Composer

:

Gaetano Donizetti

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Average_duration

:

3:28

La zingara is an opera in two acts composed by Gaetano Donizetti. It was first premiered on May 12, 1822, at the Teatro Nuovo in Naples, Italy. The libretto was written by Andrea Leone Tottola, based on a French play by Charles-Guillaume Étienne. The opera is set in Spain and tells the story of a gypsy woman named Azucena, who is accused of witchcraft and sentenced to death. She is saved by a young nobleman named Fernando, who falls in love with her. However, their love is threatened by the jealousy of Fernando's fiancée, Ines, and the machinations of Azucena's mother, who seeks revenge for the death of her own son. The opera is divided into two acts, each with several musical numbers. The first act opens with a chorus of gypsies singing and dancing, followed by a duet between Azucena and her mother, in which they lament the death of Azucena's brother. This is followed by a trio between Fernando, Ines, and Azucena, in which Fernando declares his love for Azucena. The act ends with a chorus of soldiers and villagers, who arrest Azucena for witchcraft. The second act opens with a scene in the prison, where Azucena is awaiting her execution. She sings a haunting aria, "Stride la vampa," in which she recalls the burning of her mother at the stake. This is followed by a duet between Fernando and Ines, in which Ines expresses her jealousy and suspicion of Fernando's love for Azucena. The act ends with a dramatic finale, in which Azucena's mother appears and reveals that Fernando is actually her own son, whom she had kidnapped and raised as her own. La zingara is characterized by Donizetti's signature bel canto style, with its emphasis on beautiful melodies, vocal virtuosity, and expressive phrasing. The music is full of dramatic contrasts, from the lively and colorful gypsy dances to the dark and brooding prison scenes. The opera also features several memorable arias and duets, including "Stride la vampa," "Ah! Taci, ingiusto core," and "Ah! Non mi ridestar." Overall, La zingara is a powerful and emotional work that showcases Donizetti's mastery of the operatic form.

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