Rossini himself attributed the opera's initial lack of success at its 1813 premiere to the "vile singers" ('cantanti infami').
Composition History
Rossini considered his new opera, Aureliano in Palmira, to be "divine music" and was sure it would be a success.
Notable Performances
Despite Rossini's initial assessment, Aureliano in Palmira was performed 14 times at La Scala in its premiere season, which was considerably more than the "usual three performances" that indicated a flop in Milanese terms.
Recording & Production
This recording was made live at the XXIX ROSSINI IN WILDBAD Festival in Bad Wildbad, Germany, in July 2017.
Compositional Technique
Aureliano in Palmira is unique in Rossini's works for including the only role, Arsace, that he wrote for a castrato voice.
Historical Context
The opera's happy ending, or 'lieto fine', which goes against historical fact, likely reflected the political reality of northern Italy at the time, which was under Napoleon's rule.
Cultural Impact
Rossini reused many melodies from Aureliano in Palmira in later operas, most famously in Elisabetta regina d'Inghilterra and Il barbiere di Siviglia, including the overture.
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