Armida was written to be performed at the Teatro di San Carlo, Naples, on 11 November 1817 to celebrate the opening of the rebuilt opera house which had been destroyed by fire the previous year. Isabella Colbran sang the title role, which is one of the longest and most demanding that Rossini wrote, with difficult coloratura passages of every kind during the entire opera. The most notable are to be found in "D'amore al dolce impero" during Act 2, in the duets between Armida and Rinaldo, and in parts of the Act 3 finale.
| Librettist | Giovanni Schmidt (based on scenes from Gerusalemme liberata by Torquato Tasso) |
| Date of composition | 1817 |
| Type | Opera |
| Spoken language | Italian |
| Instruments |
Orchestra
Voice (Soprano) - Armida, Princess of Damascus, a sorceress Voice (Tenor) - Rinaldo, a paladin knight Voice (Tenor) - Gernando, a paladin Voice (Tenor) - Ubaldo, a paladin Voice (Tenor) - Carlo, a paladin Voice (Tenor) - Goffredo, (Godfrey of Bouillon), the leader of the paladins Voice (Tenor) - Eustazio, Goffredo's brother Voice (Bass) - Idraote, king of Damascus and Armida's uncle Voice (Bass) - Astarotte, leader of Armida's spirits |
| Autotranslations beta |
Gioachino Rossini: Armida Gioachino Rossini: Armida Gioachino Rossini: Armida |