Dèbora e Jaéle
Opera by Ildebrando Pizzetti
Jael killing Sisera, the climax of Act 3
LibrettistIldebrando Pizzetti
LanguageItalian
Premiere
16 December 1922 (1922-12-16)
La Scala, Milan

Dèbora e Jaéle (Deborah and Jael) is an opera in three acts composed by Ildebrando Pizzetti who also wrote the libretto. The libretto is based on the story of Deborah and Jael from the Book of Judges in the Bible. However, it differs in several ways from the traditional Biblical account, primarily in the motivations of its characters and the relationships between them. The opera was first performed at La Scala, Milan on 16 December 1922.[1][2]

Pizzetti described Dèbora e Jaéle as "The first opera that is truly all my own", distancing himself from the poet Gabriele D'Annunzio whose work had a significant influence on Pizzetti's early career.[3]

Roles

Role Voice type Premiere cast[4]
Conductor: Arturo Toscanini
Dèbora contralto Elvira Mari-Casazza
Jaéle soprano Giulia Tess
Mara mezzo-soprano Anna Gramegna
Azriél tenor Alfredo Tedeschi
Scillèm tenor Luigi Cilla
King Sisera tenor John Sample
Piràm/shepherd tenor Aristide Baracchi
Jàfìa tenor Giuseppe Nessi
A slave tenor Guido Uxa
Jèsser baritone Osvaldo Pellegrini
Hèver bass Umberto Di Lelio
Baràk bass Vincenzo Cassia
Blind man of Kinnèreth bass Ezio Pinza
Nabì/Adonisédék bass Giovanni Azzimonti
Talmài bass Amleto Galli

Synopsis

Set design by Angelo Parravicini

Act 1

The Israelite prophetess Deborah preaches war against the Canaanite king Sisera. Sisera is hiding within the walls of an impregnable fortress. Knowing the king is in love with Jael, she sends the latter, accompanied by Mara, to lure him out.[5]

Act 2

Jael is brought into the king's presence and attempts to kill him. But she falls in love with Sisera and he pardons her. Mara sings of the son she has lost at the hands of the Canaanites and stirs Jael's conscience. Sisera allows Jael to leave the fortress, promising to meet her again after he has defeated the Israelites.

Act 3

The Israelites defeat the Canaanites in battle and Sisera seeks refuge in Jael's tent. Deborah demands that he be handed over but Jael refuses. But, as an Israelite mob approaches, Jael kills Sisera in his sleep to save him from a worse death.

References

  1. ↑ Martin, Nicholas Ivor (2013), The Opera Manual, p. 83. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0810888696
  2. ↑ Leneman, Helen (2007). "Revisioning a Biblical Story through Libretto and Music: Debora e Jaele by Ildebrando Pizzetti" pp. 78–113 in Jo Cheryl Exum (ed.) Retellings: The Bible in Literature, Music, Art and Film. Brill. ISBN 900416572X
  3. ↑ Gelli, Piero (ed.) (2005). Debora e Jaele Archived May 6, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, Dizionario dell'opera, p. 290. Baldini Castoldi Dalai (republished on operamanager.it). Retrieved 17 February 2016 (in Italian).
  4. ↑ Casaglia, Gherardo (2005)."Débora e Jaèle, 16 December 1922". L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian).
  5. ↑ Synopsis based on Gelli (2005) and Martin (2013)
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