Il giuramento

Il giuramento, published in 1837 by Dalla Tipografia di Giovanni Cairo, is the libretto for the grand opera composed by Saverio Mercadante with a text by the prominent Italian librettist Gaetano Rossi. The work premiered at La Scala in Milan during a period when Italian opera was transitioning from the dominance of Rossini and Bellini toward the dramatic structures that would eventually lead to the rise of Verdi. Rossi adapted the story from Victor Hugo's play Angelo, tyran de Padoue, intending to capture the romantic intensity and political intrigue characteristic of the era's dramatic tastes.

The publication reflects the conventions of 19th-century Italian printing, serving as an essential companion for audiences to follow the complex narrative and lyrical developments during the performance. As a collaborator of many major composers of his day, Rossi aimed to balance formal poetic elegance with the emotional volatility demanded by Mercadante's score. The piece was well-received upon its debut, solidifying Mercadante's reputation as a key figure in the Italian operatic canon and marking a significant moment in the collaboration between the era's leading wordsmiths and composers.