Belisario (Belisarius) is a tragedia lirica, or opera, in three acts by Gaetano Donizetti. Salvatore Cammarano wrote the Italian libretto after Luigi Marchionni's adaptation of Eduard von Schenk's play. The plot is loosely based on the life of the famous general Belisarius of the 6th century Byzantine Empire. It premiered to critical and popular success on February 4, 1836 at the Teatro La Fenice, Venice. Its popularity continued through the 19th century, but modern production are rare. The Teatro alla Scala in Milan is one of the worlds most famous opera houses. ... Gaetano Donizetti Domenico Gaetano Maria Donizetti (29 November 1797 – 8 April 1848) was a famous Italian opera composer. ... Salvatore Cammarano (March 19, 1801-July 17, 1852) was an Italian librettist and playwright known for creating Lucia di Lammermoor. ... A libretto is the complete body of words used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, sacred or secular oratorio and cantata, musical, and ballet. ... Belisarius, to the right of Emperor Justinian I, in the mosaic in Ravenna that celebrates the reconquest of Italy, performed by the Byzantine army under the skilful leadership of Belisarius himself. ... This Buddhist stela from China, Northern Wei period, was built in the early 6th century. ... Byzantine Empire (native Greek name: - Basileia tōn Romaiōn) is the term conventionally used since the 19th century to describe the Greek-speaking Roman Empire of the Middle Ages, centered at its capital in Constantinople. ... February 4 is the 35th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Charles Darwin 1836 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Teatro La Fenice (the phoenix) is an opera house in Venice, Italy. ... Country Italy Region Veneto Province Venice (VE) Mayor Massimo Cacciari (since April 18, 2005) Elevation m Area 412 km² Population  - Total (as of December 31, 2004) 271,251  - Density 646/km² Time zone CET, UTC+1 Coordinates Gentilic Veneziani Dialing code 041 Postal code 30100 Frazioni Chirignago, Favaro Veneto, Mestre...

Roles

Look up soprano in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A mezzo-soprano (meaning medium soprano in Italian) is a female singer with a range usually extending from the A below middle C to the F an eleventh above middle C. Mezzo-sopranos generally have a darker (or lower) vocal tone than sopranos, and their vocal range is between that... Baritone (French: baryton; German: Bariton; Italian: baritono) is most commonly the type of male voice that lies between bass and tenor. ... A bass (or basso in Italian) is a male singer who sings in the lowest vocal range of the human voice. ... In music, a tenor is a male singer with a high vocal range. ...

Synopsis

Place, Byzantium and the Hamus mountains.

Time, sixth century A.D.

Act I

Hall in the emperor's palace. Irene and the populace greet the victor Belisarius. Antonina hates her husband because Proclus, the slave of Belisarius, has confessed on his deathbed, that upon command of his master he had exposed her son on the shore of the ocean, thus causing his death. The Emperor Justinian greets his commander and grants his prayer for the release of the prisoners. The captive, Alamir, who adores Belisarius, refuses to leave him. (Recitative and duet: "What do I see, does Alamir reject my gift?") The general adopts him in place of his long lost son. Irene congratulates her father, but Antonina has already begun her work of hate, by traducing Belisarius to Justinian, and the innocent man is accused of high treason and thrown into prison on the evidence of his wife. Justinian I depicted on one of the famous mosaics of the Basilica of San Vitale. ...

Act II

Before the prison. Alamir and his friends lament the fate of Belisarius. His eyes have been put out by his enemies, who have falsely construed and disobeyed the commands of the emperor. Alamir swears vengeance. (Aria: "Tremble, Byzantia, I will repay.") Irene clad as a youth arrives to act as guide to her father, who is about to be released from prison. (Duet: "Oh thou, who in terrible darkness.")

Act III

In the mountains. As the clang of weapons is heard Irene leads Belisarius to a cave for safety. Alamir now leads the army of the Alannae against Byzantium to avenge Belisarius. Belisarius confronts him and recognises him as his son through an amulet. At his father's request, the son leaves the ranks of the enemies of Byzantium, and the Alannae, now under the command of Ottavio, march to Byzantium, having no fear, as the emperor's army is bereft of its leader. Change of scene: Hall in Byzantium. Antonina, in remorse, tells the emperor that her testimony against Belisarius was false. Irene approaches with news of the victory and informs Antonina that Alamir is her son, and that it was the slave, not Belisarius, who had planned his death. Meanwhile the blind Belisarius has led the Byzantine army and defeated the Alann, who had threatened Byzantium, but an arrow has mortally wounded him. He is carried in dying, and the sorrowing emperor promises to be a father to Alamir and Irene.

Recording

• Gianandrea Gavazzeni conducting the Teatro la Fenice Orchestra and Chorus with Nicola Zaccaria, Giuseppe Taddei, Leyla Gencer, Mirna Pecile, Unberto Grilli, Rina Pallini, Brundo Sebastian, Giovanni Antonini, Augusto Veronese, Alberto Carusi, (live from May 14, 1969) (Opera d'Oro)

direttore dorchestra, compositore e scrittore italiano (Bergamo 1909-1996). ... May 14 is the 134th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (135th in leap years). ... 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ...

External link

• Libretto (Italian)

Reference

• Plot taken from Leo Melitz, The Opera Goer's Complete Guide (1921)