Alfredo il grande (Alfred the Great) is a melodramma serio or serious opera in two acts by Gaetano Donizetti. Andrea Leone Tottola wrote the Italian libretto, which may have been derived from Johann Simon Mayr's 1818 opera of the same name. The opera tells the story of the great Anglo-Saxon King Alfred.
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Creation and performance history
This opera was Donizetti's first exploration in British history, but it turned out to be a spectacular failure. It received its premiere on July 2, 1823 at the Teatro San Carlo, Naples, which was also its last performance.
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 2 July 1823 (Conductor: Nicola Festa) |
|---|---|---|
| Alfredo, King of England | tenor | Andrea Nozzari |
| Amalia, his Queen | soprano | Elisabetta Ferron |
| Eduardo, General of the English army | bass | Pio Botticelli |
| Atkins, General of the Danish army | bass | Michele Benedetti |
| Enrichetta, an English country girl | mezzo-soprano | Anna Maria Cecconi |
| Margherita, another country girl | soprano | Gaetana Gorini |
| Rivers, a Dane | tenor | Gaetano Chizzola |
| Guglielmo, pastore | tenor | Massimo Orlandini |
| Chorus of shepherdesses, English warriors, Danish warriors, armed shepherds | ||
Synopsis
- Place: The action takes place on the Isle of Athelny in Somerset.
Recordings
- Young Donizetti contains the Cavatina Non é di morte il fulmine sung by Bruce Ford. Opera Rara
- Donizetti Divas contains Che potrei dirti, o caro? sung by Della Jones. Opera Rara (also in Della Jones Sings Donizetti. Opera Rara )
External links
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