La liberazione di Ruggiero dall’isola d’Alcina
Opera
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Overview
Synopsis
Following the myths of the knight Ruggiero from Ariosto's Orlando Furioso, this opera is set on and around the island of Alcina. Ruggiero has been captured by the sorceress Alcina, and is under her spell, believing her to be young and beautiful, and not the ancient sorceress she really is. Melissa, another powerful sorceress, has seen Ruggiero’s future, and knows that he must marry his betrothed Bradamante, so sets out to rescue Ruggiero from Alcina. Alcina does everything she can to keep him from leaving, but Melissa is more powerful and forces Alcina to flee the island. As she leaves, the people who have been imprisoned on the island, enchanted as trees and rocks, return to life.
With sorceresses arriving on dolphins, singing plants, enormous whalebone boats that grow wings and fly away, a chorus of monsters, and a ballet designed to be performed on horseback, Francesca Caccini’s 1625 opera really is an enchanting spectacle. It can be performed with a full cast and chorus, or with just eight singers doubling roles, and it would be perfect for younger singers as none of the roles have particular technical challenges, and sit within easily accessible vocal ranges.
Show Information
- Music
- Francesca Caccini
- Libretto
- Ferdinando Saracinelli
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- Cantos 6-8 of Orlando Furioso by Ludovico Ariosto
- Category
- Opera
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 1
- First Produced
- 1625
- Genres
- Fairy Tale/Fantasy, Historical/Biographical
- Settings
- Fantasy/Imaginary, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- ancient times, myth, legend
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Small
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Ideal For
- Chamber Opera, College/University, Ensemble Cast, High School, Mostly Female Cast, Professional Opera, Small Cast, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Francesca Caccini is considered by historians to be the first female opera composer, and her opera La liberazione di Ruggiero dall’isola d’Alcina was commissioned in 1625 by Maria Magdelena of Austria, who was, as the time Archduchess of Florence, to be performed as entertainment for the Polish Prince Wladislas Sigismund, in celebration of his defeat over the Turks. This setting of Ruggiero’s story, taken from Ariosto's Orlando Furioso, which was itself an amalgamation of many different
to read the context for La liberazione di Ruggiero dall’isola d’Alcina and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Prologue - At Sea
The story is introduced by Neptune, as he entertains his guest, Polish Prince Wladislas Sigismund (‘Non perche congiurati’). He summons the spirits of the river to praise (‘Biondo Dio del bel Permesso’). The sky and sea bend to the Prince’s honor (‘Poscia che’l Cielo e’l Mare’), and Neptune offers to tell him the story of how Ruggiero bravely escaped from the wicked Alcina.
to read the plot for La liberazione di Ruggiero dall’isola d’Alcina and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Contralto |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Countertenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Contralto |
Songs
Sinfonia
Prologue - At Sea
‘Non perche congiurati’ - Nettuno
‘O, degl’humidi regni’ - Vistola Fiume
‘Biondo Dio del bel Permesso’ - Chorus of Water Deities
‘Poscia che’l Cielo e’l Mare’ - Nettuno
‘Biondo Dio del bel Permesso’ - Chorus of Water Deities
Scene One - Melissa approaches Alcina’s island, riding on a dolphin
Sinfonia
‘Cosi perfida Alcina’ - Melissa
Scene Two - On Alcina’s Island
‘Qui si può dire’ - Chorus of six damsels
‘Quanto per dolce, e mia beata sorte’ - Ruggiero, Alcina
‘Quando Amor l’arco vuol tendere’ - Two damsels
‘Rimanti, o mio Signore’ - Alcina, Ruggiero
‘Aure volanti, Augeri canori’ - Damsels, Ruggiero
Ritornello
‘Per la piu vaga, e belle Terrena Stella’ - Pastore, Ruggiero
‘Chi nel fior di giovinezza’ - Sirena, Ruggiero
‘Ecco l’ora, ecco il punto’ - Melissa, Ruggiero
‘Ruggier de’ danni asprissimi’ - Chorus of enchanted plants, Ruggiero, Melissa
‘O bei pensieri volare’ - Chorus of damsels, Alcina
‘Non so qual sia maggiore’ - Nunzia, Alcina
‘Ecco Ruggiero a noi bella Regina’ - Two damsels, Alcina, Ruggiero
‘Non solo il chiaro Astolfo’ - Melissa
Scene Three - On Alcina’s Island, the sea is on fire, and Alcina arrives in an enormous boat
‘Qual temerario core’ - Alcina
‘Provera, crudelta’ - Chorus of Monsters
‘E come ohime dall’odioso regno’ - Astolfo, Melissa, Alcina
Scene Four - Rocky cliffs, Alcina’s boat turns into a sea monster and flies away
‘Versate occhi’ - A previously enchanted lady, Melissa
‘Ai Diletti, al gioire’ - Chorus of newly liberated knights and damsels
‘Tosche, de Sol piu belle’ - Tutti
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
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Guide Written By:
Wendy Silvester
Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.