Aureliano in Palmira

Gioachino Rossini

Gioachino Rossini (1792–1868) was the most celebrated Italian composer of his age, a master of both opera buffa and opera seria. Born in Pesaro, he penned nearly forty operas before the age of thirty-seven, including immortal works such as “Il barbiere di Siviglia,” “La Cenerentola,” and “Guillaume Tell.” “Adina, ovvero Il Califfo di Bagdad” (1818), though lesser-known, showcases all the melodic wit, rhythmic verve, and vocal brilliance that made Rossini the darling of Europe.

Rossini’s distinctive style, characterized by elegant melodies, rapid vocal passages, lively rhythms, and inventive orchestration, had a profound influence on nineteenth-century opera. His music combines theatrical energy with remarkable technical precision, allowing singers to display both virtuosity and expressive range. Even today, his operas remain staples of the international repertoire, admired for their wit, brilliance, and enduring freshness.

After retiring from the operatic stage at the height of his fame, he spent his later years in Paris as a revered cultural figure and gourmet.

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Aureliano in Palmira is a serious opera in two acts by Gioachino Rossini, with a libretto by Felice Romani, which was first performed at La Scala in Milan in 1813. The story is set in 272 AD in Palmyra, where Queen Zenobia, allied with her lover, the Persian prince Arsace, resists the advance of the Roman emperor Aurelian. After a bloody battle in which the Persians are defeated and Arsace is taken prisoner, Zenobia attempts to negotiate the release of the hostages and meets the emperor, who falls in love with her. Aureliano offers Arsace his freedom in exchange for abandoning Zenobia, but the prince refuses with dignity; the two lovers embrace in a moving duet before the final battle.

In the second act, the Romans conquer Palmyra. Aureliano proposes that Zenobia reign alongside him, but she refuses; Arsace, freed by General Oraspe, gathers new forces and secretly reunites with the queen during the night. When discovered, the two ask for death rather than be separated. Aureliano, whilst admiring their unbreakable love, initially condemns them to separate cells, but in the end, moved by the pleas of his daughter Publia (who is secretly in love with Arsace) and the nobles of Palmyra, he grants clemency: Zenobia and Arsace may reign together on condition that they swear allegiance to Rome. The opera concludes with general jubilation and praise for the emperor’s generosity.

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