Pelagio (opera) facts for kids
Pelagio is an exciting opera, which is like a play where all the words are sung. It has four acts, which are like different parts of the story. The music was written by a famous Italian composer named Saverio Mercadante. The story, called the libretto, was written in Italian by Marco D'Arienzo.
Pelagio first opened on February 12, 1857, at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples, Italy. It was a big success and people loved it! After that, it was also performed successfully in other cities like Milan and Lisbon.
In more recent times, Pelagio was performed again in 2005 in Gijón, Spain. It was also part of the Festival della Valle d'Itria in 2008.
This opera is known for its beautiful singing style, called "bel canto". It also shows some influence from another very famous opera composer, Giuseppe Verdi. Many people say Pelagio has "excellent music" and some parts, especially a song for the character Bianca in the fourth act, are very powerful and emotional.
Meet the Characters
Here are the main characters in the opera Pelagio and the types of voices they sing with. The first time the opera was performed, these were the singers who played the roles:
| Character | Voice type | First Singer (February 12, 1857) |
|---|---|---|
| Pelagio (a brave Spanish leader) |
baritone | Filippo Coletti |
| Abdel-Aor, the governor of Gijón | tenor | Lodovico Graziani |
| Bianca, Pelagio's daughter | soprano | Fortunata Tedesco |
| Giralda, Bianca's close friend | contralto | Schiavi |
| Asan, a captain of the Moors | bass | Marco Arati |
| Aliatar, a guard | bass | Nicola Monti |
| Mendo de Quexada, a Spanish nobleman | bass | Michele Benedetti |
| An inhabitant of Gijón | tenor | A. Lauri |
| Other characters include Arabian soldiers, Arabian men and women, Spanish warriors, and Spanish men and women. | ||
The Story of Pelagio
The story of Pelagio takes place in the 8th century in a region of Spain called Asturias, especially in the city of Gijón.
The main character is Pelagio, a real historical figure. He was an Asturian king who started the Kingdom of Asturias. He led his people in battles against the Moors, who were a group of people from North Africa.
In the opera's story, Pelagio's daughter, Bianca, was raised by Giralda because everyone thought Pelagio had died. Bianca falls in love with Abdel-Aor, who is the Moorish governor of Gijón. When Pelagio finds out, he is very upset and disapproves of Bianca's love.
The opera ends sadly for Bianca. Abdel-Aor believes Bianca is helping her father and that their love cannot continue. Because of this, Bianca's life tragically ends.
Recordings of the Opera
You can listen to Pelagio! One recording was made in 2008. It features the Orchestra Internazionale d'Italia and the Bratislava Chamber Choir, led by conductor Mariano Rivas. This recording was made live at the Festival della Valle d'Itria.
|
2008 Recording: Mariano Rivas; Orchestra Internazionale d'Italia, Bratislava Chamber Choir
(Live recording at the Festival della Valle d'Itria); CD: Dynamic CDS 636/1-2 |
|
|---|---|
|
Pelagio: Costantino Finucci |
Asan: Vladimir Mebonia |
See also
In Spanish: Pelagio (ópera) para niños
