Nerone (Nero) is an opera in four acts composed by Arrigo Boito, to a libretto in Italian written by the composer. The work is a series of scenes from Imperial Rome at the time of Emperor Nero depicting tensions between the Imperial religion and Christianity, and ends with the Great Fire of Rome. Boito died in 1918 before finishing the work.
It was eventually premiered posthumously at La Scala on May 1, 1924, conducted by Arturo Toscanini in a version of the score completed by Toscanini, Vincenzo Tommasini, and Antonio Smareglia. The role of Nero, originally intended for Francesco Tamagno, was first performed by Aureliano Pertile. The role of Asteria, a young woman torn between her love for Nero and her Christian sympathies, was created by Rosa Raisa.
The opera was very well received at its premiere, and the newly rebuilt Rome Opera House inaugurated its first season with Nerone in 1928. However, it has only been rarely performed since that time, even in Italy. It did not receive its US premiere until April 12, 1982, when it was performed in a concert version by the Opera Orchestra of New York in Carnegie Hall. [1]
| Role | Voice type | Premiere cast, 1 May 1924 [2] Conductor: Arturo Toscanini |
|---|---|---|
| Asteria | soprano | Rosa Raisa |
| Cerinto | contralto | Maria Doria |
| Dositèo | baritone | Carlo Walter |
| Fanuèl | baritone | Carlo Galeffi |
| Gobrias | tenor | Giuseppe Nessi |
| Nerone | tenor | Aureliano Pertile |
| Pèrside | soprano | Mita Vasari |
| Rubria | mezzo-soprano | Luisa Bertana |
| Simon Mago | baritone | Marcel Journet |
| Tigellino | bass | Ezio Pinza |
Arrigo Boito was an Italian librettist, composer, poet and critic whose only completed opera was Mefistofele. Among the operas for which he wrote the libretti are Giuseppe Verdi's monumental last two operas Otello and Falstaff as well as Amilcare Ponchielli's La Gioconda.
Mefistofele is an opera in a prologue and five acts, later reduced to four acts and an epilogue, the only completed opera with music by the Italian composer-librettist Arrigo Boito. The opera was given its premiere on 5 March 1868 at La Scala, Milan, under the baton of the composer, despite his lack of experience and skill as a conductor.
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