About the work
"Il paria" is a two-act opera seria that Donizetti composed to a libretto by Domenico Gilardoni, freely adapted from Casimir Delavigne's play "Le paria". It premiered on 12 January 1829 at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples, with Giovanni Battista Rubini and Luigi Lablache in the leading roles.
Plot
The warrior Idamore leads a victorious campaign against Portuguese invaders in Benares, India, but conceals that he belongs to the Pariah caste, despised by the Brahmins. When his origin comes to light after his marriage to Neala, daughter of the high priest Akebare, both are condemned to death; Neala chooses to die with Idamore.
Cultural significance
Musicologist William Ashbrook called "Il paria" Donizetti's most accomplished achievement to that point, citing in particular its unusual quartet finale. Weaknesses in the libretto nonetheless limited it to a brief run of six performances; Donizetti later reused individual passages in "Anna Bolena", "Lucrezia Borgia" and "Le duc d'Albe".