Lo schiavo


Lo schiavo is an opera in four acts by the Brazilian composer Carlos Gomes. The Italian libretto was by Rodolfo Paravicini, after a play by Alfredo Taunay. The opera deals with the subject of slavery, a major concern in Brazil at the time.
As Béhague explains, "Lo schiavo is considered in Brazil to be the best of Gomes's operas, as it reflects a national subject which required and was given new treatment."

Performance history

It was first performed at the Theatro Imperial Dom Pedro II, Rio de Janeiro on 27 September 1889. Also in 1889, in his first presentation as the first female Master in Brazilian history, Chiquinha Gonzaga conducted Lo Schiavo in the presence of Carlos Gomes, his close friend, who paid her homage.

Roles

Synopsis

A drama involving Indians and Portuguese, this is the love story of Américo, son of Count Rodrigo, and Ilàra, who is forced to marry another Indian called Ibère.