Ascanio is a grand opera in five acts and seven tableaux by composer Camille Saint-Saëns. The opera's French libretto, by Louis Gallet, is based on the 1852 play Benvenuto Cellini by French playwright Paul Meurice which was in turn based on the 1843 historical novel by Alexandre Dumas, père. The name was changed to Ascanio to avoid confusion with the Berlioz opera Benvenuto Cellini. The opera premiered on March 21, 1890, at the Académie Nationale de Musique in Paris, in costumes designed by Charles Bianchini and sets by Jean-Baptiste Lavastre and Eugène Carpezat (acts I; II, scene 2; and III), Auguste-Alfred Rubé and Philippe Chaperon and Marcel Jambon (act II, scene 1).
Librettist | Louis Gallet (after Paul Meurice) |
Date of composition | 1888 (1887-1888) |
Premiered | 1890, March 21st (Opéra de Paris) in Paris, France |
First published | 1890 |
Type | Opera |
Spoken language | French |
Instruments |
Chorus/Choir
Orchestra Voice (Baritone) - Benvenuto Cellini Voice (Tenor) - Ascanio Voice (Bass) - François I Voice (Bass) - Charles V Voice (Soprano) - Duchesse d'Étampes Voice (Contralto) - Scozzone Voice (Tenor) - D'Estourville Voice (Soprano) - Colombe d'Estourville Voice (Tenor) - D'Orbec Voice (Bass) - Pagolo Voice (Baritone) - A beggar Voice (Soprano) - Ursuline Silent Role - Lady Périne |
Autotranslations beta |
Camille Saint-Saëns: Ascanio Camille Saint-Saëns: Ascanio Camille Saint-Saëns: Ascanio |