from Act I, Scene 2 of the Italian opera Attila by Giuseppe Verdi

Libretto: Temistocle Solera

Role: Attila, the King of the Huns

Voice Part: bass       Fach: lyric bass

Setting: Attila's camp, 5th century

Synopsis: Attila wakes from his sleep and relates a unpleasant dream to his servant in which an old man grabs him by the hair and orders him to stop his attack on the holy ground of Rome.

from Act I, Scene 2 of the Italian opera Attila by Giuseppe Verdi

Libretto: Temistocle Solera

Role: Attila, the King of the Huns

Voice Part: bass       Fach: lyric bass

Setting: Attila's camp, 5th century

Synopsis: After awakening from his sleep because a dream that the Romans will defeat his army, Attila discounts the dream, becoming angry and ordering all his men to prepare for battle against the remainders of the Aquileian troops at once.

from Act II, Scene 1 of the Italian opera Attila by Giuseppe Verdi

Libretto: Temistocle Solera

Role: Ezio, a Roman general

Voice Part: baritone       Fach: dramatic baritone

Setting: Ezio's camp, 5th century

Synopsis: After being commanded by the young Emporer Valentinian to return to Rome because the Huns were withdrawing, Ezio declares that he shall not be controlled by a boy and calls the spirits of his ancestors to return Rome back to its former greatness.

from Act II, Scene 1 of the Italian opera Attila by Giuseppe Verdi

Libretto: Temistocle Solera

Role: Ezio, a Roman general

Voice Part: baritone       Fach: dramatic baritone

Setting: Ezio's camp, 5th century

Synopsis: After agreeing to help Foresto assassinate Attila, Ezio sings of how he will defend Italy with his life if necessary.

from Prologue, Scene 2 of the Italian opera Attila by Giuseppe Verdi

Libretto: Temistocle Solera

Role: Foresto, a knight of Aquileia

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: spinto

Setting: A camp in the lagoons of the Adriatic Sea at dawn, 5th century

Synopsis: After being defeated by the Huns, Foresto is hailed as the leader of his people. He is saddened because his love Odabella has been captured by the Huns, but his people inspire him to sing this cabaletta proclaiming that, although Rome has been defeated this time, it will rise once more like a phoenix from ashes.

from Act II, Scene 3 of the Italian opera Attila by Giuseppe Verdi

Libretto: Temistocle Solera

Role: Foresto, a knight of Aquileia

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: spinto

Setting: A clearing near Attila's camp, 5th century

Synopsis: After learning that Odabella is going to marry Attila, Foresto sings that Odabella may look innocent, but she is really evil.

from Prologue, Scene 2 of the Italian opera Attila by Giuseppe Verdi

Libretto: Temistocle Solera

Role: Foresto, a knight of Aquileia

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: spinto

Setting: A camp in the lagoons of the Adriatic Sea at dawn, 5th century

Synopsis: Foresto, hailed as the leader of his people after their defeat by the Huns, is lamenting for Odabella, his love, who has been captured by Attila and the Huns.

from Prologue, Scene 1 of the Italian opera Attila by Giuseppe Verdi

Libretto: Temistocle Solera

Role: Odabella, the Lord of Aquileia's daughter

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: dramatic coloratura

Setting: The main square of Aquileia, a Roman city, 5th century

Synopsis: After being overrun by the Huns, the surviving Aquileians are rounded up and brought before Attila. After Attila questions why some women have been spared against his orders, he is told that the Aquileian women fight beside their men and thus had been spared. Odabella then steps out to criticize the women in Attila's tribe for staying in their tents during the battle instead of taking part in it.

from Prologue, Scene 1 of the Italian opera Attila by Giuseppe Verdi

Libretto: Temistocle Solera

Role: Odabella, the Lord of Aquileia's daughter

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: dramatic coloratura

Setting: The main square of Aquileia, a Roman city, 5th century

Synopsis: After being overrun by the Huns, the surviving Aquileians are rounded up and brought before Attila. After Attila questions why some women have been spared against his orders, he is told that the Aquileian women fight beside their men and thus had been spared. Odabella steps out to speak valiantly to Attila and he is so impressed that he gives her one request. She asks for a sword and, upon receiving Attila's sword, she sings of how she will return divine justice upon the Huns and their king for oppressing her country.

from Prologue, Scene 1 of the Italian opera Attila by Giuseppe Verdi

Libretto: Temistocle Solera

Role: Odabella, the Lord of Aquileia's daughter

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: dramatic coloratura

Setting: An empty area near the camp of Attila, 5th century

Synopsis: Odabella is alone and mourning her dead father and also her love Foresto whom she also believes is dead.