Leoncavallo: Zingari

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Based on a poem by Alexander Pushkin, Zingari is a tale of passion, jealousy and crime that showcases rich, colourful orchestral music with powerful choral moments and seductive arias.
With Krassimira Stoyanova, Arsen Soghomonyan, Stephen Gaertner, Carlo Rizzi (conductor) and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

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  • BBC Music Magazine Awards 2020 - Finalist - Opera
  1. Overture Buy Track 0:32
  2. ‘C’è uno straniero’ (Tamar, the Old Man) Buy Track 0:32
  3. 'Ah! taci! non lo dir!' (Tamar, the Old Man) Buy Track 0:32
  4. 'Son qui! Ah!' (Chorus) Buy Track 0:32
  5. ‘Fleana! Zingara del mio cuor’ (the Old man, Fleana) Buy Track 0:32
  6. 'Principe! Radu io son' (Radu) Buy Track 0:32
  7. ‘E sia! Rimani all’ombra’ (the Old Man, Fleana) Buy Track 0:32
  8. ‘Zingari! Le mie nozze’ (Fleana, Chorus) Buy Track 0:32
  9. ‘Eccolo finalmente il sogno!’ (Radu, Fleana, Chorus) Buy Track 0:32
  10. ‘Chi è nell’ombra?’ (Fleana, Radu, Tamar) Buy Track 0:32
  11. ‘Addormentarmi, accarezzarmi’ (Fleana) Buy Track 0:32
  12. ‘O solamente mia!’ (Radu, Tamar, Chorus, the Old man) Buy Track 0:32
  13. ‘Disciogli i balenanti’ (Chorus, the Old Man, Radu) Buy Track 0:32
  14. ‘La la la la!’ (Fleana) Buy Track 0:32
  15. ‘Ora congiungi’ (Fleana, the Old Man, Radu, Chorus) Buy Track 0:32
  16. ‘Ah! Canto notturno’ (Tamar, Fleana, Radu) Buy Track 0:32
  17. ‘Tutta la vita mia ti donerò’ (Radu, Fleana) Buy Track 0:32
  18. Intermezzo Buy Track 0:32
  19. ‘Presto! Ognuno rientri’ (Chorus, Tamar) Buy Track 0:32
  20. ‘Ho guidato al bivacco la tribù’ (Tamar, Fleana) Buy Track 0:32
  21. ‘M’attendevi? Fleana io t’ho pensato’ (Radu) Buy Track 0:32
  22. ‘Rientra’ (Radu, Fleana) Buy Track 0:32
  23. ‘No! Qualcuno s’aggira’ (Radu, Fleana) Buy Track 0:32
  24. ‘Tagliami! Abbruciami ma vi disprezzo’ (Fleana, Radu) Buy Track 0:32
  25. ‘Ah! Perduto! Tutto!’ (Radu) Buy Track 0:32
  26. ‘Canto notturno’ (Tamar) Buy Track 0:32
  27. ‘Radu? Dorme!’ (Tamar, Fleana) Buy Track 0:32
  28. ‘Bella! Bella! Sei qui tutta fremente!’ (Tamar, Fleana) Buy Track 0:32
  29. ‘Fleana! Ove sei?’ (Radu, Tamar, Fleana, Chorus, the Old Man) Buy Track 0:32

Description

Based on a poem by Alexander Pushkin, Zingari is a tale of passion, jealousy and crime. Marking Leoncavallo’s return to the verismo style of Pagliacci, this one-act opera showcases rich, colourful orchestral music with powerful choral moments and seductive arias. Krassimira Stoyanova brings life to the beautiful temptress Fleana, who encourages and later rejects the passionate advances of aristocrat Radu, powerfully sung by tenor Arsen Soghomonyan. The American baritone Stephen Gaertner completes the fatal love triangle as Tamar, the brooding poet.

Cast

With Krassimira Stoyanova, Arsen Soghomonyan, Stephen Gaertner, Carlo Rizzi (conductor) and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Tracklist

PART I
[1]        Overture
[2]      ‘C’è uno straniero’ (Tamar, the Old Man)
[3]        ‘Ah! taci! non lo dir!’ (Tamar, the Old Man)
[4]        ‘Son qui! Ah!’ (Chorus)
[5]        ‘Fleana! Zingara del mio cuor’ (the Old man, Fleana)
[6]       ‘Principe! Radu io son’ (Radu)
[7]        ‘E sia! Rimani all’ombra’ (the Old Man, Fleana)
[8]        ‘Zingari! Le mie nozze’ (Fleana, Chorus)
[9]        ‘Eccolo finalmente il sogno!’ (Radu, Fleana, Chorus)
[10]      ‘Chi è nell’ombra?’ (Fleana, Radu, Tamar)
[11]    ‘Addormentarmi, accarezzarmi’ (Fleana)
[12]      ‘O solamente mia!’ (Radu, Tamar, Chorus, the Old man)
[13]    ‘Disciogli i balenanti’ (Chorus, the Old Man, Radu)
[14]      ‘La la la la!’ (Fleana)
[15]      ‘Ora congiungi’ (Fleana, the Old Man, Radu, Chorus)
[16]      ‘Ah! Canto notturno’ (Tamar, Fleana, Radu)
[17]      ‘Tutta la vita mia ti donerò’ (Radu, Fleana)
End of Part I

[18]      Intermezzo

PART II
[19]      ‘Presto! Ognuno rientri’ (Chorus, Tamar)
[20]      ‘Ho guidato al bivacco la tribù’ (Tamar, Fleana)
[21]      ‘M’attendevi? Fleana io t’ho pensato’ (Radu)
[22]      ‘Rientra’ (Radu, Fleana)
[23]      ‘No! Qualcuno s’aggira’ (Radu, Fleana)
[24]      ‘Tagliami! Abbruciami ma vi disprezzo’ (Fleana, Radu)
[25]      ‘Ah! Perduto! Tutto!’ (Radu)
[26]      ‘Canto notturno’ (Tamar)
[27]      ‘Radu? Dorme!’ (Tamar, Fleana)
[28]      ‘Bella! Bella! Sei qui tutta fremente!’ (Tamar, Fleana)
[29]      ‘Fleana! Ove sei?’ (Radu, Tamar, Fleana, Chorus, the Old Man)
End of the opera

English

Episode One
The action opens at twilight in a Roma camp on the banks of the River Danube. Wagons are positioned on the left side of the stage; on the right in the distance is the river and a large almond tree. Coppersmiths are finishing their work and decide to go to the river. Tamar approaches the Old Man by the fire and tells him that a strange man has been seen in the camp at night; Fleana – the Old Man’s daughter – has also been seen leaving her tent and kissing the stranger. In a short aria (‘Ah! taci! non lo dir!’) Tamar expresses his unrequited love for Fleana. The men of the tribe find Fleana and the stranger and bring
them bound to the Old Man. Fleana declares her love for the stranger, who is revealed as a nobleman called Radu;
he in turn declares his allegiance to the community (‘Principe! Radu io son’).
The Old Man blesses the relationship and Fleana and Radu are left alone; to the accompaniment of an offstage
female chorus, they declare their undying love (‘Eccolo finalmente il sogno!’). The couple then hear Tamar lurking in the bushes and find he is brandishing a knife. He confesses his love for Fleana. Tamar and Radu begin
to fight, but Fleana separates them; she then mockingly rejects Tamar’s love.
Tamar leaves and preparations are made to celebrate the wedding; Fleana performs a dance at the community’s request. Using Tamar’s knife, the Old Man makes
a blood oath between the couple, but Tamar is heard singing in the distance (‘Ah! Canto notturno’). Radu’s jealousy is aroused, but Fleana restrains him and they again declare their love.

Intermezzo

Episode Two
A year has passed. The action takes place in another encampment, at night by a village church; tents are scattered nearby. The Roma are fleeing enemies and Tamar orders everyone to hide. Fleana arrives and declares him the true leader of the group. He leaves as Radu approaches. Radu laments that Fleana has become
cold and distant towards him: he is tormented at night by anxious thoughts and believes that someone is taking
her away from him (‘Mi fai morire’).
He demands an answer from her. She mocks him and declares she will reveal nothing even if he cuts her up and
burns her (‘Tagliami! Abbruciami’). Left alone, Radu laments his situation once more and enters his tent. Tamar is heard singing in the distance, and when
he appears Fleana joins him and they declare their love. They enter a nearby hut. Radu appears, looking for Fleana: he hears the couple inside the hut (‘Fleana! Ove sei?’). Enraged, he locks the door, places piles of straw around the building and sets it alight. Fleana and Tamar scream in horror and the inhabitants appear, crying out for water to save the couple, and wishing death on Radu. Radu curses the couple, but as the hut collapses the Old Man tells the chorus to free Radu: he is a madman.
© Ditlev Rindom

French

Premier épisode
L’action débute à la tombée de la nuit dans un camp de gitans, sur les rives du Danube. Des chariots sont positionnés sur le côté gauche de la scène; à droite,  au loin, on aperçoit le fleuve et un grand amandier. Des chaudronniers tziganes terminent leur travail et décident de se rendre au fleuve. Tamar s’approche du Vieil homme près du feu et lui fait savoir qu’un inconnu a été vu dans le campement durant la nuit; Fleana – la fille du Vieil homme – a également été vue quittant sa tente et
embrassant l’étranger. Dans une courte aria (‘Ah! taci! non lo dir!’), Tamar exprime son amour non partagé pour Fleana. Les gitans retrouvent Fleana et l’étranger et les ramènent ligotés au Vieil homme. Fleana dit son amour
pour l’inconnu, qui s’avère être un aristocrate du nom de Radu; celui-ci déclare de son côté son allégeance à la
communauté gitane (‘Principe! Radu io son’). Le Vieil homme bénit leur union, et Fleana et Radu se retrouvent
seuls ; tandis qu’un choeur de femmes chante en coulisses, ils se vouent un amour éternel (‘Eccolo finalemente il sogno!’). C’est alors que le couple entend Tamar qui rôde dans les buissons, et découvre qu’il brandit un couteau. Ce dernier confesse son amour pour Fleana. Tamar et Radu commencent à se battre, mais Fleana les sépare; elle rejette ensuite l’amour de Tamar en se moquant. Tamar s’en va et les gitans se préparent à célébrer le mariage; Fleana exécute une danse à la demande de la communauté. Avec le couteau de Tamar, le Vieil homme procède au serment du sang entre les deux amoureux, tandis qu’on entend Tamar chanter au loin (‘Ah! Canto notturno’). Radu est gagné par la jalousie, mais Fleana le retient, et tous deux se déclarent à nouveau mutuellement leur amour.

Intermezzo

Deuxième épisode
Une année s’est écoulée. L’action se déroule dans un autre campement de gitans, la nuit, près de l’église d’un
village ; des tentes sont éparpillées à proximité. Les gitans fuient des ennemis et Tamar leur ordonne de se cacher. Fleana arrive et le déclare le vrai roi des gitans. Il part tandis que Radu s’approche. Radu déplore que Fleana soit devenue froide et distante à son égard: il est tourmenté la nuit par des pensées angoissantes, et croit que quelqu’un cherche à la lui prendre (‘Mi fai morire’). Il exige une réponse de sa part. Elle se moque de lui et l’informe qu’elle ne dira rien, même s’il la lacère et la brûle (‘Tagliami! Abbruciami’).
Resté seul, Radu se lamente une fois de plus sur sa situation et regagne sa tente. On entend Tamar chanter au loin, et, lorsqu’il apparaît, Fleana le rejoint et ils se déclarent leur amour. Ils entrent dans une cabane toute
proche. Radu survient, à la recherche de Fleana: il entend le couple à l’intérieur de la cabane (‘Fleana! Ove sei?’). Fou de rage, il verrouille la porte, place des bottes de paille autour du bâtiment et y met le feu. Fleana et Tamar poussent des cris d’horreur et la foule apparaît, réclamant de l’eau pour secourir le couple, et souhaitant la mort de Radu. Radu maudit le couple, mais, tandis que la cabane s’effondre, le Vieil homme dit au choeur de relâcher Radu: c’est un fou.
© Ditlev Rindom, 2022
Translation by Pascal Bergerault

Press Reviews

The wonderful Krassimira Stoyanova, far too seldom heard on recording, sings with her luxurious soprano voice and is glowing as Fleana. Arsen Soghomonyan is completely absorbing as Radu. Having originally trained as a baritone, his magnificent voice is radiantly expressive and never forced. As his rival Tamar, Stephen Gaertner is a vocal gem.

 

Artistic Director of Opera Rara Carlo Rizzi achieves a perfect balance between vocal passion, orchestral illustration, and the more atmospheric folk scenes. The Opera Rara Chorus is exquisite. In short, an electrifying recording in every respect.

Orpheus (Jan-Feb 2023)

Another gem from Opera Rara

Opera Today

Opera Rara has made a strong case for Leoncavallo’s “Zingari” which excels thanks to the inspired performances of its soloists and the fast-paced but no less minute conducting of Carlo Rizzi.

OperaWire (November 2022)

Rizzi is fabulous in this sort of repertoire and he draws committed playing from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in a score that has lost parts reorchestrated by Martin Fitzpatrick. The Opera Rara Chorus has lots to do in the colourful early scenes, singing with plenty of lustre. There is limited competition on disc, a live account from Milan under Daniele Agiman released last year on Bongiovanni, but this new Opera Rara recording is superior in every way.

Gramophone (November 2022)

Leading the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Carlo Rizzi clearly knows how to highlight the undeniable riches of the orchestration and maintain the dramatic arc of the work… Krassimira Stoyanova sings effortlessly as Fleana whilst Arsen Soghomonyan and Stephen Gaertner paint solid portraits as her lovers Radu and Tamar… Compared to the three previous recordings of this work, this new version outclasses them all thanks to the quality of the sound recording, the choice to return to the original version of the work from 1912 and an unquestionably superior interpretation… listeners can discover here a work which further sharpens our understanding of this too long neglected composer.

Opera Magazine (November 2022)

It is Opera Rara who have done so much for lesser-known Italian repertoire who now present a new recording of Zingari based on Leoncavallo’s original score of 1912… One must start by noting the praiseworthy work of Carlo Rizzi who conducts both a sizeable orchestra and chorus. Arsen Soghomonyan’s lyrical performance as Radu is in keeping with the rest of his colleagues including Stephen Gaertner as Tamar and Łukasz Goliński as Il Vecchio… It is Krassimira Stoyanova however who is likely to catch the listener’s attention the most: her performance as Fleana is a model of assimilation, highly musical and passionate from her opening phrase… an inspiring opera that should be revived.

Scherzo

That the performance ultimately comes across as so dramatic and gripping, often with electrifying tension, is also due to the absolutely right sense with which Carlo Rizzi conducts. He spurs his ensemble on to dramatic, powerfully breathed and intense music-making, whereby, in addition to the performances of the soloists, those of the chorus and above all the orchestra, make a positive impression.

Pizzicato

With this performance, Leoncavallo’s Zingari reclaims the appeal that it wielded 110 years ago.

Voix des Arts (October 2022)

The hour-long score, articulated in two acts punctuated by an intermezzo, is almost relentlessly colourful and packs in a variety of idioms […]. It is never less than engaging and certainly not short of sensuous or gripping moments.

Opera (February 2022)

Carlo Rizzi demonstrated that the music attains considerable emotional power with some memorable themes and colourful textures. […] Rizzi brought out the ebullience of the music with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – particularly the resounding choruses of Gypsy folk, emphatically projected by the Opera Rara Chorus as well as the slow-burn passion of the love music for Radu and Fleana.

Classical Source (December 2021)

The performance gave the work a terrific send-off and I look forward to hearing the disc.

Planet Hugill (December 2021)

It’s hard to imagine a better rendering of Leoncavallo’s fiercely sensual opera about a Gypsy love triangle than Opera Rara and the Royal Philharmonic gave in this concert performance. […] Zingari will linger in the memory as a superb achievement.

The Guardian (December 2021)

Awards & Accolades

  • Presto Album of the Week
  • Supersonic Pizzicato

 

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