ROSSINI TANCREDI (1/4) - Manca di Nissa, D'Arcangelo, Bayo, Gimenez

Bernadette Manca di Nissa (Tancredi)
Maria Bayo (Amenaide)
Raul Gimenez (Argirio)
Ildebrando D'Arcangelo (Orbazzano)
Katarzyna Bak (Isaura)
Maria Pia Piscitelli (Roggiero)

Chorus of the Südfunk, Stuttgart
Radio Symphony Orchestra Stuttgart/Gianluigi Gelmetti
1992

Act 1
Warring nobles Argirio and Orbazzano have agreed to a truce in the face of a greater threat: the approaching army of Solamir. The Senate has already given Tancredi's confiscated estates to Orbazzano. To help solidify this truce, Argirio offers Orbazzano his daughter Amenaide in marriage. She dutifully consents to the arrangement, although she still loves Tancredi, who has returned in disguise to Syracuse. Soon, a letter she sends to him falls into the hands of agent of Orbazzano near Solamir's camp. Amenaide has deliberately omitted Tancredi's name for his protection, and so it is assumed that the letter was intended for Solamir. A furious Orbazzano publicly reveals the letter at his own wedding ceremony, and Amenaide is sentenced to death for treason.
Act 2
Tancredi, who has -- still in disguise -- offered his service to Argirio, believes that his love has been betrayed and that Amenaide is a traitor. Despite this, he challenges Orbazzano to a duel in defence of Amenaide's honor and life. He wins the duel, killing Orbazzano and winning Amenaide's freedom, and prepares to leave Syracuse. Before he can leave, Solamir's forces invade, so Tancredi leads his fellow Syracusans into battle, and emerges victorious.
Venetian ending: Tancredi and Amenaide are happily reunited after he learns that her letter was for him, and not for Solamir.
Revised ending: Tancredi is terribly wounded, but learns the truth about Amenaide just in time to marry her. He then dies in her arms.