Dikran Tchouhadjian
ZEMIRE
Original Title:
Ebudia e Zemire (HriÍZ U DaÉZ uÂA)
Composer:
Dikran Kevorki Tchouhadjian (b. 1837, Constantinople - d. March 23, 1898, Izmir)
Libretto:
Dikran Kalemjian (1845-1920)
Original Language:
Turkish. Extant are three translations of the work: in French (P. Anmeghian), Italian (T. Francini) and Russian.
Date of writing:
1890 A.D.
First Performance:
March 31 (April 12), 1891, at the Theatre Français "Concordia" in Pera, Bey Oghlou by Mme. Benatti's French company, in French.
(The Concordia had opened in 1871, with magnificent Winter and Summer Halls. The building was then sold in 1906 and was replaced by St. Antoine Catholic Church).
Other Performances:
Subsequent performances done on April 1, 2, 5, 7 (matinee), 13, and 14 (matinee). Seven times in all.
Other Productions:
None. Newspapers in Constantinople have reported on plans of producing the opera in Vienna, and thereafter in Paris. But nothing has come out of those plan.
There are also reports that a production in Italian was achieved at the French Palais de Crystal Theater in 1894 by the Thomasso Francini Italian Theatrical Company. But that information could not be verified either.
In 1965, an attempt was made in Armenia to produce the opera in Yerevan. A new orchestration for larger orchestra was completed by Boris Sakkilari (June 26, 1965). But the production was abandoned.
The operetta has been translated into French, Italian, and Russian, and now into Western Armenian.
Form:
In four acts: 1. Tchaibashi; 2. Ebudiat's grotto; 3. Zemire's quarters; 4. Benezar's garden.
Original Cast:
| Role |
Actor |
| Zemire (Daughter of tribe leader Benezar) |
Benatti (soprano) |
| Suheylé (Zemire's confidant) |
Deschamps (soprano) |
| Sabiha (Wife of Benezar) |
Ivonne de Lambret (contralto) |
| Elsantur (Son of tribe leader Ebulgana) |
Valde (tenor) |
| Ebudiat (Great Wizard) |
Dartes (bass) |
| Benezar (Tribe leader) |
Charlet (baritone) / Stenzi |
| |
|
| Conductor |
Solier / Selvelli |
| Set Designer |
D'Andrea |
| Magical Scenes Designer |
Vitto Salerno |
| Choreographer |
Copello |
Orchestra:
2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, 1 trombone, tuba (bombardone), gran cassa, strings.
A new arrangement was orchestrated in the 1965 by Boris Sakkilari for a larger orchestra.
Duration:
About 3 hrs.
Note:
Tchouhadjian is considered the father of Armenian opera. His music is filled with sprightly, catchy tunes, easy on the ears, and appealing to the artistic taste of a wide audience. Zemire is his final large-scale work. Like his other operettas the work manifests his extraordinary skill as a composer and unique musical craftsmanship. His music fuses Eastern sonorities in the Western musical idiom he writes in.
