Il corsaro

"Il corsaro" ("The Corsair") is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi, from a libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, based on Lord Byron's poem "The Corsair". The first performance was given at the Teatro Grande in Trieste on 25 October 1848.

The composer expressed interest in Byron's poem "The Corsaire" as early as 1844, but it was several years before he got around to composing the opera, working with a libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. Meanwhile, Verdi was caught up in a squabble between two publishers doing battle over his work. "Il Corsaro" was written for the publisher who lost that battle — at least in the composer's eyes — and Verdi may have been anxious to get past it. In any case, when he finished the score in 1848, and turned it over to the publisher, he apparently had no idea where or when it would be produced. When it premiered at the Teatro Grande (now the Teatro Lirico Giuseppe Verdi) in Trieste later that year, Verdi did not attend the first performance. He may have known exactly what he was doing. As it turns out, the opera was poorly received — an unusual occurrence for Verdi. It quickly fell out of favor. [ [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9685320 Background excerpted from NPR's "The World of Opera"] ]

Performance history

In modern times, the opera is very much of a rarity. It was given its first performances in Britain in London in March 1966Holden, Amanda, "The New Penguin opera Guide", New York: Penguin Puttnam, 2001, p.988] and in the USA in December 1981. It was presented as part of a Verdi Festival by the San Diego Opera in 1982, and as part of the 2004 "Verdi Cycle" of all of Verdi's operas to be presented before 2013 by the Sarasota Opera. Other companies with similar aims such as the ABAO in Bilbao, Spain plan performances of all Verdi operas. In a concert version, it has been given by the Opera Orchestra of New York.

Roles

Synopsis

:Place: A Greek island in the Aegean and the Turkish city of Corone. [ [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9685320 Synopsis based on NPR's "The World of Opera"] ] :Time: The early 1800s

Act 1

"The Greek Island"

"Scene 1: Corrado's ship"

The island is controlled by the corsairs, or pirates. A chorus introduces Corrado, the chief corsair, who is in exile. He laments his present condition: "Tutto parea sorridere" / "The world seemed to smile upon my early life". But he receives a letter containing military intelligence about the Turkish Pasha, Seid. It convinces him to set sail with his comrades, and he immediately starts rallying the troops: "Sì, di Corsari il fulmine" / "Yes, the lighning blow of the Corsairs shall I myself strike".

"Scene 2: Medora's home"

Medora is alone, and anxious for Corrado's return. She picks up her harp and sings a beautiful, but vaguely sinister aria; some sixth sense seems to be telling her that things are bound to turn out badly: "Non so le tetre immagini" / "Dark forebodings I cannot banish from my thoughts". When Corrado finally arrives, the two sing a duet that captures both the serenity of their love and the uncertainty of their future. Medora pleads with Corrado not to leave, but finally he departs to confront the Pasha.

Act 2

"Corone"

"Scene 1: The harem"

The slave girls in Pasha Seid's harem are looking after Gulnara, the Pasha's favorite. However, Gulnara is unhappy about the Pasha's attentions. She chafes at life in the harem, and longs for freedom and true love: "Vola talor dal carcere" / "At times my thought flies free from its prison". A eunuch brings Gulnara an invitation to a celebratory banquet anticipating the Pasha's victory in the impending sea battle with the corsairs. She expresses a hope of something better awaiting her in life: "Ah conforto è sol la speme" / "Ah, comfort lies only in hope for this lost soul" and the ladies of the harem tell her that "you are everyone's hope".

"Scene 2: The banquet"

Seid and his men express their feelings that Allah will protect them: "Salve, Allah! tutta quanta" / "Hail Allah! All the earth resounds with his mighty name". A slave asks the Pasha if a Dervish who has apparently escaped from the corsairs might be admitted. Seid grants an audience and questions him. Suddenly everyone notices flames at sea: the Pasha's fleet is burning. As the Dervish whips off his disguise and reveals himself to be Corrado, his corsairs invade the banquet, and a battle takes place. At first, it seems that Corrado and his men will win, but he makes a fatal mistake. Seeing that the harem is burning, Corrado decides to rescue Gulnara and the other women. This gives the Pasha and his men time to regroup. They take Corrado prisoner and Seid confronts him - "Audace cotannto, mostrarti pur sai?" / "Yet so bold do you stand before me" - as he condemns Corrado to a grisly death, in spite of pleas from Gulnara and the harem to spare him for saving their lives.

Act 3

"Scene 1: Seid's quarters"

Seid is enjoying his victory, but he is not entirely satisfied: "Cento leggiadre vergini" / "A hundred lissom virgins asked love of me" he says, but "my heart beats only for Gulnara". He is afraid she has fallen for the dashing Corrado. Sending for her, he proclaims his basic credo of revenge: "S'avvincina il tuo momento" / "Your moment approaches, dread thirst for vengeance". When she enters, he challenges her and she tells him that he is right; he threatens Gulnara, but she defies him and the Pasha storms out of the room.

"Scene 2: The prison"

Corrado is in prison and assumes that he is doomed: "Eccomi prigionero!" / "Here am I a prisoner". Having bribed a guard to let her into his cell, Gulnara vows to help him, handing him a knife to kill Seid. Corrado rejects her offer, citing his honor as a combatant. He also senses her deep feelings for him, and tells her that he is in love with Medora. Gulnara leaves, saying that she will kill Seid. In a brief interlude, the stormy music, which opened the Prelude, is heard again; this time, it accompanies a murder. On her return Gulnara reports that she takes all the blame for killing the Pasha: "Sul capo mio discenta, fierro Iddio" / "Upon my head, grim God, let your dread lightning fall". With their enemy gone, she and Corrado resolve to escape together to the corsairs' island.

Act 4

"The Greek island"

Near death after taking poison, Medora is convinced and she will never see Corrado again. The ship carrying Gulnara and Corrado appears in the distance and, when they arrive, Corrado and Medora throw themselves into each other's arms. In a trio with each character expressing his/her feelings, Corrado begins by explaining how he and Gulnara became free: "Per me infelice vedi costei" / "Unhappy for my sake you see this woman; she risked her life to save mine". However, their joy does not last for long, for Medora dies. With his men trying to stop him, Corrado leaps from a cliff to his death as the opera ends.

elected recordings

Note: "Cat:" is short for catalogue number by the label company; "ASIN" is amazon.com product reference number.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.giuseppeverdi.it/stampabile.asp?IDCategoria=162&IDSezione=581&ID=19848 Libretto]
* [http://www.aria-database.com/cgi-bin/aria-search.pl?opera=Il+Corsaro&a Aria database]