| Operas by George Frideric Handel |
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Almira (1705) |
Serse (Xerxes) (HWV40) is an opera seria by George Frideric Handel. Almira Königin von Castilien or Der in Krohnen erlangte Glückswechsel (HWV 1 is George Frideric Handel 's first Opera. Der beglückte Florindo (HWV 3 is an Opera composed by Handel and was ordered by Reinhard Keiser, the manager of the Hamburg Opera at that time Rodrigo is an Opera in three acts composed by George Frideric Handel. Agrippina (HMV 6 is an Opera seria in three acts by George Frideric Handel, set to a Libretto by Cardinal Vincenzo Grimani Rinaldo ( HWV 7 is an Italian Opera by George Frideric Handel, now a part of the standard operatic repertoire Il pastor fido is an Opera in three acts by George Frideric Handel. For the missile see Teseo. Teseo (or ' Theseus ' is an Opera seria with music by George Frideric Handel, the only Amadigi di Gaula is an opera with music by George Frideric Handel. For the Lully opera please see Acis et Galatée. Acis and Galatea ( HWV 49 was originally a Masque composed by George Frideric Radamisto (HWV 12a/12b is an Opera in three acts by George Frideric Handel to an Italian Libretto by Nicola Francesco Haym Muzio Scevola (Mucius Scaevola is an Opera in three acts The Italian -language Libretto was by Paolo Antonio Rolli, adapted from Floridante (HWV 14 is an Opera seria in three acts by George Frideric Handel. Ottone re di Germania ( Otto King of Germany) is an Opera by George Frideric Handel, to an Italian-language libretto adapted by Nicola Haym Flavio re di Longobardi ( Flavio King of the Lombards) is an Opera in three acts by George Frideric Handel. Giulio Cesare in Egitto ( Julius Caesar in Egypt) (HWV 17 is an Italian Opera in three acts by George Frideric Handel. Tamerlano ( Tamerlane) (HWV 18 is an Opera in three acts with music by George Frideric Handel to an Italian text by Rodelinda regina de' Longobardi (HWV 19 is an Opera seria in three acts by George Frideric Handel. Scipione is an Opera in three acts with music composed by George Frideric Handel for the Royal Academy of Music in 1726 Alessandro ( Alexander the Great) is an Opera composed by George Frideric Handel in 1726 Admeto re di Tessaglia ( Admetus King of Thessaly) is a three-act Opera with music composed by George Frideric Handel to an Italian Riccardo Primo re d’Inghilterra (or Richard the First King of England) is an Opera in three acts by George Frideric Handel. Siroe re di Persia (or Siroes King of Persia) is an Opera in three acts by George Frideric Handel. Tolomeo re di Egitto ( Ptolemy King of Egypt) (HWV 25 is an Opera in three acts by George Frideric Handel to an Italian text by Lotario ( Lothair) (HWV 26 is an Opera seria in three acts by George Frideric Handel. For other uses see Parthenope Partenope is an Opera by George Frideric Handel composed in 1730 with an Italian Poro re dell'Indie (or Porus King of the Indians) (HWV 28 is an Opera seria in three acts by George Frideric Handel. Ezio ( Aetius) is an Opera by George Frideric Handel. It was his last opera based on a Libretto by Pietro Metastasio. Sosarme re di Media ( Sosarmes King of Media) is an Opera by George Frideric Handel. Orlando (HWV 31 is an Opera seria in three acts by George Frideric Handel. Arianna in Creta ( Ariadne in Crete) (HWV 32 is an Opera seria in three acts by George Frideric Handel. Oreste ( Orestes) (HG 48/102 HWV A11 is an opera by George Frideric Handel in three acts. For the opera by Étienne Méhul, see Ariodant. Ariodante ( HWV 33 is an Opera seria in three acts by Handel Alcina (HWV 34 is an Opera seria by George Frideric Handel. The Libretto 's author is unknown but the plot is taken (like those of the Handel Atalanta is an Opera in three acts by George Frideric Handel composed in 1736 Arminio ( HWV 36 is an Opera composed by Georg Friedrich Händel. Giustino (or Justin) is an Opera in three acts by George Frideric Handel. Berenice regina d'Egitto ( Berenice Queen of Egypt) (HWV 38 is an Opera in three acts by George Frideric Handel to an Italian text Alessandro Severo ( Alexander Severus) is an Opera by George Frideric Handel composed in 1738 Faramondo ( Pharamond) (HWV 39 is an Opera in three acts by George Frideric Handel to an Italian text adapted from Apostolo Zeno Giove in Argo (or Jupiter in Argos) ( HWV A14 is an Italian Opera by George Frideric Handel. Imeneo ( Hymen) (HWV 41 is an Opera seria in three acts by George Frideric Handel. Deidamia (HWV 42 was George Frideric Handel 's last Opera. The Italian text was by Paolo Antonio Rolli. Semele ( HWV 58 is an opera or oratorio in three acts by George Frideric Handel. The Händel-Werke-Verzeichnis (abbreviated as HWV) is the Catalogue of Handel's Works. Opera seria (usually called dramma per musica or Melodramma serio) is an Italian musical term which refers to the noble and "serious" The libretto is adapted by an unknown hand from that by Silvio Stampiglia for an earlier opera of the same name by Giovanni Bononcini. A libretto is the text used in an extended Musical work such as an Opera, Operetta, Masque, sacred or secular Oratorio and Giovanni Battista Bononcini ( 18 July 1670 - 9 July 1747) was an Italian Baroque Composer and Cellist Stampiglia's libretto was itself based on one by Nicolò Minato that was set by Francesco Cavalli in 1654. Count Nicolò Minato (b Bergamo c1627 d Vienna 28 Feb 1698 was an Italian Poet, Librettist and Impresario. Francesco Cavalli ( February 14 1602 &ndash January 14 1676) was an Italian composer of the early Baroque
Serse is considered Handel's most Mozartian opera, and one of his finest. Passion is mixed with farce and satire; the folly of human nature is exposed but never ridiculed. A farce is a Comedy written for the stage or film which aims to Entertain the audience by means of unlikely extravagant and improbable situations disguise and mistaken Satire is often strictly defined as a literary genre or form; although in practice it is also found in the graphic and Performing arts In satire human Human nature is the concept that there are a set of logical characteristics including ways of thinking feeling and acting that all 'normal' human beings have in common The opera is set in Persia in 480 BC and is very loosely based upon Xerxes I of Persia, though there is little in either the libretto or music that is relevant to that setting. The Persian Empire was a series of Iranian empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the original Persian homeland and beyond in Western Asia Events By place Greece May — King Xerxes I of Persia marches from Sardis and onto Thrace Xerxes I of Persia was a King of Persia (reigned 485–465 BC of the Achaemenid dynasty. Xerxes, originally sung by a castrato, is now generally performed as a breeches role; that is, it is a male role played by a mezzo-soprano. A castrato is a man with a singing voice equivalent to that of a Soprano, Mezzo-soprano, or Contralto voice produced either by Castration A breeches role (also pants role or trouser role) is a role in which an actress appears in male clothing ( Breeches being tight-fitting knee-length pants This article is related to a series of articles under the main article Voice type.
The opening aria, "Ombra mai fu", a love song sung by Xerxes to a tree (Platanus orientalis), is set to one of Handel's best-known melodies, and is often played in an orchestral arrangement, known as Handel's "largo" (despite being marked "larghetto" in the score). " Ombra mai fù " is an Aria from the Opera Serse (Xerxes by George Frideric Handel. Platanus orientalis, also known commonly as the Oriental plane, is a very large widespreading and long-lived deciduous Tree in the Platanaceae
Contents |
Performance history
It was first performed in London on April 15, 1738 but was not a success. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Events 1450 - Battle of Formigny: Toward the end of the Hundred Years' War, the French attack and nearly annihilate English Year 1738 ( MDCCXXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or It was withdrawn from London's Haymarket Theatre after only five performances and forgotten for 250 years. Haymarket Theatre (Leicester|Her Majesty's Theatre The Theatre Royal Haymarket or Haymarket Theatre or the Little Theatre is a West End theatre in
A complete recording was made in 1979 and it was revived on stage in the 1980s. Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. A particularly highly acclaimed production, sung in English, was staged by the English National Opera in 1985, to mark the 300th anniversary of the composer's birth. English National Opera (ENO is the national opera company of England, and one of two opera companies in London, along with the Royal Opera at Covent Conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras, it was directed by Nicholas Hytner, who also translated the libretto, and starred Ann Murray in the title role, with Valerie Masterson as Romilda, Christopher Robson as Arsamene, and Lesley Garrett as Atalanta. WikipediaWikiProject Classical music#Biographical_infoboxes --> Sir Alan Charles Maclaurin Mackerras AC CH Nicholas Hytner (born 7 May 1956) is an English producer and director Not to be confused with Anne Murray, the Canadian singer WikipediaWikiProject Opera#Infoboxes --> Valerie Masterson, born June 3 1937, is a retired English Opera singer a lecturer and Vice-President of British Youth Opera Lesley Garrett CBE (born 10 April 1955) is an English Soprano and media personality
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, April 15, 1738 (Conductor: - ) |
|---|---|---|
| Serse | soprano castrato | Gaetano Majorano (Caffarelli) |
| Arsamene | alto | Maria Antonia Marchesini (La Lucchesina) |
| Amastre | contralto | Antonia Maria Merighi |
| Romilda | soprano | Elisabeth Duparc (La Francesina) |
| Atalanta | soprano | Margherita Chimenti (La Droghierina) |
| Ariodate | bass | Antonio Montagnana |
| Elviro | bass | Antonio Lottini |
Synopsis
King Xerxes is determined to wed Romilda; Romilda loves Xerxes' brother, Arsamene; Arsamene loves Romilda. A castrato is a man with a singing voice equivalent to that of a Soprano, Mezzo-soprano, or Contralto voice produced either by Castration Gaetano Majorano (b Bitonto, 12 April 1710 d Naples, 31 Jan 1783 was an Italian Castrato and Opera singer who took his stage Alto is a musical term derived from the Latin word altus, meaning "high" that has several possible interpretations This article is related to a series of articles under the main article Voice type. Antonio Montagnana ( fl 1730–50 born in Venice was an Italian bass of the 18th-century who is best remembered for his association with the composer George Romilda's sister Atalanta is determined to make Arsamene hers.
Xerxes banishes Arsamene, who sends a note to Romilda through his servant Elviro, disguised as a flower vendor, pledging his eternal fidelity, but it is delivered instead to Atalanta, who shows it to her sister claiming that it was addressed to Atalanta. Arsamene and Romilda fight.
Xerxes pursues Romilda, and tells her father Ariodante that Romilda must wed, by the king's command, a member of Xerxes' family, equal in blood to himself. Ariodante mistakenly thinks he is referring to his brother Arsamene rather than himself.
Amastre, Xerxes' fiancée, forsaken by him for Romilda, disguises herself as a man and observes Xerxes. After Arsamene and Romilda wed, Amastre reveals herself to Xerxes, who becomes ashamed of his faithlessness. Amastre accepts his apology.
Selected recordings
- A DVD recording of the 1980 stage production was made in 1995, when a revival of this production was staged with the same conductor and cast, and issued by Arthaus Musik.
- EMI recording: in 2003 in Italian with Anne Sofie von Otter and Elizabeth Norberg-Schulz with William Christie conducting the "Les Arts Florissants". This was issued by Virgin Veritas in 2004. (Texts & translations at emiclassics. com)
References
- Dean, Winton (2006), Handel's Operas, 1726-1741, Boydell Press, ISBN 1843832682 The second of the two volume definitive reference on the operas of Handel
External links
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