Meyerbeer’s elaborate use of vocal and orchestral forces is seminal in the development of 19th-century opera. Opera Rara’s edition features all the music written for productions the composer supervised. In the opera Adriano, a Knight of Rhodes, comes to Egypt in search of his nephew Armando, whom he believes may have died in battle. In fact he has married Palmide, daughter of the Sultan of Egypt and she has converted to Christianity. The furious Sultan throws everyone in jail, but all is forgiven when Armando intercedes in a plot to overthrow his father-in-law.
Booklet includes full libretto with English translation.
'The key to Meyerbeer' - Ronald Crichton, Opera
Ian Platt (Aladino), Yvonne Kenny (Palmide), Diana Montague (Armando), Della Jones (Felicia), Bruce Ford (Adriano), Linda Kitchen (Alma), Ugo Benelli (Osmino), Geoffrey Mitchell Choir, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, David Parry – conductor
In an exhibition to the coast of Egypt, which took place in the Sixth Crusade, in the neighbourhood of Damietta, a band of the Knights of Rhodes, commanded by Esmengarde de Beaumont, was surprised, betrayed, and after a most heroic resistance overpowered, by the superior numbers of the enemy.
Armand d’Orville, a young Knight of Provence, was one of this valiant band. Fainting from loss of blood, he had remained among the slain. He returned to himself; night came on, and he saw no other means of escaping from the disgrace of slavery, than by concealing himself in the spoils of an Egyptian warrior who had fallen on the field. He hoped, by mingling with the enemy to discover their plans, and to find a favourable moment for escape.
Armand, under the assumed name of Elmireno, found an opportunity of signalising his valour, and of saving the life of Aladin, Sultan of Damietta.
The supposed young soldier of fortune, by means of his superior valour and gentle manners, won the affections of the Sultan, who became his friend, and received him into the bosom of his family. The Sultan had a daughter named Palmide, who was regarded as the flower of the Egyptian maidens. She saw the supposed Elmireno, and a mutual passion was the consequence. Afar from his country, with scarcely a hope of ever returning to it again, young, and of an ardent mind, Armand forget himself, his duties, the faith he had plighted to Felicia, a noble maiden of Provence, and yielded to the love of Palmide. He instructed her by stealth in the mysteries of his faith; they were secretly united, and the product of this union is a son. But the call of honour, the love of country, and sense of a dereliction of duty, were ever present to his mind, and threw a gloom over his happiness. Aladin observed the mutual attachment of Armand and his daughter, and only waited the return of Elmireno from a glorious campaign, in order to unite their hands. Meanwhile, overtures were made to the Sultan by the Knights of Rhodes, for an exchange of prisoners: terms of peace were also offered, and an embassy from them arrived at Damietta.
The action commences at the arrival of this embassy.
In an exhibition to the coast of Egypt, which took place in the Sixth Crusade, in the neighbourhood of Damietta, a band of the Knights of Rhodes, commanded by Esmengarde de Beaumont, was surprised, betrayed, and after a most heroic resistance overpowered, by the superior numbers of the enemy.
Armand d’Orville, a young Knight of Provence, was one of this valiant band. Fainting from loss of blood, he had remained among the slain. He returned to himself; night came on, and he saw no other means of escaping from the disgrace of slavery, than by concealing himself in the spoils of an Egyptian warrior who had fallen on the field. He hoped, by mingling with the enemy to discover their plans, and to find a favourable moment for escape.
Armand, under the assumed name of Elmireno, found an opportunity of signalising his valour, and of saving the life of Aladin, Sultan of Damietta.
The supposed young soldier of fortune, by means of his superior valour and gentle manners, won the affections of the Sultan, who became his friend, and received him into the bosom of his family. The Sultan had a daughter named Palmide, who was regarded as the flower of the Egyptian maidens. She saw the supposed Elmireno, and a mutual passion was the consequence. Afar from his country, with scarcely a hope of ever returning to it again, young, and of an ardent mind, Armand forget himself, his duties, the faith he had plighted to Felicia, a noble maiden of Provence, and yielded to the love of Palmide. He instructed her by stealth in the mysteries of his faith; they were secretly united, and the product of this union is a son. But the call of honour, the love of country, and sense of a dereliction of duty, were ever present to his mind, and threw a gloom over his happiness. Aladin observed the mutual attachment of Armand and his daughter, and only waited the return of Elmireno from a glorious campaign, in order to unite their hands. Meanwhile, overtures were made to the Sultan by the Knights of Rhodes, for an exchange of prisoners: terms of peace were also offered, and an embassy from them arrived at Damietta.
The action commences at the arrival of this embassy.
Während des sechsten Kreuzzugs wurde eine Gruppe von Rittern des Johanniterordens unter dem Oberbefehl von Esmengarde de Beaumont bei einer Expedition an die ägyptische Küste, in die Nähe von Damiata, überrascht, verraten und nach heldenhaftem Widerstand durch die feindliche Übermacht bezwungen.
Zu der kühnen Schar gehörte auch Armand d’Orville, ein junger Ritter aus der Provence. Geschwächt vom Blutverlust, hatte er ohnmächtig zwischen den Toten des Schlachtfeldes gelegen. Er kam wieder zu Sinnen, die Nacht brach herein, und er sah keine andere Möglichkeit, der schändlichen Sklaverei zu entkommen, als in die Kleidung eines gefallenen ägyptischen Kriegers zu schlüpfen. Er hoffte, sich unter die Feinde mischen und dabei ihre Pläne entdecken zu können und gleichzeitig einen günstigen Moment zur Flucht zu finden.
Unter dem angenommenen Namen Elmireno fand Armand Gelegenheit, seine Tapferkeit unter Beweis zu stellen und das Leben Aladins, Sultan von Damiata, zu retten.
Der angebliche junge Glücksritter gewann dank seines außerordentlichen Heldenmuts und seiner erlesenen Sitten die Zuneigung des Sultans, der ihm zum Freund wurde und ihn in den Schoß der Familie aufnahm. Der Sultan hatte eine Tochter namens Palmide, die als die Blüte der ägyptischen Weiblichkeit galt. Kaum erblickten sie und Elmireno sich, entbrannten sie in gegenseitiger Leidenschaft. Fern der Heimat und fast ohne Hoffnung, sie jemals wiederzusehen, in seiner Jugend und seinem Feuereifer vergaß sich Armand, vergaß seine Pflicht, den Eid, den er Felicia geleistet hatte, einer edlen Maid aus der Provence, und gab sich der Liebe Palmidens hin. Heimlich weihte er sie in die Geheimnisse seines Glaubens ein, heimlich verbanden sie sich, und die Frucht dieser Verbindung war ein Sohn. Doch die Ehre, die Liebe zu seiner Heimat und das Gefühl, seine Pflicht verabsäumt zu haben, waren ihm stets bewußt und verdüsterten sein Glück. Aladin bemerkte die gegenseitige Zuneigung Armands und seiner Tochter und wartete lediglich die Rückkehr Elmirenos von einem glorreichen Feldzug ab, um das Band ihrer Ehe zu knüpfen. In derselben Zeit machten die Ritter des Johanniterordens dem Sultan ein Friedensangebot. Sie schlugen einen Gefangenenaustausch vor, Friedensbedingungen wurden genannt, und eine Abordnung der Ritter reiste nach Damiata.
Die Handlung setzt beim Eintreffen dieser Abordnung ein.
Durante la sesta Crociata, un manipolo di Cavalieri di Rodi, capitanati da Esmengarde de Beaumont, viene sorpreso in un agguato nelle vicinanze di Damiata e, nonostante l’eroica resistenza, è sopraffatto dal più numeroso gruppo dei nemici.
Armando d’Orville, giovane cavaliere di Provenza che fa parte del coraggioso gruppo di cristiani, è rimasto tra i caduti, privo di conoscenza, dopo aver perso molto sangue. Riavutosi durante la notte, non trova altra soluzione per sfuggire alla schiavitù che quella di assumere le spoglie di un guerriero egiziano caduto sul campo di battaglia. Aggiungendosi alle schiere dei nemici, spera di venire a conoscenza dei loro piani e trovare un momento favorevole per la fuga
Assunto il falso nome di Elmireno, Armando si fa notare per il suo valore e salva la vita di Aladino, sultano di Damiata.
Con il suo straordinario coraggio e i suoi modi gentili, il giovane si conquista l’affetto e l’amicizia del Sultano, che lo accoglie in seno alla propria famiglia. Il Sultano ha una figlia di nome Palmide, considerata il fiore delle vergini egiziane. Dopo aver visto Elmireno, la fanciulla se ne innamora e viene ricambiata. Lontano dal proprio paese, quasi senza speranza di farvi ritorno, il giovane e impetuoso Armand dimentica se stesso, i propri doveri, la fede giurata a Felicia, nobile fanciulla di Provenza, e si abbandona all’amore per Palmide. La istruisce di nascosto nei misteri della propria fede; la sposa segretamente e ha un figlio da lei. Ma riesce a far tacere il richiamo dell’onore, l’amore di patria e il senso di colpa per aver abbandonato il proprio dovere che, onnipresenti nella sua mente, gettano un’ombra sulla sua felicità. Avendo notato l’affetto corrisposto tra Elmireno e sua figlia, Aladino attende solo il ritorno del giovane da una gloriosa campagna per unirli entrambi. Nel frattempo i Cavalieri di Rodi propongono al Sultano uno scambio di prigionieri, offrono condizioni di pace e inviano un’ambasciata a Damiata.
La vicenda inizia all’arrivo di questa ambasciata.
Lors d’une expédition en direction de la côte égyptienne durant la Sixième Croisade, une troupe de chevaliers commandée par Esmengarde de Beaumont est surprise dans une embuscade à proximité de Damiata, à la suite d’une trahison. Malgré une résistance héroïque, elle succombe bientôt à l’ennemi en nombre supérieur.
Armand d’Orville, jeune chevalier de Rhodes originaire de Provence, fait partie de cette vaillante troupe. Ayant perdu beaucoup de sang, il s’est évanoui. Laissé pour mort parmi les cadavres, il reprend connaissance à la tombée de la nuit et, ne voyant pas d’autre moyen d’échapper à un esclavage humiliant, revêt la tenue d’un guerrier égyptien tombé au combat. En se mêlant à l’ennemi, il espère pouvoir découvrir ses plans et, au moment propice, prendre la fuite.
Sous son nouveau nom d’Elmireno, Armand se distingue par sa bravoure et sauve la vie du sultan de Damiata, Aladin.
Son courage et ses manières insignes lui valent l’affection du sultan, qui devient son ami et l’accueille au sein de sa famille. Le sultan a une fille nommée Palmide, qui passe pour la fleur des jeunes filles de son pays. À la suite d’une rencontre, Palmide et le soi-disant Elmireno s’éprennent l’un de l’autre. Loin de son pays, sans grand espoir de jamais y retourner, le jeune homme plein d'ardeur oublie tout – son devoir, le serment d’amour qu’il a fait à une jeune fille de la noblesse provençale, Felicia – et s’abandonne à l’amour de Palmide. En secret, il lui enseigne les principes de la foi chrétienne puis l’épouse, et un fils naît de cette union. Mais le sens de l’honneur, l’amour de son pays et le sentiment d’avoir manqué au devoir ne le quittent jamais et assombrissent son bonheur. Conscient de l’attachement des jeunes gens l’un pour l’autre, Aladin n’attend que le retour d’Elmireno d’une campagne glorieuse, pour les unir. Cependant, les Chevaliers de Rhodes ont ouvert des négociations pour un échange de prisonniers avec le sultan : ils ont proposé un accord de paix et envoyé une délégation diplomatique à Damiata.
L’opéra débute avec l’arrivée de cette délégation.
