Zazà(Italian pronunciation:[dzadˈdza]) is an opera byRuggero Leoncavallo,with a libretto by the composer, which draws on the same material as the French playZaza(1898). The story concerns the Frenchmusic hallsinger, Zazà, and her affair and subsequent decision to leave her lover, Milio, when she discovers that he is married. The music is influenced by the French music halls where Leoncavallo had spent his early years as a composer.
Its premiere was at theTeatro LiricoinMilanon 10 November 1900, starringRosina Storchioas Zazà,Edoardo Garbinas Milio,Mario Sammarcoas Cascart and Clorinda Pini-Corsi as Anaide, and conducted byArturo Toscanini.It was later seen in opera houses around the world. Over the following twenty years it received over fifty new productions fromPalermoto Paris, Buenos Aires to Moscow,CairotoSan Francisco,arriving at theMetropolitan Operaon 16 January 1920 in a production directed byDavid Belascoand conducted byRoberto Moranzoni,starringGeraldine Farrar,Giulio Crimi andPasquale Amato,and later,Giovanni MartinelliandGiuseppe De Luca.
La bohèmeandZazàwere Leoncavallo's most successful operas afterPagliacci,although they are rarely performed today and are relatively unknown except to serious opera enthusiasts.
Dayton Daily Newseditor Betty Dietz Krebs describedZazàas alternating "between moments of passion and intensity and stretches of comedy" and said that it contains "a string ofarias."[1]
Reviews of early performances in New York were lukewarm on the music and stated that the best music was similar to that ofPagliacci.Reviewing an early performance at the Metropolitan Opera in 1920, theNew York Tribunestated that the music "is not fresh or original, nor even characteristic of its composer except in places where it is reminiscent ofPagliacci,and even in its best moments it is sadly lacking in distinction; but it challenges praise which must go to the creation of a man who knew his business, knew it thoroughly. "[2]Reviewing the Metropolitan premiereThe Standard Unionstated that the opera "was best when it most recalled [Pagliacci]. "[3]The New York HeraldpraisedGeraldine Farrar's performance in the title role at the Metropolitan premiere but said that the music "neither illuminates nor interferes with the drama. It is often futile, often a mere blank, but by no means infrequently in excellent accord with the sentiment of the situation. If there are few vocal climaxes, the two or three that exist are theatrically well planned."[4]
Roles
edit| Role | Voice type | Premiere cast, 10 November 1900 (Conductor:Arturo Toscanini) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zazà,a concert hall singer | soprano | Rosina Storchio | |
| Milio Dufresne,a wealthy Parisian | tenor | Edoardo Garbin | |
| Cascart,a concert hall singer | baritone | Mario Sammarco | |
| Anaide,Zazà's mother | mezzo-soprano | Clorinda Pini-Corsi | |
| Bussy,a journalist | baritone | Lucio Aristi | |
| Natalia,Zazà's maid | mezzo-soprano | Adalgisa Fabbrini | |
| Signora Dufresne,Milo's wife | contralto | Ines Rosalba | |
| Chorus of actors, singers, dancers, stage crew, firemen, etc. | |||
References
edit- ^Dietz Krebs, Betty (June 21, 1987)."Leoncavallo's 'Zaza' opens Cincinnati Opera '87 season".Dayton Daily News.p. 6-C.Retrieved2022-03-10– via newspapers.com.
- ^"Original Cast Repeats" Zaza "at Metropolitan".New York Tribune.February 26, 1920. p. 13.Retrieved2022-03-10– via newspapers.com.
- ^"Premiere of" Zaza "at the Metropolitan".The Standard Union.January 17, 1920. p. 5.Retrieved2022-03-10– via newspapers.com.
- ^"Geraldine Farrar Real Siren in 'Zaza'".New York Herald.January 17, 1920. p. 11.Retrieved2020-03-10– via newspapers.com.
Sources
- Casaglia, Gherardo (2005)."Zazà".L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia(in Italian).
- Gelli, Piero (ed.),"Zazà",Dizionario dell'Opera,Baldini Castoldi Dalai, 2007,ISBN88-6073-184-4.Accessed online 8 July 2009.
- Zazàarchiveat theTeatro Grattacielo.Retrieved, April, 2010.
- Gallery of photographic postcardsfrom Alterocca-Terni of the first production ofZazàin 1900.