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Opera in the Repertoire · Classical

Ciro in Babilonia

Music by Gioachino Rossini · libretto by Giuseppe Aventi · premiered 1812

Ciro in Babilonia, ossia La caduta di Baldassare (Cyrus in Babylon, or The Downfall of Belshazzar) is an azione sacra in two acts by Gioachino Rossini with a libretto by Francesco Aventi. It was first performed at the Teatro Comunale in Ferrara during Lent, 1812. The exact date of the premiere is unknown but is believed to be 14 March. During Lent it was the custom for Italian opera houses either to close or to stage works on themes from the Bible. Ciro in Babilonia is one of two Lenten operas by Rossini (along with Mosè in Egitto) and is based on the Biblical story of the overthrow of the Babylonian king Belshazzar by the Persian ruler Cyrus the Great.

Text from the Wikipedia article "Ciro in Babilonia", licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

About the Composer

Gioachino Rossini is the composer of record for this opera.

Text from the Wikipedia article "Gioachino Rossini", licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

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Other Operas by Gioachino Rossini