The Long LineThe Long Line

Gioachino Rossini

Aureliano in Palmira

Opera

Stage

Aureliano in Palmira is an operatic dramma serio in two acts written by Gioachino Rossini to an Italian libretto in which the librettist was credited only by the initials "G. F. R." The libretto has generally been attributed to Felice Romani, but sometimes to the otherwise unknown Gian Francesco Romanelli. It has been suggested that the latter name may have resulted from a confusion of Romani with Luigi Romanelli, La Scala's house poet prior to Romani's appointment to the post.

The story was based on the libretto by Gaetano Sertor for Pasquale Anfossi's 1789 opera Zenobia di Palmira and it centers on the rivalry between the Roman Emperor Aurelian and Prince Arsace of Persia over the beautiful Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Synopsis

Place: in and around the city of Palmyra
Time: 271–272 A.D.

  1. Sinfonia

Atto I

Queen Zenobia, her lover Arsace, and the priests offer sacrifices in the Temple of Isis and pray for their deliverance from the approaching Roman army. General Oraspe enters to the strains of martial music and announces that Aureliano's Roman army is at the gates of Palmyra. Arsace pledges his Persian troops to defend the city. After a dramatic battle scene on the plains outside the city, the Persians are defeated. The Roman soldiers celebrate their victory. Aureliano arrives and addresses Arsace, now a prisoner. He responds to the Emperor with dignity and affirms his love for Zenobia, saying that he is prepared to die for her.
Inside Palmyra's walls, Zenobia has hidden the kingdom's treasures in the vaults beneath the palace. She decides to make a last stand with her troops to save the city. She asks Aureliano for a truce so that she can speak with him and obtain the liberty of the prisoners, including Arsace. On Aureliano's refusal to free the prisoners, she asks to at least see Arsace for a last time. Zenobia and Arsace weep over their fate. Aureliano enters and promises to free Arsace on condition that he abandons Zenobia. Arsace refuses and is sentenced to death. The Roman and Palmyran armies prepare for a last battle.

  1. No. 1. Introduzione “Sposa del grande Osiride” … “Coraggio oh figli…” … “Ah! favella…” (Coro, Gran sacerdote, Zenobia, Arsace, Oraspe)
  2. Scene e duettino: “Se tu m’ami, o mia regina”
  3. Stretta dell’intro: “Gia l’insegne d’Aureliano”
  4. Recitativo: “Secondino gli dei” (Gran sacerdote)
  5. No. 2. Aria “Stava, dirà la terra” aria (Gran sacerdote)
  6. Marcia e coro: “Vivi eterno, o grande Augusto”
  7. Scena: “Romani, a voi soltanto”
  8. Cavatina: “Cara patria! Il mondo trema”
  9. Recitativo: “Vincemmo, o Publia”
  10. Duetto: “Pensa che festi a Roma”
  11. Coro: “Venga Zenobia, o Cesare”
  12. Recitativo: “Cesare, a te me guida”
  13. Recitativo: “Cesare, a te me guida”
  14. Coro: “Cedi, cedi, a lui t’arrendi”
  15. Recitativo: “Ah no, voi lo sperate invano”
  16. Scena e cavatina nel finale I: “La pugnai, la sorte arrise”
  17. Recitativo: “Chi mai creduto avria”
  18. Scena e cavatina nel finale I: “Eccomi, ingiusti numi... Chi sa dir”
  19. Recitativo: “Arsace, Arsace mio”
  20. Duettino nel finale I: “Va, m’abbandona”
  21. Scena e terzetto nel finale I: “Esegui … Ah, sento che assi”
  22. Seguito e stretta del finale I: “Vieni all’armi”

Atto II

Palmyra has now been conquered by the Romans. Aureliano enters Zenobia's palace and offers his love to her, which she refuses. Meanwhile, Oraspe frees Arsace who then flees to the hills by the Euphrates river where he is sheltered by a group of shepherds. Arsace's soldiers join him and tell him that Zenobia has been taken prisoner. Arsace sets off to free her and launch a new attack against the Romans with the Palmyran troops.
In the palace, Aureliano proposes to Zenobia that they reign together over Palmyra. Once again Zenobia refuses. Later that night, Arsace and Zenobia meet again in the moonlight and embrace. When they are discovered by the Roman troops, they ask to die. Although he secretly admires their courage and devotion to each other, Aureliano decrees that they will end their days in separate cells. Publia, the daughter of Roman general and secretly in love with Arsace, begs Aureliano to take pity on him.
The final scene takes place in a large chamber of Zenobia's palace. The leaders and priests of the defeated Palmyrans are gathered in supplication before Aureliano. Oraspe, Arsace and Zenobia are led into the chamber in chains. Aureliano, has a change of heart and frees Zenobia and Arsace to reign together over Palmyra provided they both swear fealty to the Roman Empire. This they do, and praise Aureliano for his generous heart. The chorus sings joyfully, "Torni sereno a splendere all'Asia afflitta il dì" (May the day dawn serene and shining for suffering Asia).

  1. Aria: “Non mi lagno, che il mio bene”
  2. Aria: “Più non vedrà quel perfido”
  3. Coro dintro: “Del cielo! Ah! Miseri”
  4. Coro interno: “Arrestate … Ola, vendetta”
  5. Coro: “L’Asia in faville e volta”
  6. Coro: “Nel tuo core unita sia”
  7. Duetto: “Mille sospiri e lacrime”
  8. Finale II: “Copra un eterno oblio”
  9. Quartetto: “Corri, Augusto, Arsace e sciolto”
  10. Recitativo e duettino: “Se libertà t’e cara”
  11. Recitativo: “A piedi tuoi”
  12. Recitativo: “I prigionieri a me”
  13. Recitativo: “La sicurezza tua”
  14. Recitativo: “Oh! Arsace! O caro”
  15. Recitativo: “Tutto e perduto”
  16. Recitativo: “Vedesti, oh, come irato”
  17. Rondo: “Non lasciarmi in tal momento”
  18. Scena e coro: “Vieni o prence”
  19. Scena: “Giunge Augusto …”
  20. Scena: “Inutil ferro! Che fai meco?”
  21. Terzetto: “Ah! Perché mai quell’anime”
  22. “Dolci silvestri” / “Perché mai le luci apprimo” (Arsace)

Synopsis from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Elsewhere

← All of the composer’s works