Tancredi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tancredi
by Gioachino Rossini
Portrait of the composer
Genre	Opera seria
Librettist	Gaetano Rossi
Language	Italian
Premiere	6 February 1813 (1813-02-06): Teatro La Fenice, Venice

Tancredi is an exciting heroic opera (also called opera seria) by Gioachino Rossini. He wrote the music, and Gaetano Rossi wrote the story, known as the librettist. The story is based on a play called Tancrède by Voltaire from 1760.

This opera first opened in Venice at the Teatro La Fenice on February 6, 1813. Rossini was very fast; he finished Tancredi in less than a month! The music for the opening part, called the overture, is very famous. It shows Rossini's special style and is often played in concerts today.

Many people, like Rossini's first biographer Stendhal, thought Tancredi was one of his best works. They said it was like "a genuine thunderbolt" for Italian opera. His librettist, Gaetano Rossi, even said that with this opera, "Rossini rose to glory." It quickly made him Italy's top opera composer.

The first version of Tancredi had a happy ending, as was common for operas back then. But soon after, Rossini changed it to have a sad, tragic ending, just like Voltaire's original play. In this new ending, which was first shown in Ferrara in March 1813, Tancredi wins a battle but is badly hurt. He learns that Amenaide, the woman he loves, was always loyal to him. Her father, Argirio, quickly marries them before Tancredi dies in Amenaide's arms.

For a long time, the music for this tragic ending was lost. But it was found again in 1974 (or 1976, some say). Because of this discovery, the tragic ending is now usually performed in opera houses today.

How the Opera Was Created

By the time he was 20, Rossini was already a famous composer. People knew that if his name was on an opera, it would be a success. He had a big hit in Milan in September with La pietra del paragone. Then he got a new job in Venice for L'occasione fa il ladro. He wrote this opera at the same time he was working on Tancredi. He had agreed to write Tancredi for La Fenice, Venice's most important opera house, the previous autumn.

Other composers had also written operas about the Tancredi story. But Rossini added many new and exciting musical ideas from his earlier short operas. One expert, Philip Gossett, said that Tancredi created "new ways of writing music" that other Italian composers would follow.

The Changed Ending for Ferrara (March 1813)

This new version of the opera was shown just one month after the first one in Venice. It used Voltaire's original sad ending. The music for this ending was lost for many years and wasn't found until 1976.

Here are some changes made for the Ferrara version:

• The duet L'aura che interno spiri from Act 1 was removed. This was the first time Tancredi and Amenaide met in the opera. It was replaced with a different song from Act 2.
• In the Act 2 ending: Tancredi wins the battle but is badly wounded. Argirio tells him that Amenaide was innocent. Argirio quickly marries them, and Tancredi dies in Amenaide's arms.

However, this Ferrara version wasn't very popular at the time. Rossini took back the changes and used some of the music in his later operas.

How the Lost Music Was Found

Music expert Philip Gossett shared the story of how this lost ending was found. Until the mid-1970s, no one knew where the music was. Then, in 1976, a man named Count Giacomo Lechi was looking through his family's old papers. His family was related to Luigi Lechi, who had helped write the text for the Ferrara version. The Count found some old music papers. One of them had a note from Rossini himself, saying: "I declare (and not without shame) that this is an autograph of mine from 1813!!" It was dated November 22, 1867.

After this discovery, experts began to create a proper, scholarly version of the opera. This work started in 1976 at the University of Chicago.

Later Changes for Milan (December 1813)

By the end of 1813, Rossini made more changes for a performance in Milan. For this version, he brought back the happy ending. He also put back some music that had been cut, like a duet and an aria for Argirio. Other small changes were made to characters' singing parts.

In this Milan version, Tancredi and Amenaide are happily together again. Tancredi gets a new, simpler song at the end after he learns Amenaide was loyal.

Opera Performances Over Time

19th Century Performances

Tancredi first opened in February 1813 in Venice. The singer Adelaide Malanotte played Tancredi. The first two shows had some singing problems, but the opera was still a big hit.

It was quickly performed again in Ferrara in March, with the tragic ending. But audiences didn't like it, so later shows there went back to the happy Venice ending. More changes were made for a performance in Milan in December. Rossini also helped with other changes for performances in places like Bologna (1814) and Naples (1816, 1818).

The Milan version of December 1813 became very popular in Italy. Many other Italian cities also showed the Venice version. In March 1816, in Venice, another change was made: the dying enemy, Solamir, says Amenaide is innocent, and Tancredi returns home a hero.

Tancredi was performed outside Italy too. It was seen in London in 1820 and in Paris in 1822. The opera came to the United States on December 31, 1825, in New York City. After 1833, Tancredi wasn't performed again for almost 120 years.

20th Century and Beyond

Tancredi was brought back to the stage on May 17, 1952, in Florence. Giulietta Simionato sang the role of Tancredi.

The discovery of the lost Ferrara ending in the 1970s led to many new performances. The famous singer Marilyn Horne was very interested in performing this version. She sang the role of Tancredi at the Houston Grand Opera on October 13, 1977. Horne became very well-known for this role. She always wanted to use the tragic Ferrara ending because she felt it fit the opera better. Today, most recordings of Tancredi use this sad ending.

Thanks to Marilyn Horne, Tancredi became popular again in the late 20th century. She performed the role in Rome (1977), San Francisco (1979), and Chicago (1989), among other places.

Other singers also became famous for playing Tancredi. Ewa Podleś performed it in many cities like Milan (1993) and Warsaw (2000). Vesselina Kasarova also sang the role at the Salzburg Festival (1992).

In 1982, Pier Luigi Pizzi created a new production of Tancredi for the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro. This show used both the tragic and happy endings. The tragic ending was shown as a "dream sequence" for Amenaide. This production was brought back in 1991, 1999, and 2004.

In 2005, a production of Tancredi was filmed in Florence. Daniela Barcellona sang Tancredi in this version. She also sang the role in Turin in 2009. In October 2009, the Theater an der Wien performed the opera for the first time.

In 2014, the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris put on a full production. It used the "unhappy" Ferrara ending but also included some changes from the 1813 Milan version.

In 2018, Teatro Nuovo in New York presented two versions of the opera. One was the original Venice score. The other, called Tancredi rifatto, included all the known changes Rossini made over time.

Characters in the Opera

Story of the Opera

Background Story

The city of Syracuse has been fighting with the Byzantine empire and the Saracen armies led by Solamir. Syracuse is tired from war and also has problems between its own noble families. Tancredi, a soldier, and his family lost their lands and money, and he was sent away when he was young. Two noble families, led by Argirio and Orbazzano, have been fighting for years but are now trying to make peace. Solamir, the Moorish general, is also present.

Argirio's daughter, Amenaide, is secretly in love with Tancredi. Before the opera begins, she sent him a letter. She didn't write his name in it to protect him. This letter causes a lot of trouble later.

• Place: The city-state of Syracuse
• Time: AD 1005

[This story describes the original Venice version from February 1813.]

Act 1

Overture

Scene 1: A room in Argirio's palace

A painting of the stage for Act 1, Scene 1, Venice 1833

The noble leaders Argirio and Orbazzano, who used to fight, are now celebrating peace. Everyone sings about "Peace, honour, faith, love." Argirio says this peace will make the city safe from the Moorish forces led by Solamir. He names Orbazzano as the leader against the Moors. But Argirio also warns about Tancredi, who was sent away. This worries Isaura, Amenaide's friend. Argirio then calls for his daughter, Amenaide.

Amenaide joins the celebration songs, but she is sad. Her secret love, Tancredi, has not returned to her, even though she asked him to. The Senate has given Tancredi's old lands to Orbazzano. Argirio offers Amenaide's hand in marriage to Orbazzano to make the peace stronger. He wants the wedding to happen right away. Amenaide agrees but asks her father to wait until the next day. Everyone leaves except Isaura, who feels sorry for Amenaide.

Scene 2: A garden by the sea

Early in the morning, Tancredi and his men arrive by boat. He hasn't received Amenaide's letter. He promises to help defend the city and find his love. He sends his helper, Roggiero, with a message for Amenaide. Tancredi thinks about Amenaide and how much pain he has caused her.

Tancredi hides when he sees Argirio and Amenaide enter the garden. He hears Argirio inviting everyone to the wedding at noon. Amenaide begs for more time, but her father says it must happen now. Argirio also announces that Solamir, the enemy leader, has surrounded the city and wants to marry Amenaide. Orbazzano says he will lead the fight against Solamir. The Senate has said that all traitors will be put to death.

As Argirio leaves, Amenaide is sad that she might have put Tancredi in danger by writing to him. Tancredi then appears. Amenaide tells him he must leave immediately. She acts cold, but they both sing about the dangerous situation they are in.

[This duet was removed after the first performance but is sometimes included in modern shows.]

Scene 3: A public square

People gather for the wedding. Argirio says the marriage will make the peace stronger. Tancredi, in disguise, offers to help. He secretly thinks Amenaide has betrayed him by agreeing to marry Orbazzano. But when Amenaide refuses the marriage, Orbazzano gets angry. He publicly accuses her and shows a letter. He thinks it was for Solamir and says it proves Amenaide is a traitor, asking the enemy to capture the city. (But it was really the letter Amenaide sent to Tancredi, without his name, to protect him.)

The crowd is shocked and calls her a traitor. Amenaide says she is innocent, but her father and Tancredi also accuse her. She is taken to prison to wait for death. Only her loyal friend Isaura believes her.

Act 2

Scene 1: A room in Argirio's castle

Orbazzano is angry about Amenaide's betrayal. Isaura feels sorry for Amenaide and reminds Argirio that Amenaide is his daughter. The knights are divided; some want mercy, others support Orbazzano. Argirio is sad but signs the paper that orders Amenaide's death.

[In the Ferrara version, Argirio's song here is removed.]

Everyone leaves except Isaura and Orbazzano. Isaura tells him he is cruel. Alone, she prays for Amenaide.

Scene 2: Inside the prison

Amenaide is in chains. She sings that she will die for Tancredi and believes he will one day know she was loyal.

Orbazzano and his men come to carry out the execution. He asks if anyone will defend the traitor. Tancredi steps forward, even though he still believes Amenaide betrayed him. He challenges Orbazzano to a duel to defend Amenaide's honor. Amenaide begs Tancredi to prove her innocence. Orbazzano and Argirio ask Tancredi who he is. Tancredi says he will tell them one day. A trumpet sounds, signaling the start of the fight. Tancredi goes to battle, saying he is full of glory and fury.

Amenaide learns about the duel and prays for Tancredi's safety. She begs him to win. From outside, a cheer announces Tancredi's victory. Amenaide feels hope.

Scene 3: The main square

Tancredi returns victorious, and the people cheer. But he decides to leave Syracuse. Amenaide approaches him, but he still thinks she was unfaithful and doesn't want to talk. They sing about their mixed feelings. She then asks him to kill her. Both leave. Roggiero, Tancredi's helper, has learned the truth from Isaura. He hopes that if Amenaide is innocent, then "May the torch of love return shining, smiling and fair."

Scene 4: A mountain cave with Mt. Etna in the distance

Tancredi is alone near the Saracens' camp, thinking about his sad fate and Amenaide's supposed betrayal. The Saracens appear. The knights of Syracuse arrive with Argirio and Amenaide, looking for Solamir. Amenaide is told that peace will come if she marries Solamir. Tancredi challenges the Saracens, ready to fight to the death. He goes into battle. After the fight, he wins. The dying Solamir says that Amenaide is innocent.

Everyone rejoices, and the lovers are reunited. Tancredi, Argirio, and Amenaide sing about their great joy. Isaura also joins in the celebration.

[Ferrara ending: One month after the first show, Rossini changed the ending. Tancredi wins the battle but is badly hurt. Only then does he learn Amenaide was loyal. Argirio quickly marries them, and Tancredi dies in his wife's arms.]

The Music of Tancredi

Tancredi was Rossini's first serious opera, and it brought many new ideas. The Grove Dictionary says these ideas came from his earlier short operas. Writer Gaia Servadio notes that the opera was a big step forward because of Rossini's changes. He bravely made changes that we now take for granted:

• The spoken parts (recitatives) are short and fit well with the songs (arias).
• There's a new, great balance between the drama, the singing, and the music.
• The chorus (group of singers) appears for the first time in a serious opera.

Music expert Philip Gossett finds the most amazing changes in the Ferrara ending of the opera. He says the final moments are very different from typical opera endings of that time. There are no fancy vocal displays or complex music. Instead, the music, mostly just strings, follows every word of the dying hero. This was very new and different.

Gossett also explains another part of Rossini's music style. Even though the opera uses separate songs and spoken parts, the music is flexible. This allows for a lot of dramatic action within the songs. In the duets, for example, the first part lets characters confront each other. Then there's a lyrical part with more interaction. Finally, a fast, exciting section (cabaletta) shows how the characters' feelings change.

Recordings

See also

In Spanish: Tancredi para niños