# Il re

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***Il re*** (*The king*) is a novella or [opera](/source/Opera) in one act and three scenes by [composer](/source/Composer) [Umberto Giordano](/source/Umberto_Giordano) to an [Italian](/source/Italian_language) [libretto](/source/Libretto) by [Giovacchino Forzano](/source/Giovacchino_Forzano). The opera premiered at [La Scala](/source/La_Scala) in [Milan](/source/Milan) on 12 January 1929.[1]

The opera is a short comedy, only lasting about 1 hour in performance, about a young woman, Rosalina, betrothed to Colombello. One day she sees the King in all his majesty and falls in love with him, breaking the engagement with Colombello. But after meeting the king privately in his chamber, and seeing him with no crown or clothes, she loses her interest in him and returns to Colombello.

## Performance history

Unusual for a 20th-century opera, *Il re* was written specifically as a vehicle for [Toti Dal Monte](/source/Toti_Dal_Monte), a [coloratura soprano](/source/Coloratura_soprano) of the old school. Dal Monte performed the work a number of times during her career but after her retirement, the opera quickly fell into obscurity.[1] In December 1949, [Arturo Toscanini](/source/Arturo_Toscanini), who had conducted the world premiere of the opera, featured the short "Dance of the Moor" on a broadcast concert with the [NBC Symphony Orchestra](/source/NBC_Symphony_Orchestra).

## Roles

Role Voice type Premiere Cast, 12 January 1929 (Conductor: Arturo Toscanini)[2] Rosalina soprano Toti Dal Monte* Colombello tenor Enzo de Muro Lomanto The King baritone Jean-Armand-Charles Crabbé The Miller bass Tancredi Pasero The Miller's Wife mezzo-soprano Angelica Cravcenco The Priest tenor Giuseppe Nessi The Lawyer bass Salvatore Baccaloni The Astrologer mezzo-soprano Lucia Abbrescia Voice of the Auctioneer/Butler baritone Aristide Baracchi First Cerimoniere tenor Giovanni Azzimonti Second Cerimoniere tenor Palmiro Domenichetti

- * Dal Monte alternated performances of the role of Rosalina with [Mercedes Capsir](/source/Mercedes_Capsir) during the original 1929 production.[2]

## Recordings

- **Umberto Giordano:** ***Il re* and *[Mese mariano](/source/Mese_mariano)*** - Orchestra Internazionale d'Italia and Coro del [Teatro Petruzzelli](/source/Teatro_Petruzzelli), conducted by Renato Palumbo. Recorded live at the [Festival della Valle d'Itria](/source/Festival_della_Valle_d'Itria) with [Patrizia Ciofi](/source/Patrizia_Ciofi) as Carmela in *Mese mariano*. Label: [Dynamic](/source/Dynamic_(record_label)) CDS-231.[3]

## External links

- [Libretto of *Il Re*](https://www.operalibretto.com/libretto-il-re-giordano-opera/) on operalibretto.com

## References

**Notes**

1. [Julian Budden](/source/Julian_Budden): "Il re", *Grove Music Online* ed. L. Macy (Accessed March 04, 2009), [(subscription access)](http://www.grovemusic.com) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20080516041031/http://www.grovemusic.com/) 2008-05-16 at the Wayback Machine

1. [Recordings of *Il re* on operadis-opera-discography.org.uk](http://www.operadis-opera-discography.org.uk/CLGIREEE.HTM)

**Sources**

- Levine, Robert, [Review of *Il re* and *Mese mariano* (Dynamic CDS-231)](http://www.classicstoday.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=157) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110605103302/http://www.classicstoday.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=157) 2011-06-05 at the Wayback Machine, *Classics Today*. Accessed 16 March 2009.

Manuscript is in Museo Teatrale alla Scala, Milano

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