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Gioachino Rossini - Zelmira - "A che quei tronchi" (Antonino Siragusa & Elizabeth Futral) - No. 2. Tempo di mezzo & Cabaletta

1,845 views · Published 25 June 2008 · 5:38 · Indexed 4 November 2026

Channel: LindoroRossini · 2008 · Music

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15) "A che quei tronchi accenti" for Zelmira and Ilo from "Zelmira".

"Zelmira" is, in many ways, an unusual opera. It doesn't feature a perfect story, like we get in "Ermione". It does have a tendency to lag a bit (at 3 hours of little stage action, it's perfectly explainable). Some of it's set pieces aren't as inspired as one would have hoped. And yet, it features quite a lot of music to die for :)! Though, not the present duet which is just a bit of a let-down on the whole (I'm primarily talking about two great arias for the villain, a beautiful cavatina for Ilo, an absolutely sublime duet for Zelmira and Emma, her confidante) (note to self: stop using "a little bit").

The present duet follows the familiar Rossini formula very closely, though there are some surprises along the way. So, we get a classical "moderato - andante - tempo di mezzo - allegro (here a full cabaletta)". The suprise comes at the very first part which features an actual conversation between the characters in place of the more "proper" at this point "phrases on the same musical background". I personally also like the final section which is quite emotionally charged and rewarding for the soloists. The main problem with the piece lies in its length: 13 minutes of music against a very slim story line (Ilo tries to understand his beloved's turmoil, as she basically mutters throughout: "What to say?"). A duettino, like in "La donna del lago" would have been better suited to the scene and the rest could have been summarized in a bit of creative recitative. But what we get is a long-winded and basically irrelevant emotionally scene. Still, it is enjoyable and doesn't really bug the listener too much :)! 

As the piece is quite long, I'm posting it in two separate pieces: first, the moderato and andante; and then, the tempo di mezzo and allegro.

Antonino Siragusa and Elizabeth Futral, thankfully, add very much to the enjoyment :)!

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