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A Treasure of Latin American Opera: Ildegonda

The action for this second opera by Mexican composer Melesio Morales is set in 12th century Italy. Ildegonda, a young Lombard princess, is in a love with a plebeian called Rizzardo. However, his father has promised her hand to a powerful feudal lord. To make things even more dramatic, the Lombard army is getting ready to sail in a crusade to the Holly Land. After many misadventures, Rizzardo is executed, Ildegonda goes crazy and dies. Finally, they happily meet in Heaven.

“Ildegonda” was premiered in Mexico City in 1866 and it was also produced in Florence, Italy, in 1869 with huge success. The libretto was written by Verdi’s partner in many operas, Temistocle Solera. By the time, Mexico already had an opera tradition. The first Mexican opera was written as early as 1711 by Manuel de Sumaya. By the 1860’s most of the Italian operas had been sung in Mexico, including almost all Verdi’s work. Before “Ildegonda” there were several Mexican operas composed by Cenobio Paniagua, Octaviano Valle, Manuel Torres, Miguel Meneses, Leonardo Canales and Melesio Morales himself. His first opera, “Romeo y Julieta”, is from 1863.

Morales was born and died in Mexico, where he studied music. He lived in Europe from 1865 to 1868, and his success in Florence with Ildegonda made him a star in both sides of the Atlantic. He composed, conducted, and taught in Mexico City, where he was the founder of the famous and still existing National Conservatory. His works include ten operas, two cantatas and orchestral and choral works as well as many popular songs.

Playlist:

Melesio Morales (Mexican, 1838-1908)

Libretto by Temistocle Solera (Italian, 1815-1878)

Ildegonda (1866)

1- Prelude

7:26

Act One

3- No.2 Quartetto

“La mia canzone serbasti…”

(Rolando, Ildegonda, Roggiero, Ermenegildo)

6- No.5 Cavatina

“Quai memorie al traffito mio core…”

(Ildegonda)