Verdi - Jerusalem - Michael Plasson

Verdi - Jerusalem - Michael Plasson

  • $39.99

The DVD is featured by original recording of the opera and NOT digitally re-mastered

Giuseppe Verdi
Jerusalem
Oper in vier Akten von Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto von Alphonse Royer und Gustave Vaez


Gaston Vicomte von Beam - Ivan Mamirov
Graf von Toulouse - Alain Fondary
Roger, Bruder des Grafen - Carlo Colombara
Helene - Veronica Villarroel
Isaure, Vertraute Helenes - Federica Bragaglia
Adhemar De Monteil - Carlo Di Cristoforo
Raymond - Giorgio Casciarri

Chor und Orchester des Teatro Carlo Felice Ballett des Teatro Carlo Felice
Dirigent - Michel Plasson
Regie - Piergiorgio Gay
Buhnenbild und Kostume - Danilo Donati
Choreographie - Mauro Bigonzetti

In franzosischer Sprache (Originalfassung)

In 1847 Verdi accepted a commission to compose on opera for Paris. Since he did not have enough time to write a new opera, he decided to adopt an existing work, adding a new plot and new numbers, much as Rossini hod reworked Moametto II to produce Le Siege de Corinthe. As a result, I Lombardi alia prima crociata became Jerusalem. The opera was first performed on 26th November 1847 at the Theatre de I'Academic Royale de Musique in Paris.

ACT1
Toulouse, in 1095, after the Council of Clermont. Helene daughter of the Count of Toulouse, has a secret rendezvous with her lover, Gaston. The Count killed Gaston's father in the civil war, but the young man is willing to forgive him because he has agreed, to Gaston's marriage to Helene Gaston leaves, and Helene prays for him. The new day downs. The Count and his brother Roger are leaving for the crusade, but first the Count extends his hand to Gaston as a conciliatory gesture: his daughter will be married to Gaston. Roger is jealous, because he is in love with his niece Helene and leaves to plot his revenge. The Count gives Gaston his white coat, and the two of them enter the chapel. Roger gives a hired killer his final instructions: in the chapel are two men, one his beloved brother, the count, who can be recognized by his white cloak, the other is Gaston. The killer should murder the man who is not wearing a coat. He does so, not realizing that he has struck down the wrong man. The assassin'is, arrested and to save himself and Roger declares that it was Gaston who ordered the murder. The papal legate orders Gaston into exile.

ACT2
Four years later in Palestine.
Roger, believing he has had his brother murdered, has become a hermit in Palestine to atone for his wrongdoing. Here he comes upon a pilgrim, dying of thirst, whom ne helps. Helene is also in Palestine. Convinced of her lover's innocence, she has come to look for him. She recognizes the pilgrim to be Gaston's squire and learns that although her lover is alive, he i's being held prisoner in Ramla. The prayers of a group of exhausted pilgrims are answered by the sound of the crusaders' trumpets: the Count enters. He has survived the attempted murder and has subsequently led the crusaders to the Holy Land. Roger, whom his brother does not recognize, asks to be allowed to join the Count.
The Emir who is holding Gaston, has also captured Helene The two lovers meet, but their attempt at flight is foiled by the Emir's guards.

ACT 3
Helene is being held in the Emir's harem. The Emir comes in to worn Helene; the Christians are marching on Ramla. If they enter the city, he will kill her. Gaston, who has succeeded in freeing himself, finds Helene but almost immediately the crusaders, led by the Count, burst in. The Count is horrified to see his murderer together with his daughter, and orders Gaston's execution. Prior to his execution, Gaston is publically humiliated and degraded.

ACT 4
Before the battle to take Jerusalem, the crusader army prays for victory. Roger reunites Gaston and Helene for a final farewell. Moved by Gaston's unjust fate, Roger allows him to regain his honour by taking part in the forthcoming battle. Following the crusaders' victory, the Count thanks a mysterious knight who has fought with great valour. Everyone is astonished when the knight removes his helmet and reveals himself to be Gaston. Roger, mortally wounded, admits that it was him and not Gaston who was responsible for the Count's attempted assassination. He begs forgiveness and asks to see Jerusalem one lost time.

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