Tamerlano

Washington National Opera

November 12, 2011, 1:00 pm

Composer: George Frideric Handel
Conductor: William Lacey

Cast:

David Daniels (Tamerlano), Plácido Domingo (Bajazet), Patricia Bardon (Andronico), Sarah Coburn (Asteria), William Lacey (conductor), Chas Rader-Shieber (Director)

Handel composed Tamerlano for a premiere at London's King's Theatre in 1724. The opera is in three acts and is loosely based on the historic conflict between Bajazet, a Turkish sultan, and the Tartar conqueror Timur, or Tamerlano, who ruled much of western and central Asia in the 14th century.

Additional information

Act I
Defeated by the Tartar emperor Tamerlano and his Greek ally Andronico, the Turkish
sultan Bajazet tells Andronico that he would rather die than remain captive; only his
love for his daughter Asteria prevents him from taking his own life. Tamerlano offers to
restore Andronico to the throne of Greece, but Andronico asks to remain with
Tamerlano to learn the art of war, not revealing his true motive—that he and Asteria
have fallen in love.
Tamerlano consents, confiding in Andronico that he loves Asteria and intends to make
her his wife. He asks Andronico to seek Bajazet’s consent to the marriage, in reward for
which Andronico may marry Irene, Princess of Trebizond, to whom Tamerlano himself
has been betrothed.
When Tamerlano reveals these plans to a stunned Asteria, she believes that Andronico
has betrayed her in order to advance himself. Torn between love and duty, Andronico
meets with Bajazet and Asteria to convey Tamerlano’s offer of freedom in exchange for
the hand of his daughter. Bajazet rejects the proposal outright (“Ciel e terra armi di
sdegno”), and his defiance is only strengthened by Asteria’s revelation of Andronico’s
apparent duplicity. Andronico protests that he does not deserve Asteria’s reproach, but
when he seeks to reconcile with her, she angrily dismisses him. Alone, Asteria prays that
her love may turn to hatred.
Arriving from Trebizond escorted by Andronico’s associate Leone, Irene is vexed that
her future husband is not present to welcome her. When Andronico informs her that he
is now her betrothed, Irene grows enraged at Tamerlano’s faithlessness and vows
revenge. Andronico persuades her not to confront Tamerlano immediately, but to wait
until the moment is right. An agonized Andronico laments that he must hide his true
feelings for Asteria in order to save her father. (“Benché mi sprezzi”)

Act II
A grateful Tamerlano tells Andronico that, thanks to his intercession, Asteria has agreed
to be his bride. He also says that Andronico is to marry Irene in a double wedding
before the day is done. Accused by Andronico of rushing into marriage in order to gain
the throne, Asteria in turn accuses him of driving her to this decision through his surrendering
to Tamerlano. Andronico declares that he will turn against Tamerlano, but
Asteria replies that it is too late.
Disguised as her own messenger, Irene tells Tamerlano that the Princess of Trebizond
will return home unless he marries her. Tamerlano agrees to wed Irene only if she can
make Asteria displease him. As Tamerlano leads Asteria to the throne, Bajazet intervenes,
railing at his daughter’s treachery. Tamerlano orders that Bajazet be thrown to
the ground so that his own daughter can step upon him as she ascends the throne.
Asteria refuses, beseeching her father’s forgiveness, but he repudiates her. Tamerlano
summons Irene for the nuptials; she arrives, still incognito, to say that the princess will
not come until the path to the throne is clear, whereupon Tamerlano challenges her to
make Asteria step down. Bajazet again intervenes, denouncing his daughter.
Overwhelmed, Asteria descends from the throne to be with her father. Drawing a dagger,
she reveals her secret plan—the assassination of Tamerlano during their first
embrace. Tamerlano threatens Bajazet and Asteria with death. Reconciled, the father
and daughter welcome Tamerlano’s sentence.

Act III
Fearing that Tamerlano may exact vengeance upon Asteria in unspeakable ways, Bajazet
enters into a suicide pact with his daughter: she will poison herself at the first sign of
danger from Tamerlano, and he will poison himself upon news of her death. Meanwhile,
Tamerlano confesses to Andronico that Asteria’s scorn has aroused him, and he still
wishes to share the throne with her. No longer willing to hide his love, Andronico
declares his rivalry for the hand of Asteria, who then admits to Tamerlano that she loves
Andronico. Again rejected, Tamerlano decrees that Asteria’s father shall be beheaded
and that she shall marry the lowliest slave. Asteria throws herself at Tamerlano’s feet to
plead for her father’s life.
The arrival of Bajazet provokes Tamerlano further, and he orders the father and daughter
to be dragged to his table, where they will be humiliated before Andronico and the
court. (“A dispetto d'un volto ingrato”) Tamerlano commands Asteria to take a cup
and kneel before him as a servant. Asteria drops her poison into the cup and offers it to
Tamerlano. Witnessing this, Irene stops Tamerlano from drinking and reveals her true
identity. Tamerlano bids Asteria offer the poisoned drink to either her father or her
lover—she must choose who will die. Instead, she raises the cup to her own lips, but
Andronico dashes it out of her hand. Tamerlano orders Asteria to be taken to the slaves’
harem and thrown to the rabble while her father looks on. Bajazet thwarts this disgrace
by poisoning himself, heaping curses upon Tamerlano to the end. (“Empio, per farti
guerra”) Horror-stricken, Asteria pleads in vain with Andronico and Bajazet for a dagger
so that she may join her father in death. Tamerlano orders that Asteria be arrested,
prompting Andronico to threaten suicide. Tamerlano stops him, declaring himself
appeased by the death of Bajazet. Tamerlano will reign with Irene by his side, and
Andronico will be united with Asteria and restored to the throne of Greece.

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