Saverio Mercadante – ORAZI E CURIAZI – Act I finale

ORAZI E CURIAZI Tragedia lirica in 3 atti Composer: Saverio Mercadante (1795–1870) Libretto: Salvadore Cammarano First performance: Teatro San Carlo, Naples, 10 November 1846 Setting: Rome, 7th century BC Camilla is betrothed to the Alban Curiazio, but Rome is at war with Alba. Three Alban warriors will fight three Roman warriors; the losing side will be subject to the victor. The chosen warriors include Curiazio and Camilla's brother Orazio. Orazio kills Curiazio. During his triumph, Camilla curses him, and he stabs his sister to death. Act I finale Camilla and Curiazio are about to be married, but Orazio – Camilla's brother, and one of the warriors chosen to fight for Rome – interrupts the ceremony. Curiazio and his brothers will fight for Alba. Camilla is devastated; now she can never marry Curiazio. While she curses the gods, her father and brother remind her that she is a Roman woman, and Curiazio prepares to fight. Il vecchio Orazio, cavaliere romano / Roman knight (bass): Alastair Miles Orazio, suo figlio / his son (baritone): Anthony Michaels-Moore Camilla, sua figlia / his daughter (soprano): Nelly Miricioiu Sabina, moglie di Orazio / Orazio’s wife (mezzosoprano): Jennifer Rhys-Davies Curazio, suo fratello, guerriero albano / her brother, knight of Alba Longa: Marcus Jerome Il gran sacerdote / The high priest (tenor): Paul Nilon Geoffrey Mitchell Choir Conductor: David Parry Philharmonia Orchestra Opera Rara, London, 1995