The Long LineThe Long Line

Ruggero Leoncavallo

Zingari

Opera

Composed 1912 Stage

Zingari (Gypsies), also known as Gli Zingari, is an opera in two acts by Ruggero Leoncavallo. The libretto by Enrico Cavacchioli and Guglielmo Emanuel is based on The Gypsies, an 1827 narrative poem by Alexander Pushkin. The opera premiered on 16 September 1912 at the Hippodrome Theatre in London. The United States premiere of the opera was staged by the Chicago Grand Opera Company in 1913 with soprano Carolina White as Fleana.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Synopsis

Place: The lands along the lower Danube River

Time: Early 1900s

Act 1

Setting: A Gypsy encampment on the shore of the river

Fleana, a beautiful Gypsy, has been seen stealing out of the camp at night. Several members of the band follow her and discover that she is meeting a stranger. He is Radu, a young nobleman. The lovers are taken captive. Radu swears an oath that if he is allowed to marry Fleana, he will join the band and never again have dealings with his own people. The couple are pardoned, but the poet, Tamar, protests violently and declares his own love for Fleana. He is rebuked by Fleana and challenged to a fight by Radu but vanishes from the camp. As Fleana and Radu's wedding is being celebrated, Tamar sings a mournful song in the distance.

Act 2

Setting: A Gypsy encampment at an abandoned church on the plains near the river

A year has passed. Radu notices that Fleana has become increasingly cold to him. He hears her singing a wild love song in her caravan and he realizes that she must be in love with someone else. When he confronts her, she confesses that her love for him is dead and continues to sing her song ever more wildly. She then runs away, despite Radu's attempts to stop her, and goes to meet Tamar whose jubilant song is heard in the distance. They passionately declare their love for each other and disappear into a nearby hut made from straw and wood. Outside, Radu is in despair and vowing revenge. He steals up to the hut, bolts the door from the outside and sets it on fire. Tamar and Fleana perish in the flames.

  1. "Addormentarmi, accarezzarmi" (Fleana)
  2. "Ah! Canto notturno" (Tamar, Fleana, Radu)
  3. "Ah! taci! non lo dir!" (Tamar, the Old Man)
  4. "Bella! Bella! Sei qui tutta fremente!" (Tamar, Fleana)
  5. "C'è uno straniero" (Tamar, il Vecchio)
  6. "Canto notturno" (Tamar)
  7. "Chi è nell'ombra?" (Fleana, Radu, Tamar)
  8. "Disciogli i balenanti" (Chorus, the Old Man, Radu)
  9. "E sia! Rimani all'ombra" (the Old Man, Fleana)
  10. "Eccolo finalmente il sogno!" (Radu, Fleana, Chorus)
  11. "Fleana! Ove sei?' (Radu, Tamar, Fleana, Chorus, the Old Man)
  12. "Fleana! Zingara del mio cuor" (the Old man, Fleana)
  13. "Ho guidato al bivacco la tribù" (Tamar, Fleana)
  14. "La la la la!" (Fleana)
  15. "M'attendevi? Fleana io t'ho pensato" (Radu)
  16. "No! Qualcuno s'aggira" (Radu, Fleana)
  17. "O solamente mia!" (Radu, Tamar, Chorus, the Old man)
  18. "Ora congiungi" (Fleana, the Old Man, Radu, Chorus)
  19. "Perduto! Tutto!" (Radu)
  20. "Presto! Ognuno rientri" (Chorus, Tamar)
  21. "Principe! Radu io son" (Radu)
  22. "Radu? Dorme!" (Tamar, Fleana)
  23. "Rientra" (Radu, Fleana)
  24. "Son qui! Ah!" (Chorus)
  25. "Tagliami! Abbruciami ma vi disprezzo" (Fleana, Radu)
  26. "Tutta la vita mia ti donerò" (Radu, Fleana)
  27. "Zingari! Le mie nozze" (Fleana, Chorus)
  28. Intermezzo
  29. Overture
  30. “Dammi un amore selvaggio e ribelle”

Synopsis from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Elsewhere

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