I Capuletti e i Montecchi, Act I, Cavatina: E serbato a questo acciaro (tenor) (Romeo and Juliet)

Composed by Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835) in 1830, the two-act opera I Capuletti e i Montecchi (The Capulets and the Mantagues) stands as one of only two successful opera adaptations of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the other being Charles Gounod’s. While technically written in only six weeks, much of the score is borrowed from Bellini’s recent failure, Zaira. This rendition of the tragic story of star-crossed lovers premiered on March 11, 1830, at Venice’s Teatro La Fenice, Pietro Tonassi conducting. The cavatina È serbato a questo acciaro (And reserved for this sword / is the vengeance of your blood) is sung by the tenor Tebaldo at the beginning of the first act. Giulietta (Juliet), a member of the Capuletti family, is betrothed to Tebaldo, and he states his intention in the song to avenge the family by killing Romeo, head of the rival Montecchi family and the person who had killed Giuletti’s brother. Instrumentation: 1+Picc.2.2.2: 4.2.3.1: Timp.Perc(1-2): Str (4-4-3-3-3 in set): Solo Tenor: Mix Chorus.