Esmeralda is an 1856 grand opera in four acts with a score by the Italian composer Vincenzo Battista. With a libretto in English by Charles Jefferys, it was based on Battista's Italian version Ermelinda (1851), which in turn was based on Hugo's 1831 novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.
In 1851 in Naples in Italy Battista was at the height of his fame and powers. He had already staged a number of operas at the prestigious Teatro di San Carlo including Margherita d'Aragona (1844) with the soprano Fanny Goldberg, the tenor Gaetano Fraschini and the baritone Filippo Coletti. His opera Rosvina de la Forest (1845) was commissioned by La Scala in Milan.
To a libretto in Italian by Domenico Bolognese (1919–1891) he composed the score for Ermelinda (1851), which in turn was based on Hugo's 1831 novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.
The opera opened as Esmeralda at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on 30 June 1856 under the musical direction of J. H. Tully and with a libretto in English by Charles Jefferys.
Contents
Naples cast (1851)
Ermelinda - Signora Violette Evrard
Guido di Lancry, Captain of the Archers - Sig. Agresti
Giulio Laroche, a poet - Sig. Cammarano
Paolo Fulvi, brother of the Baroness - Sig. Evrard
Baronessa de Gontran - Signora Silvestri
Elisa, her daughter - Signora Eboli
Roben, chief of the Gypsies - Sig. Grandillo
Quasimodo the Hunchback - Sig. Luigi Fioravanti
Morepin, another relative of the Baronessa - Sig. N. N.
Choir of Archers - Gypsies — Nobles invited to the party - the Bourgeois. Appearance of Citizens and Soldiers
The scene is set in Madrid. The time is 1482.
London cast (1856)
Source:
Esmeralda, the Gitana - Lucy Escott
Fleur de Lys - Elizabeth Haigh-Dyer
Eloisa, Mother of Fleur de Lys - Miss Atkinson
Morepin, Father of Fleur de Lys- Mr. J. W. Morgan
Phoebus, Captain of the Archers - Mr. Henry Haigh
Gringoire, the Poet - Mr. Charles Manvers
Claude Frollo, the Monk - Mr. Charles Durand
Quasimodo, the Hunchback - Mr. Conrad Borrani
Clopin, King of the Gipsies - Mr. Hamilton
Chorus-of Gipsies, Archers, Nobles, Citizens and Soldiers.
The Scene is in Paris—Time 1482.
Songs
Source:
Zephyr-like I woo the Flower — "Sono l'aura d'ogni fior" - Lucy Escott (soprano)
I am like a sportive Fay - "Sono figlia al ciel al mar" - Lucy Escott
Loathed as a monster from birth am I - Conrad Borrani
I love; and she I love is fair - Charles Durand
Fair Ladye-Moon, pray tell me - "Rispondi amica luna" - Lucy Escott
Recitation: These gay scenes make me sad of heart — "Come tutti festreggiano me lasso" - Henry Haigh
Romance: In her absence I still am pining — "Senza un guardo un tuo concento" - Henry Haigh
Baritone: I love, and she I love is fair - "Una leggiadra vergine" - Charles Durand
Tell me, ye powers above me - "Dimmi dimmi irato Dio" - Charles Durand
Comic Scena: Noble signors, now pray hear me- "Ah! Miei signori che mai dite" - Charles Manvers
Duets
Baritone and Bass: Idiot, leave me, I renounce thee - Charles Durand and Conrad Borrani
Soprano and Tenor: Good sir, noble captain, from death thou hast saved me - Lucy Escott and Henry Haigh
ditto: How benignant, how noble, how graceful - “Qual colomba, d’amore, foriera” - Lucy Escott and Henry Haigh
ditto: Thou art near me, and in thy presence- “Vedi, vedi, a te vicino” - Lucy Escott and Henry Haigh
Comic Duet: Gringoire, come hither - “Ei, si fermi, eccomi, avanti” - Lucy Escott and Charles Manvers
Comic Duet: I like a gentle lamb will be - “Come agnelletto placido" - Lucy Escott and Charles Manvers
Trio
The Archer's Chorus—In the darkness of the night - “I noltriam dell’ombra insen” - Henry Haigh and Chorus