The aria from Vivaldi's "Tamerlano"

Speranza

"Bajazet" (Italian pronunciation: [bajaˈzet]; also called Il Tamerlano[1]) is an Italian opera composed by Antonio Vivaldi in 1735. Its libretto was written by Agostino Piovene. It was premiered in Verona, during the Carnival season of that year. This opera (catalog number RV 703) is presented in 3 acts, with a three-movement sinfonia as an introduction. The story is about the fate of Bajazet (known as Beyazid I) after being captured by Tamerlane (Timur Lenk). The famous aria, "Sposa son disprezzata" is from this opera.

[edit] RolesRole Voice type Premiere Cast[2]
Tamerlano, the emperor of the Uzbek Turks mezzo-soprano Maria Maddalena Pieri
Bajazet, the emperor of the Ottoman Turks, now a prisoner to Tamerlane baritone Marc Antonio Mareschi
Asteria, daughter of Bajazet, in love with Andronicus contralto Anna Girò
Andronicus, a prince from Greece, ally of Tamerlane contralto Pietro Moriggi
Irene, princess of Tresbisond, promised in marriage to Tamerlane contralto Margharita Giacomazzi
Idaspe, friend of Andronicus soprano Giovanni Manzoli

[edit] SinfoniaAllegro
Andante Molto
Allegro
[edit] ActsAct Scene Recitative/Aria Characters
Act 1 Scene 1 Recitative: Prence Lo so: vi devo Bajazet, Andronico
Aria: Del destin non dee lagnarsi Bajazet
Scene 2 Recitative: Non si perda di vista Andronico, Idaspe
Aria: Nasce rosa lusinghiera Idaspe
Scene 3 Recitative: Principe, or ora i greci Tamerlano, Andronico
Aria: In si torbida procella Tamerlano
Scene 4 Recitative: Il Tartaro ama Asteria Andronico
Aria: Quel ciglio vezzosetto Andronico
Scene 5-6 Recitative: Or sì, fiero destino Asteria, Tamerlano
Aria: Vedeste mai sul prato Tamerlano
Scene 7-8 Recitative: Non ascolto più nulla Bajazet, Asteria, Andronico
Aria: Amare un'alma ingrata Asteria
Scene 9 Recitative: Così la sposa il Tamerlano accoglie? Irene, Andronico, Idaspe
Aria: Qual guerriero in campo armato Irene
Scene 10 Recitative: È bella Irene Andronico
Aria: Non ho nel sen constanza Andronico
Act 2 Scene 1 Recitative: Amico, tengo un testimon fedele Tamerlano, Andronico
Scene 2 Recitative: Sarete or ostinato Idaspe, Andronico
Aria: Anche il mar par che sommerga Idaspe
Scene 3 Recitative: Gloria, sdegno ed amore Asteria, Andronico
Aria: Stringi le mie catene Asteria
Scene 4 Recitative: Ah, disperato Andronico! Andronico
Aria: La sorte mia spietata Andronico
Scene 5 Recitative: Signor, vergine illustre Idaspe, Tamerlano, Irene, Asteria
Aria: Cruda sorte, avverso fato! Tamerlano
Scene 6 Recitative: Senti, chiunque tu sia Asteria, Irene
Aria: La cervetta timidetta Asteria
Scene 7 Recitative: Gran cose espone Asteria Irene, Idaspe
Aria: Sposa, son disprezzata Irene
Scene 8 Recitative: Dov'è mia figlia, Andronico? Bajazet, Andronico
Aria: Dov'è la figla? Bajazet
Scene 9 Recitative: Asteria, siamo al soglio...; Accompagnato: Odi, perfida Tamerlano, Asteria, Bajazet, Irene, Andronico
Quartet: Sì crudel! questo è l'amore Irene, Bajazet, Asteria, Tamerlano
Act 3 Scene 1 Recitative: Figlia, siam rei Bajazet, Asteria
Aria: Veder parmi, or che nel fondo Bajazet
Scene 2-3 Recitative: Andronico, il mio amore Tamerlano, Andronico, Asteria, Bajazet
Aria: Barbaro traditor Tamerlano
Scene 4 Recitative: Lascerò di regnare Andronico
Aria: Spesso tra vaghe rose Andronico
Scene 5-7 Recitative: Eccoti, Bajazette Tamerlano, Asteria, Andronico, Bajazet, Irene
Arioso: Verrò crudel, spietato Bajazet
Scene 8 Recitative: Signor, fra tante cure Irene, Tamerlano
Aria: Son tortorella Irene
Scene 9 Recitative: Signore, Bajazette Idaspe, Tamerlano, Andronico
Scene 10 Accompagnato: È morto, sì, tiranno Asteria
Aria: Svena, uccidi, abbatti, atterra Asteria
Final Scene Recitative: Deh, tu cauto la segui Andronico, Irene, Tamerlano
Chorus: Coronata di gigli e rose All (except Bajazet, who's dead, of course)

[edit] Origin of AriasBajazet is a pasticcio. It was a common practice during Vivaldi's time for composers to borrow and adapt arias from other composers with their own works for an opera. Vivaldi himself composed the arias for the good characters (Bajazet, Asteria and Idaspe) and mostly used existing arias from other composers for the villains (Tamerlano, Irene, Andronico) in this opera. Some of the arias are reused from previous Vivaldi operas. The table below lists the origin of some of the arias used in Bajazet.

Aria Composer Opera Original name
Del destin non dee lagnarsi Antonio Vivaldi L'Olimpiade Del destin non vi lagnate
Nasce rosa lusinghiera Antonio Vivaldi Giustino, also in Farnace Senti l'aura lusinghiera /
Scherza l'aura lusinghiera
In sì torbida procella Geminiano Giacomelli Alessandro Severo
Vedeste mai sul prato Johann Adolf Hasse Siroe re di Persia
Qual guerriero in campo armato Riccardo Broschi Idaspe
Non ho nel sen costanza Geminiano Giacomelli Adriano in Siria
Anche il mar par che sommerga Antonio Vivaldi Semiramide
Stringi le mie catene Antonio Vivaldi Semiramide
La sorte mia spietata Johann Adolf Hasse Siroe re di Persia
La cervetta timidetta Antonio Vivaldi Giustino
Dov'è la figlia? Antonio Vivaldi Motezuma
Sposa, son disprezzata Geminiano Giacomelli Merope Sposa, non mi conosci
Sì crudel! questo è l'amore (quartet) Antonio Vivaldi Farnace Io crudel? giusto rigore
Veder parmi, or che nel fondo Antonio Vivaldi Farnace "Roma Invitta una clemente"
Spesso tra vaghe rose Johann Adolf Hasse Siroe re di Persia
Coronata di gigli e di rose Antonio Vivaldi Farnace

[edit] Selected recordingsThe only complete recording of this opera was released by Virgin Classics on May 10, 2005. Fabio Biondi conducts Europa Galante in Brussels for this recording. The singers are:

bass-baritone Ildebrando D'Arcangelo as Bajazet
countertenor David Daniels as Tamerlano
mezzo-soprano Vivica Genaux as Irene
contralto Marijana Mijanovic as Asteria
soprano Patrizia Ciofi as Idaspe
mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča as Andronico
This recording received the award for Best Opera by Midem Classical Awards 2006 and shortlisted for the 48th Annual Grammy Awards 2006. Before this release, excerpts from this opera had been performed by other singers such as Cecilia Bartoli.

[edit] ReferencesFrédéric Delaméa (2005). The Noble Death-Pangs of Vivaldian Opera. In Vivaldi: Bajazet [CD liner notes]. Virgin Classics
[edit] Notes1.^ Not to be confused with the opera of the same name by Handel
2.^ Ryom, Peter (2007). Vivaldi-Werkverzeichnis, p. 379. Breitkopf & Härtel.
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