Il giuramento
- Manfroce, Count of Syracuse (Bass)
- Bianca, his wife (mezzo- soprano)
- Elaisa (soprano )
- Viscardo (Tenor)
- Brunoro, secretary of the Count (Tenor)
- Isaura, partner Bianca (soprano )
- Nobles, knights, dignitaries, ladies in waiting, craftsmen, fishermen, people (choir )
Il giuramento (Italian for The Oath ) is an opera in three acts by Saverio Mercadante. The libretto Gaetano Rossi, based on the tragedy " Angelo, tyran de Padoue " by Victor Hugo. The work was premiered on 11 March 1837 in Milan. The plot is similar to that of Amilcare Ponchielli's opera La Gioconda, as it is based on the same drama of Victor Hugo.
Content
Elaisa loves Viscardo, which is, however, in love with Bianca. As Bianca's husband Manfroce becomes suspicious and his wife considers disloyal, he decides to kill them with poison. Elaisa rescues Bianca by exchanging the poison with a sleeping pill. As Viscardo in Elaisas palace the sleeping Bianca finds, he believes Elaisa had murdered her rival and stabs Elaisa. Only when Bianca wakes, recognizes Viscardo that Elaisa for his sacrificed her happiness.
Reception
The German premiere under the title " The Oath " was held in 1839 in Berlin.
Il giuramento is now not the standard repertoire of opera houses, but nevertheless listed occasionally as a rarity, such as the Wexford Festival Opera 2002.