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.
Performance history 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.
Roles
RoleVoice typePremiere Cast, 5 September 1830(Conductor: - )ImeldasopranoAntonietta GalzeraniBonifacio GeremeibaritoneAntonio TamburiniLambertotenorBerardo WinterOrlando LambertazzitenorGiovanni BasadonnaUgobassMichele BenedettiUbaldobassGennaro AmbrosiniCustomers, followers of Lambertazzi, friends of Gieremei, soldiers, people
Synopsis
(This is a variation of the story of Romeo and Juliet.)
Time: 16th century Place: BolognaOsborne 1994, p. 192
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 YearCast:Imelda, Lamberto,Orlando Lambertazzi,BonifacioConductor,Opera House and OrchestraLabelSource for recording information: Recording(s) of Imelda de' Lambertazzi on operadis-opera-discography.org.uk 1989Floriana Sovilla,Diego D' Auria,Fausto Tenzi,Andrea MartinMarc Andreae,Italian Switzerland Radio/TV Orchestra(Recorded at performances in Lugano, 15–19 February) Audio CD: Nuova EraCat: 6778/6779 2007Nicole Cabell,Massimo Giordano,Frank Lopardo,James Westman Mark Elder,Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Geoffrey Mitchell ChoirAudio CD: Opera RaraCat: ORC 36
References Notes
Cited sources Osborne, Charles, (1994), The Bel Canto Operas of Rossini, Donizetti, and Bellini, Portland, Oregon: Amadeus Press.
Other sources Allitt, John Stewart (1991), Donizetti: in the light of Romanticism and the teaching of Johann Simon Mayr, Shaftesbury: Element Books, Ltd (UK); Rockport, MA: Element, Inc.(USA) Ashbrook, William (1982), Donizetti and His Operas, Cambridge University Press. Ashbrook, William (1998), "Donizetti, Gaetano" in Stanley Sadie (Ed.), The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, Vol. One. London: MacMillan Publishers, Inc. Ashbrook, William and Sarah Hibberd (2001), in Holden, Amanda (Ed.), The New Penguin Opera Guide, New York: Penguin Putnam. . pp. 224 – 247. Black, John (1982), Donizetti’s Operas in Naples, 1822—1848. London: The Donizetti Society. Loewenberg, Alfred (1970). Annals of Opera, 1597-1940, 2nd edition. Rowman and Littlefield Sadie, Stanley, (Ed.); John Tyrell (Exec. Ed.) (2004), The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. 2nd edition. London: Macmillan. (hardcover). (eBook). Weinstock, Herbert (1963), Donizetti and the World of Opera in Italy, Paris, and Vienna in the First Half of the Nineteenth Century, New York: Pantheon Books.
External links Donizetti Society (London) website Libretto