Leoncavallo Zingari (Royal Philharmonic & Carlo Rizzi) Opera Rara

[@OperaRaraOfficial]

SYNOPSIS Episode One The action opens at twilight in a Roma camp on the banks of the River Danube. Wagons are positioned on the left side of the stage; on the right in the distance is the river and a large almond tree. Coppersmiths are finishing their work and decide to go to the river. Tamar approaches the Old Man by the fire and tells him that a strange man has been seen in the camp at night; Fleana - the Old Man’s daughter - has also been seen leaving her tent and kissing the stranger. In a short aria (‘Ah! taci! non lo dir!’) Tamar expresses his unrequited love for Fleana. The men of the tribe find Fleana and the stranger and bring them bound to the Old Man. Fleana declares her love for the stranger, who is revealed as a nobleman called Radu; he in turn declares his allegiance to the community (‘Principe! Radu io son’). The Old Man blesses the relationship and Fleana and Radu are left alone; to the accompaniment of an offstage female chorus, they declare their undying love (‘Eccolo finalmente il sogno!’). The couple then hear Tamar lurking in the bushes and find he is brandishing a knife. He confesses his love for Fleana. Tamar and Radu begin to fight, but Fleana separates them; she then mockingly rejects Tamar’s love. Tamar leaves and preparations are made to celebrate the wedding; Fleana performs a dance at the community’s request. Using Tamar’s knife, the Old Man makes a blood oath between the couple, but Tamar is heard singing in the distance (‘Ah! Canto notturno’). Radu’s jealousy is aroused, but Fleana restrains him and they again declare their love. Episode Two A year has passed. The action takes place in another encampment, at night by a village church; tents are scattered nearby. The Roma are fleeing enemies and Tamar orders everyone to hide. Fleana arrives and declares him the true leader of the group. He leaves as Radu approaches. Radu laments that Fleana has become cold and distant towards him: he is tormented at night by anxious thoughts and believes that someone is taking her away from him (‘Mi fai morire’). He demands an answer from her. She mocks him and declares she will reveal nothing even if he cuts her up and burns her (‘Tagliami! Abbruciami’). Left alone, Radu laments his situation once more and enters his tent. Tamar is heard singing in the distance, and when he appears Fleana joins him and they declare their love. They enter a nearby hut. Radu appears, looking for Fleana: he hears the couple inside the hut (‘Fleana! Ove sei?’). Enraged, he locks the door, places piles of straw around the building and sets it alight. Fleana and Tamar scream in horror and the inhabitants appear, crying out for water to save the couple, and wishing death on Radu. Radu curses the couple, but as the hut collapses the Old Man tells the chorus to free Radu: he is a madman. © Ditlev Rindom

[@LABARITONESSA]

Una rarità ❤ Grazie ❤

[@josemariainigo7415]

I like Leoncavallo more and more every day, he's great. Does anyone have the tenor's phone number?

[@JURISMICH]

Personne ne fut mieux inspiré que le malheureux Leoncavallo pour exprimer, dans la plupart de ses opéras comme celui-ci, la vie de bohème et la dure compétition même de ses amis.

[@esteban_iribarne]

Thank you so much!!! What a beautiful opera!

[@OperaRaraOfficial]

Glad you enjoy! We'll upload our recording of Leoncavallo's 'Zaza' in the upcoming few months, watch this space !

[@AliceDourian]

Magnifique, merci...très belles interprétations❤❤❤

[@remomazzetti8757]

It should be noted that this is the first and only performance which uses the original, uncut 1912 version. All other performances and recordings are based on a revised and shorter version republished in 1940 (21 years after Leoncavallo's death.) The original is superior in my opinion. The composer always cut too much in his various revisions, especially Zaza who's vocal score was reduced from 405 pages to a mere 185 !