Ginastera, Alberto

Don Rodrigo (1963-64)

Duration: 104 minutes
Opera in three acts and nine scenes

Libretto by Alejandro Casona (S,E,F,G)

Scoring
Major roles: S,M,T,Bar,B minor roles: S,M,A,T,2Bar,B,2children; chorus 3(I=afl,III=picc).3(III=corA).3(III=bcl).3(III=dbn)-6.4.4.1-timp perc(6):3SD/3crot/3tgl/3susp.cym/2cym/BD/25bells/3tam-t/ratchet/whip/ tamb/2small anvils/xyl/glsp-cel-mand-harp-strings On-stage: 8(or4)hns.8(or4)tpts.
Abbreviations (PDF).

Territory
This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for the world.

World Premiere
7/24/1964
Teatro Colon, Buenos Aires
Jorge Petraglia, director
Conductor: Bruno Bartoletti

Roles

FLORINDA, daughter of Count Don Julian	Soprano
DON RODRIGO, King of Spain	Tenor
DON JULIAN, Governor of Ceuta	Baritone
TEUDISELO, Tutor of Don Rodrigo	Bass
FORTUNA, Florinda's maidservant	Mezzo-Soprano
1st Maiden	Soprano
2nd Maiden	Mezzo-Soprano
Bishop	Baritone
Blind Hermit	Baritone
1st Page	Tenor
2nd Page	Baritone
1st Blacksmith	Tenor
2nd Blacksmith	Baritone
1st Messenger	Tenor
2nd Messenger	Baritone
Young Messenger	Contralto
Voice in the Dream	Bass
Peasant Boy	Child
Peasant Girl	Child

Time and Place
8th Century- Toledo Spain

Synopsis
Don Rodrigo, after avenging an attack upon his father, returns to be crowned King of Spain. Don Julian, Governor of Africa, introduces Rodrigo to his daughter Florinda.  Rodrigo promises her father to treat her as a daughter if he will allow her to stay at court.  During Rodrigo’s coronation, Florinda drops the crown.  Disregarding this sinister omen, he places the crown on his own head. Since ancient times every King of Spain has respected the secret locked inside a chest in the Vault of Hercules, but Rodrigo forces the chest open.  Inside he finds an Arab flag and a curse: He will be the last of his dynasty and the Arabs will enslave Spain.  Florinda bathes naked in a fountain, and Rodrigo sees her.  He enters Florinda’s chamber at night and forcefully seduces her.  Furious at Rodrigo for both seducing her and then abandoning her, Florinda writes her father demanding revenge.  Don Julian raises a rebellion against him and defeats Rodrigo at Guadalete.  After the battle, Rodrigo, a penniless wanderer dying in the home of a blind hermit, is discovered by Florinda.  After confessing his sins he dies in her arms.

Moods
Dramatic, Tragic

Subjects
Relationships, Politics, Society