Music composed by Giuseppe Verdi. Libretto by Andrea Maffei after
Friedrich von Schiller’s play Die R‰uber (1781).
| Principal Roles: | |
| Massimiliano, Count Moor | Bass |
| Carlo, his son | Tenor |
| Francesco, brother to Carlo | Baritone |
| Amalia, an orphan, the Count’s niece | Soprano |
| Arminio, the Count’s treasurer | Tenor |
| Moser, a pastor | Bass |
| Rolla, a companion of Carlo Moor | Tenor |
First Performance: 22 July 1847, Her Majesty’s
Theatre, London
Scenes:
Part 1: A tavern on the border of Saxony, Franconia: a room in the Moors’
castle, a bedroom in the castle
Part 2: An enclosure adjoining the castle chapel, the Bohemian forest
Part 3: A deserted place adjacent to the forest near the castle, inside
the forest
Part 4: A suite of rooms, the forest as in the final scene of Part 3
Synopsis
The drama is set at the beginning of the 18th century and covers about
three years. Carlo Moor, son of Count Massimiliano, is a young man of noble
sentiments, although his impetuous temperament has caused him to lead a wild
life. His younger brother, Francesco, deceitful and wicked, induces their
father to disinherit Carlo, and sends him a mendacious letter telling him
that he is forbidden to return home. Carlo swears to take revenge and becomes
the leader of a band of robbers with whom he spreads terror in the forests of
Bohemia. Meanwhile Francesco not only tries to win the love of Amalia,
Carlo’s betrothed, he also has his father told that Carlo is dead, and
imprisons the old man in a tower to hasten his demise so that he will be able
to usurp his title. Amalia, having escaped into the forest, suddenly finds
herself face to face with Carlo, who has returned because of his nostalgia
for her and for his ancestral home. The mysterious Arminio makes his way
through the forest to take food secretly to the old Count. Carlo happens to
witness this scene, frees his father and uncovers the plot. At this point he
solemnly swears with his robbers to avenge the wrongs suffered by his father.
In the concluding turmoil Carlo, overcome with hysterical fury, stabs his
beloved in order not to involve her in the shame of his life as a bandit, and
then heads for the gallows to pay for his crimes.
Click here for
the complete libretto.
Click
here for the English translation of Die
R‰uber.
image=http://www.operatoday.com/masnadieri.gif
image_description=I masnadieri
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first_audio_name=Giuseppe Verdi: I masnadieri
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product=yes
product_title=Giuseppe Verdi: I masnadieri
product_by=Massimiliano: Carlo Colombara; Carlo: Franco Farina; Francesco: Dmitri Hvorostovsky; Amalia: Paula Delligatti; Arminio: Robin Leggate; Moser: Julian Konstantinov; Rolla: Gerard Quinn. The Royal Opera Chorus. The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. Edward Downes, conductor. Live performance, 8 June 1998, Festspielhaus, Baden-Baden.