Le cinesi
Encyclopedia
Le cinesi is an opera
in one act, with music composed by Christoph Willibald Gluck
. The Italian-language
libretto was by Pietro Metastasio, and this libretto had first been set by Antonio Caldara
in 1735. More specifically, the work is often described as an azione teatrale, as opposed to a festa teatrale, where the designation as an azione teatrale indicates that this work was not intended for a formal occasion such as a court festivity, a marriage or a name-day. The work was first performed for the Austrian royal family at the Vienna
Schlosshof on September 24, 1754, on the occasion of the visit of the Empress Maria Theresa to the household of Saxe-Hildburghausen.
Max Loppert has commented on Gluck's relationship with the Austrian royal family and its bearings on this work. The work has also been characterised as a satire on then-contemporary opera conventions.
The characters agree that each style has its drawbacks. The opera concludes with a ballet, The Judgment of Paris, sung as a vocal quartet.
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
in one act, with music composed by Christoph Willibald Gluck
Christoph Willibald Gluck
Christoph Willibald Ritter von Gluck was an opera composer of the early classical period. After many years at the Habsburg court at Vienna, Gluck brought about the practical reform of opera's dramaturgical practices that many intellectuals had been campaigning for over the years...
. The Italian-language
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
libretto was by Pietro Metastasio, and this libretto had first been set by Antonio Caldara
Antonio Caldara
Antonio Caldara was an Italian Baroque composer.Caldara was born in Venice , the son of a violinist. He became a chorister at St Mark's in Venice, where he learned several instruments, probably under the instruction of Giovanni Legrenzi...
in 1735. More specifically, the work is often described as an azione teatrale, as opposed to a festa teatrale, where the designation as an azione teatrale indicates that this work was not intended for a formal occasion such as a court festivity, a marriage or a name-day. The work was first performed for the Austrian royal family at the Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
Schlosshof on September 24, 1754, on the occasion of the visit of the Empress Maria Theresa to the household of Saxe-Hildburghausen.
Max Loppert has commented on Gluck's relationship with the Austrian royal family and its bearings on this work. The work has also been characterised as a satire on then-contemporary opera conventions.
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, September 24, 1754 (Conductor: - ) |
|---|---|---|
| Lisinga | contralto Contralto Contralto is the deepest female classical singing voice, with the lowest tessitura, falling between tenor and mezzo-soprano. It typically ranges between the F below middle C to the second G above middle C , although at the extremes some voices can reach the E below middle C or the second B above... |
Vittoria Tesi Vittoria Tesi Vittoria Tesi was an Italian opera singer and music teacher of the 18th century. Her vocal range was that of a contralto.... |
| Silango | tenor Tenor The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2... |
Joseph Friebert |
| Sivene | soprano Soprano A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody... |
Theresia Heinisch |
| Tangia | contralto | Katharina Starzer |
Synopsis
The Chinese women of the title are Lisinga and her two friends, Tangia and Sivene. The only other character is Lisinga’s brother Silango, who has just returned from Europe. To entertain him, they perform arias in contrasting styles:- Lisinga sings a tragic scena, as the character of AndromacheAndromacheIn Greek mythology, Andromache was the wife of Hector and daughter of Eetion, and sister to Podes. She was born and raised in the city of Cilician Thebe, over which her father ruled...
. - Sivene and Silango sing a pastoral duet as shepherdess and shepherd, respectively. The two already share romantic feelings towards each other.
- Tangia, who is envious of Silango's affection towards Sivene, sings a comic aria that pokes fun at a young Parisian dandy standing before a mirror, and thus indirectly satirising Sivene.
The characters agree that each style has its drawbacks. The opera concludes with a ballet, The Judgment of Paris, sung as a vocal quartet.
Selected recordings
- Deutsche Harmonia Mundi EL 16 9575 1: Isabelle Poulenard, Gloria Banditelli, Anne Sofie von Otter, Guy de Mey; Orchestra of the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis; René Jacobs, conductor