About the work
Belisario is a three-act tragedia lirica by Gaetano Donizetti to a libretto by Salvadore Cammarano, based on Eduard von Schenk's play Belisarius (Munich, 1820) as adapted into Italian by Luigi Marchionni. Its premiere on 4 February 1836 at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice was received with enthusiasm by press and public alike.
Plot
The Byzantine general Belisario is falsely accused by his wife Antonina of murdering their son and of treason, then blinded and banished; his daughter Irene, disguised as a boy, guides him. His son Alamiro, believed dead, recognises him while serving in the enemy army and is reconciled with him; Belisario leads the Byzantine forces to one last victory but dies of his wounds as Antonina confesses her false accusation too late.
Cultural significance
Although the opera contains no love scene at all, it was staged in about 31 cities across Europe and America by the end of the century before disappearing from the stage after an 1899 performance in Koblenz. It has returned in revivals since 1969, including a new critical edition at the 2012 Donizetti Opera Festival in Bergamo.