Bianca e Falliero

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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Bianca e Falliero, or Il consiglio dei Tre is a two-act melodrama by Gioachino Rossini, with a libretto by Felice Romani, which was first performed at La Scala in Milan in 1819. Set in 17th-century Venice, following the foiling of a foreign conspiracy, Senator Contareno promises his daughter Bianca in marriage to the wealthy Senator Capellio to resolve a long-standing family feud and a matter of inheritance. Bianca, however, is in love with the young General Falliero, whom she believed to have died in the war, and when he returns victorious, she indignantly rejects the forced marriage. During the wedding ceremony, Falliero bursts in to assert his rights, provoking Contareno’s fury; the latter threatens to ruin his rival’s career.

In the second act, Falliero, caught by Contareno whilst meeting Bianca in secret, flees and hides in the Spanish embassy; when discovered, he is accused of treason under a recent decree by the Doge and put on trial by the Council of Three (comprising Contareno, Capellio and Loredano). Bianca speaks passionately before the judges, proclaiming her love and convincing Capellio of the two young lovers’ sincerity. The Senate acquits Falliero; Contareno, though reluctant, finally agrees to the marriage so as not to lose his daughter’s affection, and the opera ends amid general jubilation.

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