Belisario

Belisario (Belisarius) is a tragedia lirica (tragic opera) in three acts by Gaetano Donizetti. Salvadore Cammarano wrote the Italian libretto after Luigi Marchionni's adaptation of Eduard von Schenk's play, Belisarius. It premiered to critical and popular success on 4 February 1836 at the Teatro La Fenice, Venice.

Synopsis

 * Place: Byzantium and the Haemus mountains.
 * Time: sixth century A.D.

Act 1
Il Trionfo (Triumph)

The hall in the emperor's palace

Irene and the populace greet the victor Belisarius. Antonina hates her husband because Proclus, the slave of Belisarius, has confessed on his deathbed, that upon command of his master he had exposed her son on the shore of the ocean, thus causing his death. The Emperor Justinian greets his commander and grants his prayer for the release of the prisoners. The captive, Alamiro, who adores Belisarius, refuses to leave him. The general adopts him in place of his long lost son. Irene congratulates her father, but Antonina has already begun her work of hate, by traducing Belisarius to Justinian, and the innocent man is accused of high treason and thrown into prison on the evidence of his wife.

Act 2
L'Esilio (Exile)

Before the prison

Alamiro and his friends lament the fate of Belisarius, whose eyes have been put out by his enemies, falsely construing and disobeying the commands of the emperor. Alamiro swears vengeance. Irene clad as a youth arrives to act as guide to her father, who is about to be released from prison.

Act 3
La Morte (Death)

In the mountains

As the clang of weapons is heard, Irene leads Belisarius to a cave for safety. Alamiro now leads the army of the Alanni against Byzantium to avenge Belisarius. Belisarius confronts him and recognizes him as his son through an amulet. At his father's request, the son leaves the ranks of the enemies of Byzantium, and the Alanni, now under the command of Ottavio, march to Byzantium, having no fear, as the emperor's army is bereft of its leader.

Hall in Byzantium

Antonina, in remorse, tells the emperor that her testimony against Belisarius was false. Irene approaches with news of the victory and informs Antonina that Alamiro is her son, and that it was the slave, not Belisarius, who had planned his death. Meanwhile, the blind Belisarius has led the Byzantine army and defeated the Alanni, who had threatened Byzantium, but an arrow has mortally wounded him. He is carried in dying, and the sorrowing emperor promises to be a father to Alamiro and Irene.

Musical numbers
Act 1


 * "Serto di eterni lauri" - chorus
 * "Corri, amica" - Irene, Eudora, chorus
 * "Plauso! Voici di gioja!" - Antonina, Eutropio
 * "Sin la tomba è a me negata" - Antonina, Eutropio
 * "O Nume degli eserciti" - Giustiniano
 * "L’inno della vittoria" - chorus
 * "Cesare, hai vinto" - Belisario, Giustiniano
 * "Liberi siete" - Belisario, Alamiro
 * "Padre!.. Irene, m’abbraccia" - Irene, Belisario, Antonina, Eutropio, Alamiro
 * "Che mai sarà" - chorus
 * "Sostegni del mio trono" - Giustiniano, Eutropio, Belisario, Antonina, Irene, Alamiro
 * "Du chi son’ io traditio" - Belisario, Irene, Alamiro, Antonina, Eutropio, Giustiniano, chorus
 * "Madrè tu fosti, e moglie" - Belisario, Antonina, Irene, Alamiro, Eutropio, Giustiniano, chorus

Act 2


 * "Oh Duce! Oh eccesso orri bile!" - chorus
 * "Voi piangete, amici, di Balisario voi piangete!" - Alamiro, chorus
 * "A si tremendo annunzio" - Alamiro, Irene, chorus
 * "Amici, è forsa separarei" - Irene, Belisario, Eusebio
 * "Oh tu che dell'eterna orribil notte" - Belisario, Irene
 * "Se vederla a me non lice" - Belisario, Irene



Act 3


 * "Qui siedi, o padre" - Irene, Belisario
 * "Diffondasi terrible" - chorus
 * "Impavidi guerrieri, quel chemirammo vellegiarda" - Alamiro, Irene, Belisario, chorus
 * "Figli, figli partiam" - Belisario, Irene, Alamiro, chorus
 * "Nol fermi tu?" - Ottario, Belisario, Irene, Alamiro, chorus
 * "Itene al campo e sia palese" - Giustiniano, Antonina
 * "Da quel di che l'innocente" - Antonina, Irene, chorus
 * "Inarcherai per la sorpresa il ciglio" - Antonina, Irene, Giustininano, a centurion, chorus
 * "Egli è spento, e del perdono" - Antonina, chorus