Leyla Gencer Archive

BELISARIO

Gaetano Donizetti (1797 - 1848)

Opera in three acts in Italian

Libretto: Salvatore Cammarano
Premièr at Teatro La Fenice, Venice – 4 February 1836

25†, 28, 31 January - 03†, February 1973

Teatro San Carlo, Napoli

Conductor: Carlo Franci
Chorus master: Giacomo Maggiore
Stage director: Alberto Fassini
Scene and costumes: Pier Luigi Pizzi (from Teatro La Fenice di Venezia)

Belisario General of the Army GIUSEPPE TADDEI baritone
Antonia his wife LEYLA GENCER soprano
Irene their daughter BIANCA MARIA CASONI mezzo-soprano
Giustiniano Emperor of the Byzantium SILVANO PAGLIUCA bass
Alamiro prisoner of Belisario OTTAVIO GARAVENTA tenor
Eudora ANNA MARIA BORELLI soprano
Eutropia Head of Imperial Guards LUIGI PAOLILLO tenor
Eusebio n/a bass
Ottario n/a bass

Time: Byzantium
Place: Sixth Century

† Recording date

Note: Teatro San Carlo offered Leyla a new Medea for the season of 1972 – 1973 but Gencer preferred another production, and they decided on Donizetti’s Belisario. Below you will see the correspondence.

LETTER

1972.08.30