Esmeralda (Battista)

Esmeralda is an 1856 grand opera in four acts with a score by the Italian composer Vincenzo Battista. With a libretto in English by Charles Jefferys,[1] it was based on Battista's Italian version Ermelinda (1851),[2] which in turn was based on Hugo's 1831 novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.

In 1851 in Naples in Italy Battista was at the height of his fame and powers. He had already staged a number of operas at the prestigious Teatro di San Carlo including Margherita d'Aragona (1844)[3] with the soprano Fanny Goldberg, the tenor Gaetano Fraschini and the baritone Filippo Coletti. His opera Rosvina de la Forest (1845) was commissioned by La Scala in Milan.

To a libretto in Italian by Domenico Bolognese (1919–1891) he composed the score for Ermelinda (1851), which in turn was based on Hugo's 1831 novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. The opera opened as Esmeralda at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on 30 June 1856 under the musical direction of J. H. Tully[4] and with a libretto in English by Charles Jefferys.[1]

Naples cast (1851)

  • Ermelinda - Signora Violette Evrard
  • Guido di Lancry, Captain of the Archers - Sig. Agresti
  • Giulio Laroche, a poet - Sig. Cammarano
  • Paolo Fulvi, brother of the Baroness - Sig. Evrard
  • Baronessa de Gontran - Signora Silvestri
  • Elisa, her daughter - Signora Eboli
  • Roben, chief of the Gypsies - Sig. Grandillo
  • Quasimodo the Hunchback - Sig. Luigi Fioravanti
  • Morepin, another relative of the Baronessa - Sig. N. N.

Choir of Archers - Gypsies — Nobles invited to the party - the Bourgeois. Appearance of Citizens and Soldiers

The scene is set in Madrid. The time is 1482.

London cast (1856)

Source:[4]

  • Esmeralda, the Gitana - Lucy Escott
  • Fleur de Lys - Elizabeth Haigh-Dyer
  • Eloisa, Mother of Fleur de Lys - Miss Atkinson
  • Morepin, Father of Fleur de Lys- Mr. J. W. Morgan
  • Phoebus, Captain of the Archers - Mr. Henry Haigh
  • Gringoire, the Poet - Mr. Charles Manvers
  • Claude Frollo, the Monk - Mr. Charles Durand
  • Quasimodo, the Hunchback - Mr. Conrad Borrani
  • Clopin, King of the Gipsies - Mr. Hamilton

Chorus-of Gipsies, Archers, Nobles, Citizens and Soldiers.

The Scene is in Paris—Time 1482.

Songs

Source:[4]

  • Zephyr-like I woo the Flower — "Sono l'aura d'ogni fior" - Lucy Escott (soprano)
  • I am like a sportive Fay - "Sono figlia al ciel al mar" - Lucy Escott
  • Loathed as a monster from birth am I - Conrad Borrani
  • I love; and she I love is fair - Charles Durand
  • Fair Ladye-Moon, pray tell me - "Rispondi amica luna" - Lucy Escott
  • Recitation: These gay scenes make me sad of heart — "Come tutti festreggiano me lasso" - Henry Haigh
  • Romance: In her absence I still am pining — "Senza un guardo un tuo concento" - Henry Haigh
  • Baritone: I love, and she I love is fair - "Una leggiadra vergine" - Charles Durand
  • Tell me, ye powers above me - "Dimmi dimmi irato Dio" - Charles Durand
  • Comic Scena: Noble signors, now pray hear me- "Ah! Miei signori che mai dite" - Charles Manvers

Duets

  • Baritone and Bass: Idiot, leave me, I renounce thee - Charles Durand and Conrad Borrani
  • Soprano and Tenor: Good sir, noble captain, from death thou hast saved me - Lucy Escott and Henry Haigh
  • ditto: How benignant, how noble, how graceful - “Qual colomba, d’amore, foriera” - Lucy Escott and Henry Haigh
  • ditto: Thou art near me, and in thy presence- “Vedi, vedi, a te vicino” - Lucy Escott and Henry Haigh
  • Comic Duet: Gringoire, come hither - “Ei, si fermi, eccomi, avanti” - Lucy Escott and Charles Manvers
  • Comic Duet: I like a gentle lamb will be - “Come agnelletto placido" - Lucy Escott and Charles Manvers

Trio

  • The Archer's Chorus—In the darkness of the night - “I noltriam dell’ombra insen” - Henry Haigh and Chorus

References

  1. ^ a b F. Boase. Modern English Biography, 6 vols. (1892–1921)
  2. ^ Esmeralda : dramma lirico in 4 atti, Library of Congress online
  3. ^ Vincenzo Battista, Opening Night! - Stanford University Libraries
  4. ^ a b c Full text of Esmeralda (1856), Esmeralda: Published by Charles Jefferys, 21, Soho Square, London (1856) - Google Books


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