Tancredi is a melodramma eroico (opera seria or 'heroic' opera) in two acts by composer Gioachino Rossini and librettist Gaetano Rossi (who was also to write Semiramide ten years later), based on Voltaire's play Tancrède (1760). The opera made its first appearance at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice on 6 February 1813, and because Il signor Bruschino premiered in late January, the composer must have completed Tancredi in less than a month. The overture, borrowed from La pietra del paragone, is a popular example of Rossini's characteristic style and is regularly performed in concert and recorded.
| Librettist | Gaetano Rossi (Based on play "Tancrède" by Voltaire) |
| Date of composition | 1813 |
| Premiered | 1813, February 6th in Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy |
| Type | Opera |
| Approx. duration | 180 minutes |
| Spoken language | Italian |
| Instruments |
String Orchestra
Voice (Contralto) - Tancredi, an exiled Syracusean soldier Voice (Soprano) - Amenaide, the daughter of a noble family, in love with Tancredi Voice (Tenor) - Argirio, father of Amenaide; head of his family, at war with the family of Orbazzano Voice (Bass) - Orbazzano, the head of his noble family, at war with the family of Argirio Voice (Contralto) - Isaura, friend to Amenaide Voice (Mezzo-Soprano) - Roggiero, Tancredi's squire Chorus/Choir - Knights, nobles, squires, Syracusans, Saracens; ladies-in-waiting, warriors, pages, guards, etc |
| Autotranslations beta |
Gioachino Rossini: Tancredi Gioachino Rossini: Tancredi Gioachino Rossini: Tancredi |