafestival.it/en/3/chronology/2000-2008/season-2008.html Pesaro Festival performances listed on rossinioperafestival.it] Retrieved 22 January 2012</ref>

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In its original form ''Maometto II'' disappeared. In 1976 the [[Metropolitan Opera]] "performed what they called ''L'assedio di Corinto'', an Italian translation of Rossini's French revision of the score".<ref name="SFE">Philip Gossett, ''Maometto II'', the 2012 Santa Fe Opera program book. Gossett also notes that this was "vehicle for Beverly Sills' long-awaited Met debut, but this did not reflect any version of the opera prepared by Rossini"</ref> A version was presented by the [[Rossini Festival]] in Pesaro in 1985<ref name="Osborne"/> and a [[San Francisco Opera]] production on 17 September 1988 "was closer to the original Rossini version of the opera, but it too was highly problematic.<ref name="SFE"/><ref name="Holden"/><ref>Holland, ''New York Times'' review</ref> No references to a production in the UK exist<ref name="Osborne"/>.
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The Venice version was given at La fenice in February 2005, while performances using a version edited by conductor [[Claudio Scimone]] in the 1980s<ref>[http://www.rossinioperafestival.it/en/3/chronology/2000-2008/season-2008.html Pesaro Festival performances listed on rossinioperafestival.it] Retrieved 22 January 2012</ref>
 

were given at the Pesaro Festival in August 2008.

  

were given at the Pesaro Festival in August 2008.
   
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As part of its 2012 summer opera festival season, the [[Santa Fe Opera]]<ref>[http://www.santafeopera.org/thecompany/news/pressreleases/detail.aspx?id=5230 2012 season announcement on santafeopera.org] Accessed 10 May 2011</ref> will give ''Maometto II'' its first US presentations using a brand new critical edition prepared by Dutch scholar Hans Schellevis and published by [[Bärenreiter|Bärenreiter Verlag]] of Kassel under the General Editorship of musicologist [[Philip Gossett]], who will be present during rehearsals as advisor.<ref>[https://www.baerenreiter.com/en/spotlight-on/gesamt-und-werkausgaben/rossini-gioachino/ www.baerenreiter.com's section on Rossini works under Philip Gossett's direction] Retrieved 23 February 2013</ref>

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As part of its 2012 summer opera festival season, the [[Santa Fe Opera]]<ref>[http://www.santafeopera.org/thecompany/news/pressreleases/detail.aspx?id=5230 2012 season announcement on santafeopera.org] Accessed 10 May 2011</ref> will give ''Maometto II'' its first US presentations using a brand new [[critical edition]] prepared by Dutch scholar Hans Schellevis to be published by [[Bärenreiter|Bärenreiter Verlag]] of Kassel in 2013 under the General Editorship of musicologist [[Philip Gossett]], who will be present during rehearsals as advisor.<ref>[https://www.baerenreiter.com/en/spotlight-on/gesamt-und-werkausgaben/rossini-gioachino/ www.baerenreiter.com's section on Rossini works under Philip Gossett's direction] Retrieved 23 February 2013</ref>
   
 

The Santa Fe cast will feature [[Luca Pisaroni]] in the title role and rising soprano Leah Crocetto (Grand Prize winner of the 2010 [[Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions]]) as Anna.

  

The Santa Fe cast will feature [[Luca Pisaroni]] in the title role and rising soprano Leah Crocetto (Grand Prize winner of the 2010 [[Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions]]) as Anna.

Latest revision as of 13:41, 7 May 2012

Gioachino Rossini

Maometto II is an opera in two acts by Gioachino Rossini, to an Italian libretto by Cesare della Valle, set in the 1470s during the time of the war between the Turks and Venetians. Della Valle based his libretto on his earlier play Anna Erizo. The name of the title character, Maometto II, refers to the real-life Ottoman Turkish Sultan, the Great Conqueror of Istanbul Mehmed II, who lived from 1432 to 1481.

Regarded "in some ways (as his) most ambitious opera"[1] and as "the best of Rossini's Neopolitan operas"[2], Maometto II failed to find an audience in Naples and, "to help ensure (its) success in Venice and Paris, he smoothed out the most audacious elements of the score"[1]. Venice saw it in 1822 and then, translated into French and changed significantly, it was presented as Le siège de Corinthe in 1826.

Until the preparation of the critical edition of Maometto II, the composer's original intentions have remained obscure. The introduction to an early version of a critical edition (now surplanted by a new one) notes some of difficulties of determining Rossini's intentions:

" Extraordinary for its dramatic power and the nobility of its musical content, Maometto II is also an opera that poses many textual problems, since Rossini's successive revisions were made directly in the autograph score. Using copies of the score dating back to the original productions of each of these versions, the critical edition reconstructs the text of the first version (Naples, 1820), which reflects the composer's original intentions."[3]

Contents

[edit] Composition history

The opera was written as Rossini's composing career was beginning to slow down to one opera per year, and it appeared almost a year after Bianca e Falliero, although it was succeeded very quickly by Matilde di Shabran.[4] In accepting the commission from the San Carlo in May 1820, it became clear when Rossini began composing the opera, that it "would be the most ambitious of all (his) works for the Italian stage".[5] As it turned out, "its composition process was long and laborious, the circumstances of its making unexpectedly fraught".[5]

From early July 1820, various political upheavals threatened the rule of King Ferdinand I and these both prevented theatrical productions and extended the composition process. During this time, Rossini "modified della Valle's libretto, accentuating the human aspect of the tragedy, playing down the political and nationalistic elements".[5]

By mid-1821, the political situation was sufficiently under control to allow theatrical activity to continue and, while the production of Maometto II missed many deadlines, its first performance took place at the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples on 3 December 1820. However, the opera "was not much liked by the Neapolitans" [6] since the composer was "moving in a direction the Naples audience was reluctant to follow".[5]

[edit] Performance history

Bowing to a need to significantly change the original ending, thus "spar(ing) Venetian sensibilities by providing a happy ending"[5], the Venice production "was well received when Rossini revised it for performances in Venice at the Teatro La Fenice in December 1822."[6] In 1823 and 1824, Maometto II was presented in Vienna and in Milan and then in Lisbon in 1826, but after that it dropped out of sight because "a large part of its score (was adapted) to a new French libretto"[6]and staged in Paris on 9 October 1826 as Le siège de Corinthe, the 1820s wars between the Greeks and the Turks then being more topical than those between the Turks and the Venetians of the original.[7]

In its original form Maometto II disappeared. In 1976 the Metropolitan Opera "performed what they called L'assedio di Corinto, an Italian translation of Rossini's French revision of the score".[8] A version was presented by the Rossini Festival in Pesaro in 1985[6] and a San Francisco Opera production on 17 September 1988 "was closer to the original Rossini version of the opera, but it too was highly problematic.[8][7][9] No references to a production in the UK exist[6].

The Venice version was given at La fenice in February 2005, while performances using a version edited by conductor Claudio Scimone in the 1980s[10] were given at the Pesaro Festival in August 2008.

As part of its 2012 summer opera festival season, the Santa Fe Opera[11] will give Maometto II its first US presentations using a brand new critical edition prepared by Dutch scholar Hans Schellevis to be published by Bärenreiter Verlag of Kassel in 2013 under the General Editorship of musicologist Philip Gossett, who will be present during rehearsals as advisor.[12]

The Santa Fe cast will feature Luca Pisaroni in the title role and rising soprano Leah Crocetto (Grand Prize winner of the 2010 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions) as Anna.

Role Voice type Premiere Cast, 3 December 1820
(Conductor: Nicola Festa)[13]
Maometto II (Mehmed II) bass Filippo Galli
Paolo Erisso, head of the Venetians in Negroponte tenor Andrea Nozzari
Anna, his daughter soprano Isabella Colbran
Calbo, Venetian noble mezzo-soprano or contralto Adelaide Comelli
Condulmiero, Venetian noble tenor Giuseppe Ciccimarra
Selimo, Muslim noble tenor Gaetano Chizzola

[edit] Synopsis

Time: 1470
Place: Negroponte, in the Aegean Sea[14]

[edit] Act 1

Byzantium has just fallen to the Turks, and the troops of Maometto II (Sultan Mehmed II) are laying siege at the Venetian city of Negroponte (Chalkis). Young Calbo pushes Paolo Erisso to go on fighting and defend the city, while Condulmiero wishes to yield. Erisso's daughter, Anna, is to marry Calbo, as it is the wish of her father. She is, however, in a secret relationship with an unknown noble that she met in Corinth. The Muslims break through the defenses, and Erisso and Calbo are made prisoners. Maometto arrives and is recognized by Anna: he is the secret lover of hers. Erisso and Anna are horrified by this sudden revelation. Anna threatens to kill herself unless Maometto releases Erisso and Calbo, and, promising her a life of luxury, he agrees.

[edit] Act 2

Maometto declares his love for Anna and offers her the throne, but she refuses. Maometto departs in order to mount another attack on the citadel, but he leaves his imperial seal of authority with her in order to guarantee her safety in his absence. Anna joins Erisso and Calbo, who are in hiding. Erisso initially spurns his daughter for consorting with the enemy, but she swears that she will never marry him, and gives Erisso Maometto's seal, which will enable him and Calbo to come out of hiding. Erisso marries Calbo and Anna before the tomb of her mother, and the two men depart for the combat against Maometto. Before long, Anna is told that Maometto has been defeated by Erisso and has fled, but that her life is now in danger, since he will be seeking revenge. She is confronted by Maometto and his men and, after revealing that she gave his seal to her father and that she has married Calbo, she stabs herself and dies on her mother's tomb.

[edit] Recordings

Year Cast
(Maometto, Anna,
Calbo, Erisso)		 Conductor,
Opera House and Orchestra		 Label[15]
1983 Samuel Ramey,
June Anderson,
Margherita Zimmermann,
Ernesto Palacio		 Claudio Scimone,
Philharmonia Orchestra and Ambrosian Opera Chorus		 Audio CD: Phillips
Cat: 475 509-2
1985 Samuel Ramey,
Cecilia Gasdia,
Lucia Valentini-Terrani,
Chris Merritt		 Claudio Scimone,
Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and European Festival Chorus
(Video recording of a performance at the Pesaro Rossini Festival)		 DVD: Premiere Opera
Cat: 5187
2005 Lorenzo Regazzo,
Carmen Giannattasio,
Annarita Gemmabella,
Maxim Mironov		 Claudio Scimone,
Orchestra and chorus of the Teatro La Fenice
(Video recording of a performance at the Teatro La Fenice di Venezia of the version performed in that theatre in 1822, February).		 DVD: Dynamic
Cat: DV 33492
2008 Michele Pertusi,
Marina Rebeka,
Daniela Barcellona,
Francesco Meli		 Gustav Kuhn,
Orchestra Haydn di Bolzano e Trento and Prague Chamber Chorus
(Recording of a performance in the Adriatic Arena, Pesaro, August)		 Audio CD: Celestial Audio
Cat: CA 831

[edit] References

Notes
  1. ^ a b Brauner, Patrica and Gossett, Philip, "Maometti II" in Holden p. 787
  2. ^ Philip Gossett, quoted in Mays, p. 55
  3. ^ Introduction to an unpublished critical edition of the score from the 1980s on humanities.uchicago.edu The brand new edition is being published by Bärenreiter in 2012 Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  4. ^ Osborne, Charles p. 101
  5. ^ a b c d e Osborne, Richard, p. 64 - 66
  6. ^ a b c d e Osborne, Charles, p. 102
  7. ^ a b Holden p. 787
  8. ^ a b Philip Gossett, Maometto II, the 2012 Santa Fe Opera program book. Gossett also notes that this was "vehicle for Beverly Sills' long-awaited Met debut, but this did not reflect any version of the opera prepared by Rossini"
  9. ^ Holland, New York Times review
  10. ^ Pesaro Festival performances listed on rossinioperafestival.it Retrieved 22 January 2012
  11. ^ 2012 season announcement on santafeopera.org Accessed 10 May 2011
  12. ^ www.baerenreiter.com's section on Rossini works under Philip Gossett's direction Retrieved 23 February 2013
  13. ^ Premiere cast from Casaglia (2005)
  14. ^ Osborne, Charles, pp. 100-101
  15. ^ Recordings of Maometto II on operadis-opera-discography.org.uk
Cited sources
Other sources
  • Beghelli, Marco, (Trans. Daniela Pilarz), "Maometto Secondo" booklet notes accompanying the Dynamic DVD of the opera.

[edit] External links

Peridon 07 May, 2012


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Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Maometto_II&diff=491179614&oldid=490897587
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