{{Short description|Opera by composer Alberto Franchetti}} {{for|the symphony|Asrael Symphony}} {{confused|Azrael (disambiguation)|Azriel (disambiguation)|Asriel (disambiguation)}} {{Infobox opera | name = Asrael | composer = Alberto Franchetti | image = Asrael Praha 1890 01.jpg | image_upright = | alt = | caption = cast of the 1890 Prague production | type = ''leggenda'' | librettist = Ferdinando Fontana | based_on = | language = Italian | premiere_date = {{Start date|1888|02|11|df=y}} | premiere_location = Teatro Municipale di Reggio }} '''''Asrael''''' is a ''leggenda'' or opera in four acts by composer Alberto Franchetti and librettist Ferdinando Fontana. The plot, based on German fairy tale and folklore, displays the conflict between the spirit of evil and the spirit of Christian love, represented by Asrael and Nefta respectively. The work is Franchetti's first opera and displays strong influences of Meyerbeer and Wagner, mixed with late 19th-century Italian idioms. The opera premiered at the Teatro Municipale di Reggio on 11 February 1888.<ref name="Grove">Jürgen Maehder: "''Asrael''", ''Grove Music Online'' ed. L. Macy (Accessed January 30, 2009), (subscription access)</ref> The opera made its United States debut at the Metropolitan Opera on 26 November 1890 with Andreas Dippel in the title role.<ref name="Met">Metropolitan Opera Archives [http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/gisrch2k.r?Term=Dippel,%20Andreas%20%5BTenor%5D&limit=5000&vsrchtype=no&xBranch=ALL&xmtype=&Start=&End=&theterm=Dipp%65l,%20And%72%65as%20%5B%54%65no%72%5D&srt=&x=0&xHome=http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/bibpro.htm&xHomePath=http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/ Dippel, Andreas (Tenor)]. Accessed 25 January 2009.</ref> The cast also included soprano Marie Jahn as Nefta/Suor Clotilde and contralto Marie Ritter-Götze as Loretta.<ref>{{cite news|title=Metropolitan Opera House|work=The New York Times|date= December 2, 1890|page= 4}}</ref>
==Roles== thumb|''In cielo. Anfiteatro di nubi tagliato da una scala d'oro'', set design for Asreal act 1 scene 3 (undated). {| class="wikitable" |+{{sronly|Roles, voice types, premiere cast}} !Role !Voice type !Premiere cast, 11 February 1888<ref>{{Almanacco|dmy=11 February 1888|match=Asrael}}</ref> |- |Nefta/Suor Clotilde |soprano |Virginia Damerini |- |Asrael |tenor |Ladislao Mierzwinski |- |Loretta |mezzo-soprano |Giulia Novelli |- |Lucifero/re di Brabante |bass |Lodovico Contini |- |Lidoria |contralto |Maria Pia |- |Contadino |bass |Francesco Carmignani |- |Araldo |bass |Ulisse Peroni |- |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMSLP|work=Asrael (Franchetti, Alberto)|cname=''Asrael'' (Franchetti)}}
{{Alberto Franchetti|state=expanded}} {{Portal bar|Opera}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Operas by Alberto Franchetti Category:Italian-language operas Category:1888 operas Category:Operas based on fairy tales Category:Operas