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Esmeralda is an 1856 grand opera in four acts with a score by the Italian composer Vincenzo Battista. With a libretto in English by Charles Jefferys,^[1] it was based on Battista's Italian version Ermelinda (1851),^[2] which in turn was based on Hugo's 1831 novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.

In 1851 in Naples in Italy Battista was at the height of his fame and powers. He had already staged a number of operas at the prestigious Teatro di San Carlo including Margherita d'Aragona (1844)^[3] with the soprano Fanny Goldberg, the tenor Gaetano Fraschini and the baritone Filippo Coletti. His opera Rosvina de la Forest (1845) was commissioned by La Scala in Milan.

To a libretto in Italian by Domenico Bolognese (1919–1891) he composed the score for Ermelinda (1851), which in turn was based on Hugo's 1831 novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. The opera opened as Esmeralda at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on 30 June 1856 under the musical direction of J. H. Tully^[4] and with a libretto in English by Charles Jefferys.^[1]

Naples cast (1851)

Ermelinda - Signora Violette Evrard
Guido di Lancry, Captain of the Archers - Sig. Agresti
Giulio Laroche, a poet - Sig. Cammarano
Paolo Fulvi, brother of the Baroness - Sig. Evrard
Baronessa de Gontran - Signora Silvestri
Elisa, her daughter - Signora Eboli
Roben, chief of the Gypsies - Sig. Grandillo
Quasimodo the Hunchback - Sig. Luigi Fioravanti
Morepin, another relative of the Baronessa - Sig. N. N.

Choir of Archers - Gypsies — Nobles invited to the party - the Bourgeois. Appearance of Citizens and Soldiers

The scene is set in Madrid. The time is 1482.

London cast (1856)

Source:^[4]

Esmeralda, the Gitana - Lucy Escott
Fleur de Lys - Elizabeth Haigh-Dyer
Eloisa, Mother of Fleur de Lys - Miss Atkinson
Morepin, Father of Fleur de Lys- Mr. J. W. Morgan
Phoebus, Captain of the Archers - Mr. Henry Haigh
Gringoire, the Poet - Mr. Charles Manvers
Claude Frollo, the Monk - Mr. Charles Durand
Quasimodo, the Hunchback - Mr. Conrad Borrani
Clopin, King of the Gipsies - Mr. Hamilton

Chorus-of Gipsies, Archers, Nobles, Citizens and Soldiers.

The Scene is in Paris—Time 1482.

Songs

Source:^[4]

Zephyr-like I woo the Flower — "Sono l'aura d'ogni fior" - Lucy Escott (soprano)
I am like a sportive Fay - "Sono figlia al ciel al mar" - Lucy Escott
Loathed as a monster from birth am I - Conrad Borrani
I love; and she I love is fair - Charles Durand
Fair Ladye-Moon, pray tell me - "Rispondi amica luna" - Lucy Escott
Recitation: These gay scenes make me sad of heart — "Come tutti festreggiano me lasso" - Henry Haigh
Romance: In her absence I still am pining — "Senza un guardo un tuo concento" - Henry Haigh
Baritone: I love, and she I love is fair - "Una leggiadra vergine" - Charles Durand
Tell me, ye powers above me - "Dimmi dimmi irato Dio" - Charles Durand
Comic Scena: Noble signors, now pray hear me- "Ah! Miei signori che mai dite" - Charles Manvers

Duets

Baritone and Bass: Idiot, leave me, I renounce thee - Charles Durand and Conrad Borrani
Soprano and Tenor: Good sir, noble captain, from death thou hast saved me - Lucy Escott and Henry Haigh
ditto: How benignant, how noble, how graceful - “Qual colomba, d’amore, foriera” - Lucy Escott and Henry Haigh
ditto: Thou art near me, and in thy presence- “Vedi, vedi, a te vicino” - Lucy Escott and Henry Haigh
Comic Duet: Gringoire, come hither - “Ei, si fermi, eccomi, avanti” - Lucy Escott and Charles Manvers
Comic Duet: I like a gentle lamb will be - “Come agnelletto placido" - Lucy Escott and Charles Manvers

Trio

The Archer's Chorus—In the darkness of the night - “I noltriam dell’ombra insen” - Henry Haigh and Chorus

References

^ ^a ^b F. Boase. Modern English Biography, 6 vols. (1892–1921)
^ Esmeralda : dramma lirico in 4 atti, Library of Congress online
^ Vincenzo Battista, Opening Night! - Stanford University Libraries
^ ^a ^b ^c Full text of Esmeralda (1856), Esmeralda: Published by Charles Jefferys, 21, Soho Square, London (1856) - Google Books