Torvaldo e Dorliska
Torvaldo e Dorliska is a semiseria Opera in two acts by Gioachino Rossini with a libretto by Cesare Sterbini.
The story, which belongs to a native of France type of rescue opera (as well as Beethoven's Fidelio or Rossini's La gazza ladra ), based on the novel Vie et amours du chevalier de Faublas by Jean -Baptiste de Coudray (1790).
It was premiered on December 26, 1815, the opening night of the Carnival season in Rome in the small Teatro Valle with an excellent cast. Lower the others worked with two basses Filippo Galli and Ranieri Remorini, as well as the tenor Domenico Donzelli and the soprano Adelaida Sala.
The opera achieved despite the excellent cast only a moderate success, is practically never found even today in the repertoires of opera houses and is also hardly played.
Action
Act I
The tyrannical Duke of Ordow had invaded Dorliska and her newly wedded wife Torvaldo before the start of the opera's story of their wedding day with the goal to conquer Dorliska for themselves. Torvaldo had been left behind in the fight for dead in the woods, while Dorliska had been able to escape. At the beginning of the opera, the Duke tells angry, continue the search for the girl. The next day looking Dorliska, without knowing it, taking refuge in the castle of the Duke and is well received by the lock manager Giorgio and his sister Carlotta. Torvaldo manages to get dressed up as a lumberjack with a letter that comes from the supposedly deceased Torvaldo to the castle; Yet, though he manages the access to Dorliska this ruse, she reveals her surprise to see him again alive.
Second Act
Torvaldo and Dorliska are held captive in the castle. Giorgio and Carlotta plan the release of the two and run them successfully with the help of Ormondo, the treacherous henchman of the Duke, and the village population. At the end of the Duke is captured and taken away by soldiers of the governor. Dorliska Torvaldo and rejoice together with Giorgio and Carlotta about the happy ending.
Discography
- Gioachino Rossini: Torvaldo e Dorliska ( live recording from 10./12./17 July 2003 in Bad Wildbad, FRG. ) - NAXOS 8.660189-90