I/11

I masnadieri
The Brigands

Melodramma [in four acts] by
ANDREA MAFFEI

First performance:
London, Her Majesty's Theatre
22 July 1847

Critical Edition by
ROBERTA MONTEMORRA MARVIN

The University of Chicago Press 2000

CHARACTERS:
AMALIA, orphan, niece of the Count, soprano
MASSIMILIANO, Count Moor, regent, bass
CARLO, his son, tenor
FRANCESCO, also his son, baritone
ARMINIO, chamberlain of the regent's family, tenor
MOSER, priest, bass
ROLLA, companion of Carlo Moor, tenor
Mixed Chorus of erring youths (later brigands), women, children, servants

The action takes place in Germany at the beginning of the 18th century and lasts about three years.

Instrumentation: Piccolo, Flute, 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets, 2 Bassoons, 4 Horns, 2 Trumpets, 3 Trombones, Cimbasso, Timpani, Bass Drum, Cymbals, Harp, Strings
Performance time: 2h 15m

I masnadieri features a libretto based on Schiller's play Die Räuber (The Robbers). Verdi himself supervised the rehearsals for the premiere, and Jenny Lind was the prima donna. Verdi tailored the music to the talents of the first performers, but the opera, staged toward the end of the London season, had only a limited success.

The critical edition is the first publication of I masnadieri in full score. Based on the composer's autograph and on important secondary sources, including the original performing parts containing annotations made by the players under Verdi's direction and changes made by the composer during the rehearsals, this edition provides scholars and performers alike with unequaled means for interpretation and study of one of Verdi's less well known works.

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