The Siege of Belgrade is a comic opera in three acts, principally composed by Stephen Storace to an English libretto by James Cobb. It incorporated music by Mozart, Salieri, Paisiello and Martini, and is therefore considered a pasticcio opera, as well as a Singspiel in English language, as it contained a spoken dialogue. It premiered on 1 January 1791 at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in London with a great success,Stephen Storace. short biography featuring many famous singers and actors of the time, such as sopranos Nancy StoraceAnna (Nancy) Storace, list of performances and Anna Maria Crouch, tenor Michael Kelly as well as Shakespearean actors with singing skills such as John Bannister and Richard "Dicky" Suett.
Roles Roles and performers at the premiere in London on 1 January 1791: Men Saraskier, the leader of Turkish forces (tenor) – Mr. Kelly Colonel Cohenberg, Austrian Commander (spoken role) – Mr. Palmer Krohnfeldt (spoken role) – Mr. R. Palmer Ismael, Commissioner of Saraskier and Yuseph (baritone) – Mr. Fox Yuseph, Turkish kadi (tenor) – Mr. Suett Leopold, Serbian peasant, in love with Lilla (tenor) – Mr. Bannister Jr. Peter, Serbian peasant, Lilla's brother and in love with Ghita (tenor) – Mr. Dignum Anselm, Serbian peasant (baritone) – Mr. Cook (later Mr. Sedgewick) Michael (spoken role) – Mr. Hollingsworth Soldier (tenor) – Mr. Dubois Women Lilla, Serbian peasant girl, Peter's sister (soprano) – Signora Storace Catherine, wife of colonel Cohenberg (soprano) – Mrs. Crouch Ghita, Serbian peasant girl (soprano) – Mrs. Bland Fatima (spoken role) – Miss Hagley Soldiers, Guards, Peasants, etc.
Notable musical numbers "When justice claims the victim due" (Act 1, Trio for the Seraskier, Lilla and Ghita), originally sung by Michael Kelly, Nancy Storace and Mrs. Bland "Domestic peace, my soul's desire" (Act 3, Lilla's aria), originally sung by Nancy Storace
See also Siege of Belgrade (1789)
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