Gioacchino Rossini’s Italian Opera Tancredi
Composed: 1812-13 (revised in 1813)
First Performance: February 6, 1813, La Fenice, Venice (Italy); [later revision for Ferrara production changes ending]
Libretto: Gaetano Rossi and Luigi Lechi, based on Voltaire’s play Tancrède
Setting: Syracuse and Sicily; early 11th century
opera seria, Dramatic Opera in 2 acts
The Main Characters in Rossini’s opera Tancredi
- Argirio, Ruler of Syracuse and father of Amenaide (tenor)
- Tancredi, Exiled noble (contralto)
- Orbazzano, Clan leader, Amenaid’s suitor (bass)
- Amenaide, Tancredi’s lover (soprano)
- Isaura, Amenaide’s attendant (contralto)
Basic Plot Summary of Rossini’s opera Tancredi
Act I:
Argirio (Syracuse’s leader) fears an attack and attempts to make peace with Orbazzano. Argiro offers his daughter, Amenaide, to Orbazzano in marriage. Amenaide loves the exiled Tancredi. Amenaide pleads with her father to delay the wedding, but Argirio ignores his daughter’s pleas. He orders all of his enemies (including Tancredi) to be killed. Tancredi arrives in disguise. Amenaide urges Tancredi to flee. Crowds begin to gather for the wedding. Tancredi prevents the wedding. Orbazzano produces a love letter (that he intercepted from Amenaide to Tancredi) and says that it is from Amenaide to Solamir, leader of the Sicilians. Amenaide is arrested and sentenced to death. Tancredi thinks that Amenaide is guilty.
Act II:
Amenaide hopes that Tancredi will see the truth, as she prepares to die. Tancredi appears and kills Orbazzano as he was leading Amenaide to her execution. Amenaide is freed. Tancredi still believes that Amenaide has betrayed him.
(Venice Ending) Tancredi meets with Solamir. Solamir promises to spare Syracuse if he can marry Amenaide. Tancredi instead battles and beats the Sicilians. As Solamir is dieing, he tells Tancredi of Amenaide’s innocence. Tancredi asks Amenaide for forgiveness. Argirio names Tancredi ruler of Syracuse.
(Ferrara Ending) Tancredi wants to prove his love for Amenaide so he leads Syracuse into battle against Sicily. During the battle, Tancredi is wounded. Argirio persuades Tancredi that Amanaide was innocent all-along. Tancredi dies while asking to marry Amenaide.
If you like Tancredi, here are some other operas written by Rossini:
- Tancredi
- L’italiana in Algeri (The Italian Girl in Algiers)
- Il turco in Italia (The Turk in Italy)
- Il barbiere di siviglia (The Barber of Seville)
- La Cenerentola (Cinderella)
- Le Comte Ory (Count Ory)
- Guillaume Tell (William Tell)
Please visit the article archives for more interesting articles about opera like this one about Rossini’s opera Tancredi. Feel free to contact the Opera feature writer, Bryce by email if you have questions about Tancredi or have any recommendations as to material you would like to see covered.
