View source for Maometto II

{{short description|Opera by Gioachino Rossini}}

{{Infobox opera 
| name              = {{lang|it|Maometto II}}
| composer          = [[Gioachino Rossini]]
| image             = GiorcesRossini1.jpg
| image_upright     = 0.8
| caption           = Rossini c. 1820
| librettist        = [[Cesare della Valle]]
| language          = Italian
| based_on          = Valle's play ''Anna Erizo''
| premiere_date     = {{Start date|1820|12|03|df=y}}
| premiere_location = [[Teatro di San Carlo]], Naples
}}
'''''Maometto II''''' (or '''''{{Lang|it|Maometto secondo}}''''') is an 1820 opera in two acts by [[Gioachino Rossini]] to an Italian [[libretto]] by [[Cesare della Valle]]. Set in the 1470s [[Siege of Negroponte (1470)|during a time of war]] between the Turks and Venetians, the work was commissioned by the [[Teatro di San Carlo]] in [[Naples]]. Della Valle based his libretto on his earlier play ''Anna Erizo''. The name of the title character, Maometto II, refers to the real-life [[Ottoman Sultan]] and [[Fall of Constantinople|conqueror of Constantinople]] [[Mehmed II]], who lived from 1432 to 1481.

Regarded "in some ways [as his] most ambitious opera"<ref name="B&G">Brauner, Patricia and Gossett, Philip, "''Maometto II''" in Holden p. 787</ref> and as "the best of Rossini's Neapolitan operas",<ref>Philip Gossett, in Mays, p. 55</ref> ''Maometto II'' failed to find an audience in Naples and, "to help ensure [its] success in Venice and Paris, he smoothed out the most audacious elements of the score".<ref name="B&G" /> Venice first saw it on 22 December 1822 and then, translated into French and changed significantly, it was presented as ''[[Le siège de Corinthe]]'' in 1826.

Until the preparation of the [[Critical edition (opera)|critical editions]] of ''Maometto II'', the composer's original intentions remained obscure. The introduction to an early version prepared by [[musicologist]]s [[Philip Gossett]] and Patricia Brauner (along with [[Claudio Scimone]]) notes some of the difficulties of determining what Rossini had intended:
<blockquote>Extraordinary for its dramatic power and the nobility of its musical content, ''Maometto II'' is also an opera that poses many textual problems, since Rossini's successive revisions were made directly in the autograph score. Using copies of the score dating back to the original productions of each of these versions, the critical edition reconstructs the text of the first version (Naples, 1820), which reflects the composer's original intentions.<ref>[http://humanities.uchicago.edu/orgs/ciao/Rossini%20operas/1mao2.html Introduction to an unpublished critical edition of the score] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822170256/http://humanities.uchicago.edu/orgs/ciao/Rossini%20operas/1mao2.html |date=2012-08-22 }} from the 1980s on humanities.uchicago.edu. Retrieved 27 August 2012.</ref></blockquote>
A new critical edition was prepared under the supervision of Philip Gossett and edited by Dutch scholar Hans Schellevis. The first performances which used it were given by [[The Santa Fe Opera]] during its 2012 season and the German company, [[Bärenreiter]], released the score for rentals in 2013.<ref>[https://www.baerenreiter.com/en/sheetmusic/product/?artNo=BA10517-72 ''Maometto secondo'': Score of the critical edition.]</ref>

==Composition history==
The opera was written as Rossini's composing career was beginning to slow down to one opera per year, and it appeared almost a year after ''[[Bianca e Falliero]]'', although it was succeeded very quickly by ''[[Matilde di Shabran]]''.<ref name="Osborne101">Osborne, Charles p. 101</ref> In accepting the commission from the San Carlo in May 1820, it became clear when Rossini began composing the opera, that it "would be the most ambitious of all [his] works for the Italian stage".<ref name=Osborne-R>Osborne, Richard, p. 64–66</ref> As it turned out, "its composition process was long and laborious, the circumstances of its making unexpectedly fraught".<ref name=Osborne-R />

From early 1820, various political upheavals threatened the rule of [[Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies|King Ferdinand I]] and these prevented theatrical productions and extended the composition process. During this time, Rossini "modified della Valle's libretto, accentuating the human aspect of the tragedy, playing down the political and nationalistic elements".<ref name=Osborne-R />

By late 1820, the political situation was sufficiently under control to allow theatrical activity to continue and, while the production of ''Maometto II'' missed many deadlines, its first performance took place at the [[Teatro di San Carlo]] in Naples on 3 December 1820. However, the opera "was not much liked by the Neapolitans"<ref name="Osborne">Osborne, Charles, p. 102</ref> since the composer was "moving in a direction the Naples audience was reluctant to follow".<ref name=Osborne-R />

==Musical structure==
Musicologists have identified many distinctive elements of the 1820 score for Naples which moved beyond the then-existing traditions. As Philip Gossett notes: "Italian opera of the early nineteenth century worked within a finely tuned system of musical and dramatic conventions, many of which were developed and codified in Rossini's earlier operas."<ref>Gossett, "Reviving Rossini's Neapolitan Operas", p. 101</ref>

Some of these new features explain the reason for the opera's rejection by Neapolitan audiences of that time, because "Rossini carried his art far beyond [their] capabilities."<ref>Gossett, "Soundness of Structure", p. 9</ref> One feature is that act 1 lasts 90 minutes and contains only five sections, one of which is the "terzettone" (a name unique to Rossini meaning "a big fat trio"). This trio runs some 25 minutes and includes "the temporary departure of two principals, intrusive cannon fire, an outbreak of popular dismay, and a prayer."<ref name="Osborne-C">Osborne, Charles, ''Rossini: His Life and Works'', pp. 287–293</ref>

Another element is a move away from a conventional ''[[bel canto]]'' era finale which usually contained a florid and virtuosic [[rondo]] for a [[happy ending]] or a [[cabaletta]] for a tragic one. Instead, Rossini gives the ''[[prima donna]]'' a 40-minute display of vocal artistry during which she never leaves the stage.<ref>Beghelli, p. 5</ref> In the 1822 Venice revision, Rossini substituted his own aria "{{Lang|it|Tanti affetti in tal momento}}" from ''[[La donna del lago]]'' in order to achieve the conventional effect, as well as to create a happy ending. Also, as Gossett notes, a significant additional feature of the opera is that there are only five independent arias in the opera, only two of which end with cabalettas.<ref>Gossett, "Soundness of Structure", p. 9/10</ref>

==Performance history==
=== The Venice version and other productions in Europe, 1823–1826 ===
In Venice, this version "was well received when Rossini revised it for performances....at the [[Teatro La Fenice]] in December 1822.",<ref name="Osborne"/> his last composition for an Italian house. However, the composer had to bow to a need for a significant change to the original ending, thus "spar[ing] Venetian sensibilities by providing a happy [one]".<ref name=Osborne-R/>

Philip Gossett provides an explanation for the change made to the Venice score, which includes this happy ending: it is "to remove the horror of the historical catastrophe" and, therefore, Rossini instructed a copyist to end the opera using the rondo, "{{Lang|it|Tanti affeti in tal momento}}", from his ''La donna del lago'' of 1819, thus removing Maometto's final confrontation with Anna, his discovery of her marriage to Calbo, and her suicide.<ref name="Gossett-essay">Gossett, in Philips recording booklet essay, p. 8</ref> This version also includes music from ''Bianca e Falliero''.<ref name="Beghelli">Beghelli, p. 15</ref> In 1823 and 1824, ''Maometto II'' was presented in Vienna and in Milan and then in Lisbon in 1826, but after that it dropped out of sight.

=== ''Maometto II'' becomes ''{{Lang|fr|Le siège de Corinthe}}'' ===
"A large part of [''Maometto''{{'}}s] score [was adapted] to a new French libretto"<ref name="Osborne" /> and staged in Paris on 9 October 1826 as ''{{Lang|fr|Le siège de Corinthe}}'', the wars between the Greeks and the Turks then being topical, in the context of the [[Greek War of Independence]].<ref name="Gossett and Brauner, in Holden">Gossett and Brauner, in Holden, p. 787</ref>

=== 20th and 21st century productions ===
In its original form ''Maometto II'' disappeared for almost 150 years. In 1976 the [[Metropolitan Opera]] "performed what they called ''{{Lang|it|L'assedio di Corinto}}'', an Italian translation of Rossini's French revision of the score".<ref name="SFE">Philip Gossett, "Editing Rossini's ''Maometto II''", ''The Santa Fe Opera 2012 Season'' program book, pp. 60–63. Gossett also notes that this was the "vehicle for [[Beverly Sills]]' long-awaited Met debut, but this did not reflect any version of the opera prepared by Rossini".</ref> A version was presented by the [[Rossini Festival]] in Pesaro in 1985.<ref name="Osborne" /> The [[San Francisco Opera]] production on 17 September 1988 was regarded as being "closer to the original Rossini version of the opera, but it too was highly problematic."<ref name="Gossett and Brauner, in Holden"/><ref name="SFE"/><ref>Holland, ''The New York Times'' review</ref> No references to a production in the UK exist.<ref name="Osborne" />

In January 2004 a version of the opera was presented in Bilbao by the ABAO company. It featured [[Simone Alaimo]] and [[June Anderson]] in the major roles. The Venice version was given at La Fenice in February 2005, while performances using a version edited by conductor [[Claudio Scimone]]<ref>[http://www.rossinioperafestival.it/en/3/chronology/2000-2008/season-2008.html Pesaro Festival performances listed on rossinioperafestival.it] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020073503/http://www.rossinioperafestival.it/en/3/chronology/2000-2008/season-2008.html |date=2011-10-20 }} Retrieved 22 January 2012</ref> were given at the Pesaro Festival in August 2008.<ref>David Blewitt [http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/21608/maometto-ii ''The Stage'', 19 August 2008 on thestage.co.uk] Retrieved 19 July 2012</ref>

=== ''Maometto II'' restored ===
The [[Santa Fe Opera]]<ref>[http://www.santafeopera.org/thecompany/news/pressreleases/detail.aspx?id=5230 2012 season announcement on santafeopera.org] Accessed 10 May 2011</ref> (New Mexico) gave a restored 1820 Naples ''Maometto II'' its world premiere on 14 July 2012. The performance used a critical edition by Dutch scholar Hans Schellevis which was published by Bärenreiter of Kassel in 2013 under the general editorship of musicologist Philip Gossett, who was present as advisor in Santa Fe during rehearsals.<ref>[https://www.baerenreiter.com/en/spotlight-on/gesamt-und-werkausgaben/rossini-gioachino/ www.baerenreiter.com's section on Rossini works under Philip Gossett's direction] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120530202313/https://www.baerenreiter.com/en/spotlight-on/gesamt-und-werkausgaben/rossini-gioachino/ |date=2012-05-30 }} Retrieved 23 February 2013</ref> The cast featured [[Luca Pisaroni]] in the title role, soprano Leah Crocetto (grand prize winner of the 2010 [[Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions]]) as Anna, mezzo-soprano Patricia Bardon as Calbo, and tenor Bruce Sledge as Erisso. Directed by [[David Alden]], the production was set in the 1820s.<ref>James Keller, [https://archive.today/20130201183649/http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/071612opera "Opera review: Rare Rossini resounds at SFO"], ''The Santa Fe New Mexican'', 15 July 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012</ref><ref>John Stege, [http://www.sfreporter.com/santafe/article-6842-maometto-il-magnifico.html "Maometto il Magnifico: Rossini's ''Maometto II'' brings tragic grandeur to the ''Santa Fe Opera''], ''Santa Fe Reporter'', 18 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012</ref>

[[Garsington Opera]] in England presented the British premiere of the critical edition during its 2013 summer season.<ref>Andrew Clark, [http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/fbbcb828-d278-11e2-aac2-00144feab7de.html#axzz2Vv87nuo4 "''Maometto secondo'', Garsington Opera at Wormsley, UK – review"], ''Financial Times'' (London), 11 June 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2013</ref> The [[Canadian Opera Company]] performed the work during its 2015–16 season, using the Santa Fe Opera production.<ref>[http://www.coc.ca/PerformancesAndTickets/1516Season/MaomettoII.aspx Canadian Opera Company's website announcement]</ref>

==Roles==
{| class="wikitable"
|+{{sronly|Roles, voice types, premiere cast}}
!Role
![[Voice type]]
!Premiere cast, 3 December 1820<br>Conductor: Nicola Festa<ref>Premiere cast from Casaglia (2005)</ref>
|-
|Maometto II ([[Mehmed II]])
|[[bass (voice type)|bass]]
|[[Filippo Galli (bass)|Filippo Galli]]
|-
|Paolo Erisso, ''head of the [[Republic of Venice|Venetians]] in Negroponte''
|[[tenor]]
|[[Andrea Nozzari]]
|-
|Anna, ''his daughter''
|[[soprano]]
|[[Isabella Colbran]]
|-
|Calbo, ''Venetian noble''
|[[mezzo-soprano]] or [[contralto]]
|Adelaide Comelli
|-
|Condulmiero, ''Venetian noble''
|tenor
|[[Giuseppe Ciccimarra]]
|-
|Selimo, ''Muslim noble''
|tenor
|Gaetano Chizzola
|-
|}

==Synopsis==
Source:<ref>This synopsis is based on the action outlined in the Philips recording libretto, translated by [[Lionel Salter]]. Changes made for the Venice performances are included in [indented square brackets]. Any differences between the action contained in the Philips recording and the unpublished critical edition to be presented by the Santa Fe Opera in July/August 2012 will be reflected in later updates.</ref>
: Time: 1470
: Place: [[Triarchy of Negroponte|Negroponte]], in the [[Aegean Sea]]<ref>Osborne, Charles, pp. 100–101</ref>

===Act 1===
: [For the Venice version, 1822: Rossini added an overture]
''The palace of the Governor, Erisso''

[[Byzantine Empire|Byzantium]] has just [[Fall of Constantinople|fallen]] to the Turks, and the troops of Maometto II (Sultan [[Mehmed II]]) are [[Siege of Negroponte (1470)|laying siege]] at the [[Republic of Venice|Venetian]] city of [[Triarchy of Negroponte|Negroponte]] ([[Chalkis]]). Maometto has demanded the surrender of the city the following day.

Amongst the Venetians, a council of war is being held and different opinions as to proposed actions are expressed. Young Calbo pushes Paolo Erisso to go on fighting and defend the city, while General Condulmiero wishes to yield. The consensus is to continue fighting and the troops swear allegiance to Calbo.

''Another part of the palace''

Alone, Erisso's daughter, Anna, contemplates her father's plight. Aria: "{{Lang|it|Ah! che invan su questo ciglio}}" (Ah! In vain I call for sweet oblivion). Erisso enters along with Calbo, and he explains their situation, suggesting that she marry Calbo as additional protection. However, her discomfort is clear: she explains that she has fallen in love with a man named Uberto while her father was away in Venice. When told that this same Uberto traveled with Erisso and never remained in Corinth, she realizes that she has been duped by an unknown noble.

Trio: "{{Lang|it|Ohime! qual fulmine}}" (Alas, what a thunderbolt). Erisso gives her a dagger with which to defend herself if necessary.
: [This begins the ''terzettone'' ("the big fat trio") which runs through the following 25 minutes of the action, including the ''tempo di mezzo'' of the cannon shot]<ref>Gossett, Philips recording booklet essay, p. 10: Gossett states that "no other piece in the history of Italian opera is labelled with the Italian suffix more generally applied to contexts such as "{{Lang|it|mangione}}"...or "{{Lang|it|chiaccherone}}"....A big, fat trio, in short"</ref>

A cannon shot is heard, and Erisso and Calbo rush off to battle. Anna leaves to go to the church to pray.

''A square outside the church''

The women gather and, upon Anna's arrival, she learns from them that a traitor has allowed entry into the city by the Turks. Briefly, Anna prays: "Giusto cielo" (Merciful heaven, in such peril / no counsel, / no hope / is forthcoming). All take refuge in the church.

''The city, the following morning''

Maometto and his men enter the city, which he seems to know well. Selim is curious as to why, but his general reveals nothing. Then soldiers rush in and announce that Erisso and Calbo have been captured. Both men are led in, in chains. Maometto recognizes their gallantry, but demands that they and their men surrender and states that then all will be released. By his silence, Erisso rejects the offer and, as the two are about to be led away to be tortured, Anna and the women appear from the church.

Each character recognizes the situation with which they are confronted: Anna realizes that Maometto is the man who was her lover "Uberto"; Maometto is dumbfounded to re-discover Anna; and Erisso, similarly dumbfounded, cannot believe that she could have fallen for the Sultan. Each of the other characters also expresses their anguish or surprise. Anna threatens to kill herself unless Maometto releases Erisso and Calbo; he agrees. Although he is confused about her continuing love, he promises her a life of luxury.

===Act 2===
''Maometto's tent''

Anna, who has been taken to Maometto's tent, is surrounded by Muslim girls who appeal to her to soften her feelings towards him. Indignantly, she rejects them and states her determination to escape. At that moment, Maometto enters. He says that he understands her conflicting emotions on discovering that Uberto is now Maometto, but he still loves her and wishes her to reign with him as queen of Italy while he will allow her father and Calbo (who has been described as her brother) to live. Rejecting him, she declares "I loved Uberto; I loathe a liar" and continues to explain that her love for her country is so strong that she could never love him as much.

In their duet ("{{Lang|it|Anna, tu piangi? Il pianto / pur non è d'odio un segno}}" / Anna, are you crying? Your tears are not a sign of hatred...) her conflicting emotions are revealed with Maometto declaring that she will eventually be his and Anna stating "I love, but sooner would I be buried than yield to love".

Noise from outside is revealed to be Maometto's soldiers ready to continue their attack on the citadel. As he prepares to leave, Maometto promises that while he still has a hope of possessing Anna, he will protect her father. She insists on something to guarantee her safety in his absence and, as a symbol of his promise and his protection, he gives her his imperial seal of authority. Urged on by his captains, Maometto vows to fight or die as they leave for battle in the citadel: (Aria: "{{Lang|it|All'invito generoso}}" / At this gallant request). Anna vows to find a means of preserving her honor, and also leaves.

''The church vaults with Anna's mother's tomb''

Erisso and Calbo are hiding in the vault. Erisso speaks of his frustration, wishing that he could be fighting again in the citadel. He kneels before his wife's tomb wishing that he too was dead and not having to endure his daughter's disgrace and to see her with Maometto. Calbo tries to assure him that Anna was duped, that she is innocent, and that she was forcefully abducted by Maometto's men: (Aria: "{{Lang|it|Non temer: d'un basso affetto / non fu mai quel cor capace}}" / Do not fear: that heart was never capable of base emotions).

: [Venice version, 1822:<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGPiGN57HCk Venice version on the La fenice site, Act 2]</ref> At this point, Maometto enters and confront the two men. Maometto proclaims that he still wishes to marry Anna, but Erisso states that he would rather kill his daughter. In a duet which becomes a trio, the three men lay their out their claims and feelings, Calbo asserting his love for Anna, Erisso revealing that Anna has become Calbo's wife, and when Maometto swears vengeance upon the two men, Calbo taunts him to return to the battlefield. The trio concludes with all three claiming that Anna shall be his reward—as a father, as a lover, as a husband. Maometto then leaves. All of the confrontation between Anna, her father, and Calbo is omitted].

While Erisso hopes that Calbo is right, Anna enters. Initially, he spurns his daughter for consorting with the enemy but she swears that she will never marry Maometto. As proof, Anna gives him Maometto's seal, which will enable both men to come out of hiding. However, she declares that she must die, but not before her father marries her to Calbo at her mother's tomb. Erisso clasps both their hands in his as they all stand beside the tomb: (Terzettino:<ref>Critical Edition, Volume 2, p. 664</ref> "{{Lang|it|In questi estremi istanti}}" / In these moments...). The two men depart for the combat against Maometto.

Alone, Anna contemplates her situation (Aria: "{{Lang|it|Alfin compita è la metà dell'opra}}" / At last one half of the task is accomplished). From the church above the vaults, a chorus of women are praying: "{{Lang|it|Nume, cui 'l sole è trono}}" / O God whose throne is the sun... Turn your face again to us.

: [Venice version, 1822: The women join Anna and a commotion is heard as the battle rages. Suddenly, the Venetian soldiers rush in proclaiming their victory and they are followed by Erisso and Calbo. Erisso embraces his daughter and tells her that she must give herself in marriage to Calbo: "Let your hand be the reward for his love". She agrees. (Aria: "{{Lang|it|Tanti affetti in tal momento}}" / So many emotions all at once, Rossini's aria from ''[[La donna del lago]]'' (1819).<ref name="Beghelli" />
: With the women and soldiers singing of their joy, Anna joins Calbo at the altar as the opera ends.]

When the women stop, they call out to Anna and a few of them enter the vault to tell her that Maometto has been defeated by Erisso and has fled, but that her life is now in danger, since he will be seeking revenge. She tells them that she would rather die.

Maometto's men rush in, but they appear to be powerless to act, in spite of her demands: "{{Lang|it|Sì ferite: il chieggo, il merto}}" / Yes, strike: I ask it, I deserve it. At that moment, Maometto and his captains enter and confront Anna. Maometto asks for his seal to be returned, but telling him that she gave it to her father and that she has married Calbo, she stabs herself and dies on her mother's tomb.

==Recordings==
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Cast<br>(Maometto, Anna,<br>Calbo, Erisso)
!Conductor,<br>opera house and orchestra
!Label<ref>[http://www.operadis-opera-discography.org.uk/CLROMAOM.HTM Recordings of ''Maometto II'' on operadis-opera-discography.org.uk]</ref>
|-
| 1983
|[[Samuel Ramey]],<br>[[June Anderson]],<br>{{Nowrap|[[Margarita Zimmermann]]}},<br>[[Ernesto Palacio]]
|[[Claudio Scimone]],<br>[[Philharmonia Orchestra]] and Ambrosian Opera Chorus
| CD: [[Philips]]<br>Cat: 475 509-2
|-
| 1985
|[[Samuel Ramey]],<br>[[Cecilia Gasdia]],<br>[[Lucia Valentini Terrani]],<br>[[Chris Merritt]]
|Claudio Scimone,<br>Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and European Festival Chorus<br>(Video recording of a performance at the Pesaro Rossini Festival)
|DVD: Premiere Opera<br>Cat: 5187
|-
| 2005
|[[Lorenzo Regazzo]],<br>[[Carmen Giannattasio]],<br>Annarita Gemmabella,<br>[[Maxim Mironov]]
|Claudio Scimone,<br>Orchestra and chorus of the [[Teatro La Fenice]]<br>(Video recording of a performance at La Fenice of the version performed in that theatre in 1822, February).
|DVD: Dynamic<br>Cat: DV 33492
|-
|2008
|[[Michele Pertusi]],<br>[[Marina Rebeka]],<br>[[Daniela Barcellona]],<br>[[Francesco Meli]]
|[[Gustav Kuhn]],<br>{{Interlanguage link multi|Orchestra Haydn{{!}}Orchestra Haydn di Bolzano e Trento|it|3=Orchestra Haydn}} and Prague Chamber Chorus<br>(Recording of a performance in the [[Adriatic Arena]], Pesaro, August)
|CD: Celestial Audio<br>Cat: CA 831
|-
|2013
|[[Darren Jeffery]],<br>Siàn Davies,<br>[[Caitlin Hulcup]],<br>Paul Nilon
|[[David Parry (conductor)|David Parry]],<br>[[Garsington Opera]] Orchestra and Chorus,<br>(Recording of performances at Garsington Opera at Wormsley, June & July)
|CD: AVIE,<br>Cat: AV2312
|-
|2018
|Mirco Palazzi,<br>Elisa Balbo,<br>Victoria Yarovaya,<br>Mert Süngü
|[[Antonino Fogliani]],<br>Orchestra: Virtuosi Brunensis<br>Choir: Poznań Camerata Bach Choir
|CD: Naxos<br>8.660444-46
|-
|}

==References==
'''Notes'''
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

'''Cited sources'''
* Beghelli, Marco, (Trans. Daniela Pilarz), ''"Maometto Secondo"'' booklet notes accompanying the Dynamic DVD of the opera.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120822170256/http://humanities.uchicago.edu/orgs/ciao/Rossini%20operas/1mao2.html Brauner, Patricia, Philip Gossett, and Claudio Scimone (1996), "''Maometto II''", ''Edizione critica delle opere di Gioachino Rossini'', Vol. 31. Fondazione Rosinni Pesaro] on uchicago.edu (Center for Italian Opera Studies, [[University of Chicago]]). Accessed 10 May 2011
*{{Almanacco|match=Maometto II}}
* [[Philip Gossett|Gossett, Philip]] (1984), "''Maometto II'': Soundness of Structure and Musical Splendour". Essay in the booklet accompanying ''Maometto Secondo'', the 1983 Philips recording.
* Gossett, Philip (1992), "History and Works That Have No History: Reviving Rossini's Neapolitan Operas" in Katherine Bergeron and Philip V. Bohlman, ''Disciplining Music: Musicology and Its Canons'', Chicago: University of Chicago Press. {{ISBN|0226043681}} {{ISBN|0226043703}}
*Gossett, Philip; Brauner, Patricia (2001), " ''Maometto II'' " in [[Amanda Holden (writer)|Holden, Amanda]] (ed.), ''The New Penguin Opera Guide'', New York: Penguin Putnam. {{ISBN|0-14-029312-4}}
*[[Bernard Holland|Holland, Bernard]] (1988), [https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/20/arts/review-opera-san-francisco-offers-rossini-at-full-tilt.html?pagewanted=1 "San Francisco Offers Rossini at Full Tilt"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', 20 September 1988, p.&nbsp;C7. Accessed 10 May 2011.
* Mays, Desirée (2012), "''Maometto II''", ''Opera Unveiled 2012'', Santa Fe: The Santa Fe Opera. {{ISBN|978-1-4675-0955-8}}
* [[Charles Osborne (music writer)|Osborne, Charles]] (1994), ''The Bel Canto Operas of Rossini, Donizetti, and Bellini'', Portland, Oregon: Amadeus Press. {{ISBN|0-931340-71-3}}
* Osborne, Richard, ''Rossini: His Life and Works'' (2007), (The Master Musicians Series), Oxford & New York: Oxford University Press (2nd edition). {{ISBN|978-0-19-518129-6}}

==External links==
*{{IMSLP|work=Maometto secondo (Rossini, Gioacchino)|cname=''Maometto II''}}
* [[La Fenice|Teatro La Fenice]], [https://web.archive.org/web/20101129050059/http://teatrolafenice.it/public/libretti/52_9080maomcompleto.doc ''Programma di sala: "Maometto II"''], complete libretto with illustrations and accompanying essays in Italian (opens as a [[.doc]] file)
* Performance of ''Maometto II'' (1822 Venice version), [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_LQD-QIQws Act 1] and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGPiGN57HCk Act 2], recorded in 2005 and now on the official YouTube channel of Teatro La Fenice. (See recording details under "Recordings" above).
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20130304125029/http://operalively.com/forums/content.php/533-Rossini-s-Maometto-II-New-Critical-Edition-world-premiere-at-Santa-Fe-Opera-July-14-2012 Almaviva, "Rossini's ''Maometto II'' – New Critical Edition – world premiere at Santa Fe Opera, July 14, 2012"]}} 8 June 2012 on operalively.com. Retrieved 17 August 2012.

{{Gioachino Rossini|state=collapsed}}
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[[Category:Operas set in Turkey]]
[[Category:Opera world premieres at the Teatro San Carlo]]
[[Category:Fiction set in the 1470s]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Mehmed II]]