Il Crociato in Egitto

• Aladino, Sultan of Damietta ( bass)
• Palmide, his daughter (Soprano)
• Armando Orville, Rhodiserritter, under the name Elmireno (soprano castrato or mezzo-soprano)
• Osmino, vizier (Tenor)
• Alma, confidante Palmides (soprano )
• Adriano de Montfort, Grand Master of the Rhodiser (Tenor)
• Felicia, niece Adriano ( Contralto )
• Mirva, a five- year-old boy ( mute role )
• Choir, ballet and extras

Il crociato in Egitto ( The Crusader in Egypt) is an opera in two acts by Giacomo Meyerbeer. The libretto was written by Gaetano Rossi. The premiere took place on March 7, 1824 at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice instead.

Action

The Crusaders Armando lives under the false name Elmireno in Egypt at the court of Sultan Aladino. It combines a secret marriage with Palmide, the Sultan's daughter who converted to Christianity. As Armando's former fiancee Felicia, who has disguised himself as a man, and his uncle Adriano arrive in Egypt, Armando's true identity is revealed. All Christians are first sentenced to death. However, after the Sultan Armando has saved my life, this includes the Christian peace.

Music

Orchestra

Since the autograph of the opera has been lost, was the critical edition of works, edited by Claudio Toscani, created on the basis of obtained later copies. After this critical issue following orchestra instrumentation is provided in the opera:

2 flutes (also piccolo ), 2 oboes (2nd also English horn ), 2 clarinets, 4 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 horns, 4 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani; Percussion: bass drum, cymbals, triangle; Harp, Strings, Harpsichord.

Music for the Stage: 8 trumpets, double bassoon, 3 trumpets, 3 Snare drums, bass drum, cymbals, 4 tenor drums.

Banda: piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, small clarinet in F, 5 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets flaps, 6 trumpets, 3 trombones, serpentone, snare drum, bass drum.

Importance

Il crociato in Egitto was Meyerbeer's last opera for Italy, before he went to France, where he was with works such as Robert le diable, Les Huguenots and Le prophète the main representatives of the genus grand opera. Il crociato contains in Egitto with the role of Armando one of the last great opera roles for castrati, who had written Meyerbeer for the then famous castrato Giovanni Battista Velluti.

Recordings

• Opera Rara (CD) with Diana Montague, Yvonne Kenny, Bruce Ford, Ian Patt, Della Jones ( 1992)
• Naxos ( CD) with Patrizia Ciofi, Marco Vinco, Iorio Zennaro, Silvia Pasini, Laura Polverelli
• Dynamic (DVD) with Patrizia Ciofi, Marco Vinco, Iorio Zennaro, Silvia Pasini, Laura Polverelli (2007)