Matilde di Shabran

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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Matilde di Shabran, o sia Bellezza e cuor di ferro is a melodramma giocoso in two acts by Gioachino Rossini, with a libretto by Jacopo Ferretti, first performed in Rome in 1821. The story centres on Corradino, a ruthless tyrant nicknamed “Cuordiferro” (Iron Heart), who despises women and holds the young Edoardo captive; Edoardo, in turn, is secretly in love with the beautiful Matilde. The young woman, a fallen noblewoman, arrives at the castle disguised as a humble gardener, accompanied by the wandering poet Isidoro, with the secret plan of softening Corradino’s ruthless heart. Whilst Isidoro clumsily attempts to protect her, Matilde’s beauty and bold nature begin to chip away at the tyrant’s heart of iron, though this sparks the envy of the treacherous Aliprando, who hatches a plot to make Corradino believe that the young woman is in fact in love with the prisoner Edoardo.

In the second act, jealousy flares up: Corradino, blinded by suspicion, challenges Edoardo to a duel, but Matilde bravely steps between them, ready to sacrifice herself. The truth finally comes to light thanks to the intervention of her father, Raimondo, who reveals her noble identity. Overcome by the power of love and the maiden’s innocence, Corradino lays aside his ferocity and begs for forgiveness. Edoardo is set free, Aliprando is unmasked and punished, and the iron-hearted tyrant marries Matilde amid general jubilation. Isidoro celebrates the triumph of poetry and love, whilst the chorus extols the victory of beauty and goodness over cruelty.

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