Background
The city of Syracuse has been rot with conflict and civil
war by the Byzantine empire and the Saracen armies headed by Solamir. The soldier Tancredi and his family have been
stripped of their estates and inheritances, and he himself has been banished
since his youth. Two more noble families, headed by Argirio and Orbazzano, have been
warring for years. Argirio and his family, his wife and his daughter, Amenaide,
have been residing as guests of the
Byzantine court, where Tancredi presides in exile. Also present in the court is
Solamir, the Moorish general, who wishes for Amenaide's hand in marriage in hopes that he
can create a Saracen-Syracusean alliance.
Place: the Sicilian city-state of Syracuse Time: AD 1005
Act I:
Courtesy of
Argirio fears an attack and attempts to make peace
with Orbazzano. Argiro offers his daughter, Amenaide, to Orbazzano in marriage.
Amenaide loves the exiled Tancredi. Amenaide pleads with her father to delay
the wedding, but Argirio ignores his daughter’s pleas. He orders all of his
enemies, including Tancredi, to be killed. Tancredi arrives in disguise.
Amenaide urges Tancredi to flee. Crowds begin to gather for the wedding.
Tancredi prevents the wedding. Orbazzano produces a love letter that he intercepted
from Amenaide to Tancredi with Tancredi’s name omitted for his protection and
says that it is from Amenaide to Solamir, leader of the Sicilians. Amenaide is
arrested and sentenced to death for treason. Tancredi also believes that
Amenaide is guilty.
Act II:
Amenaide hopes that Tancredi will see the truth, as
she prepares to die. Tancredi appears and kills Orbazzano as he was leading
Amenaide to her execution. Amenaide is freed. Tancredi still believes that
Amenaide has betrayed him.
(Venice Ending) Tancredi meets with Solamir and Solamir
promises to spare Syracuse if he can marry Amenaide. Tancredi instead battles
and beats the Sicilians. As Solamir is dying, he tells Tancredi of Amenaide’s
innocence. Tancredi asks Amenaide for forgiveness. Argirio names Tancredi ruler
of Syracuse.
Courtesy of
(Ferrara Ending) Tancredi wants to prove his love
for Amenaide so he leads Syracuse into battle against Sicily. During the
battle, Tancredi is mortaly wounded. While Tancredi is in anguish, Argirio
persuades Tancredi that Amanaide was innocent all along. Tancredi dies while
asking to marry Amenaide.
Background information from http://www.opera-arias.com/rossini/tancredi/synopsis/
