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{{other uses|Lo Schiavo (disambiguation)}}
{{Italic title}}
[[File:Partitura Lo Schiavo Carlos Gomes.jpg|thumb|Cover of the score "Lo Schiavo" by Antônio Carlos Gomes]]
'''{{lang|it|Lo schiavo}}''' (''O escravo'' in Portuguese, ''The Slave'' in English) is an [[opera]] in four acts by the [[Brazil]]ian composer [[Antônio Carlos Gomes]]. The Italian [[libretto]] was by {{interlanguage link|Rodolfo Paravicini|qid=Q102076030}} (1828–1900), after a 1876 play, ''Les Danicheff'', by [[Alexandre Dumas fils]] and the travel experiences of [[Alfredo d'Escragnolle Taunay|Alfredo Taunay]].<ref name=":0" /> The opera deals with the subject of [[Slavery in Brazil|slavery]], a major concern in Brazil at the time (the institution had only been abolished by the ''[[Lei Áurea]]'' in 1888).

As [[Gerard Béhague]] explains, "''Lo schiavo'' is considered in Brazil to be the best of Gomes's operas, as it reflects a national subject which required and was given new treatment."<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|last=Béhague|first=Gerard|author-link=Gerard Béhague|title=''Lo schiavo''|encyclopedia=[[The New Grove Dictionary of Opera]]|editor=[[Stanley Sadie]]|location=London|isbn=0-333-73432-7|year=1992|page=218}}</ref>

==Performance history==
It was first performed at the [[Theatro D. Pedro II|Theatro Imperial Dom Pedro II]], Rio de Janeiro on 27 September 1889.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=A Brazilian Slave Opera: The Genesis of Gomes's ''Lo schiavo''|url=https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5qj3p1cn |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=escholarship.org}}</ref> Also in 1889, in her first presentation as the first female conductor in Brazilian history, [[Chiquinha Gonzaga]] conducted ''Lo schiavo'' in the presence of Carlos Gomes, her close friend, who paid her homage. Upon his premiere, audiences were highly favorable but critics were less positive in their view, finding fault with the libretto primarily. The work was later performed eight times in Rio de Janeiro and then three times in [[São Paulo]]. The opera would make a reemergence in 1921 and then again in 2010 and 2019.<ref name=":1" />

== History of the libretto ==
Work on the libretto began in 1881 with a rough, four-act sketch created by Taunay taking inspiration from slavery and featuring a black protagonist. The draft was accepted but the prevailing complaint by Gomes was the overabundance of indigenous characters, leading to edits being taken beginning in 1883. However, Taunay would express his disagreements with the changes in an article published in 1889. Scholarship is still unclear as to who is truly responsible for the changes in the libretto.<ref name=":1" />

It is known that at the time of editing the libretto the novel, The Confederation of Tamoios (1856) by [[Gonçalves de Magalhães, Viscount of Araguaia|Gonçalves de Magalhães]] had been published, its main premise being used in the painting The Last Tamoio (1883) by [[Rodolfo Amoedo]]. Although it is unlikely Gomes and Taunay would see the painting, it is likely the pair were influenced by the novel to some degree, as its plot deals with indigenous-conqueror warfare.<ref name=":1" />

==Roles==
[[File:Vasto cortile d'una fattoria del Conte Rodrigo presso il fiume Parahyba, bozzetto di Luigi Bartezago per Lo schiavo (1889) - Archivio Storico Ricordi ICON002548 B.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Set design for act 1]]
{| class="wikitable"
|+{{sronly|Roles, voice types, premiere cast}}
!Role
![[Voice type]]
!Premiere cast, 27 September 1889<ref name=":0">{{Almanacco|dmy=27 September 1889|match=Lo schiavo}}</ref><br />Conductor: Carlos Gomes
|-
|Ilàra
|[[soprano]]
|Maria Peri
|-
|Condesa Boissy
|soprano
|Marie Oster van Cauteren
|-
|Américo
|[[tenor]]
|Franco Cardinali
|-
|Ibère
|[[baritone]]
|Innocente De Anna
|-
|Gianfèra
|baritone
|Francesco Bartolomasi
|-
|Conde Rodrigo
|[[bass (voice type)|bass]]
|Enrico Serbolini
|-
|Guarûco
|tenor
|
|-
|Tapacoà
|tenor
|
|-
|Tupinambà
|baritone
|
|-
|Goitacà
|bass
|
|-
|Lion
|bass
|
|-
|colspan="3"|Indigenous warriors, French ladies, French officials, comrades, henchmen, count's servants (chorus)
|}

==Synopsis==
:Time: 1567
:Place: [[Rio de Janeiro]] and outskirts, Brazil

=== Act 1 ===
Ilàra and Iberè are currently held captive on Count Rodrigo's farm. Americo has fallen in love with Iberè and the love is reciprocated who wishes for freedom. The Count hears about the ongoing revolt in [[Guanabara (state)|Guanabara]] and fearing the same will befall his farm, sends to have the most troublesome slave punished as an example. However, Americo interferes and saves Ibere from punishment. Being fed up with his son's love interest, the Count sends Americo to Rio de Janeiro to fight against the native uprising and promises to ratify his marriage to Illara when he returns. But the Count instead marries Illara and Ibere and sells them on a slave market in Guanabara.

=== Act 2 ===
Place: [[Niterói]]

A French garrison has been created to help the natives fight against the Portuguese conquerors. Countess of Boissy, known for her abolitionist sympathies, invites Americo to her home. She begins to fall in love with him but he refuses due to his devotion to Illara. Later, she organizes the liberation of her slaves and to Americo's surprise, Illara and Ibere are among them. He begins to feel anger and vows to kill Ibere.

=== Act 3 ===
Place: [[Jacarepaguá]]

Now free, Ibere tries hard to win the eye of Illara who refuses because of her faithfulness to Americo. Reluctantly, Ibere accepts the situation and joins the anti-Portuguese force.

=== Act 4 ===
Leading various tribes, Ibere charges the Portuguese forces, although at the same time internally dealing with the loss of his former love and realization of her love to Americo. The orchestra depicts the battle and the sounds of the animals, environment, and the forces battling each other. Americo is eventually imprisoned and brought to Ibere but is freed by him. Americo and Illara try to escape but are caught. However, Ibere kills himself in their place out his respect for the couple's love.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMSLP|work=Lo schiavo (Gomes, Carlos)|cname=''Lo schiavo'' (Gomes)}}

{{Antônio Carlos Gomes}}
{{Portal bar|Opera}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Schiavo, Lo}}
[[Category:Operas by Carlos Gomes]]
[[Category:Italian-language operas]]
[[Category:Operas]]
[[Category:1889 operas]]
[[Category:Operas based on plays]]
[[Category:Operas set in Brazil]]
[[Category:Adaptations of works by Alexandre Dumas fils]]