Seleuco, re di Siria (Seleucus, King of Syria) is an opera seria in three acts by Francesco Bianchi. The libretto was by Mattia Botturini, after Antioco by Apostolo Zeno and Pietro Pariati, a libretto first set by Francesco Gasparini in 1705.
Seleuco, re di Siria | |
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Opera seria by Francesco Bianchi | |
The composer in 1805 | |
Librettist | Mattia Botturini |
Language | Italian |
Based on | Antioco by Apostolo Zeno and Pietro Pariati |
Premiere | 26 December 1791 Teatro San Benedetto, Venice |
Marita P. McClymonds notes that the work "is significant for its several ensembles (one incorporating chorus and dance), its choruses (sometimes functioning as a 'character' in the drama) and its multi-sectional, action-ensemble finale."[1]
Performance history
editThe opera was first performed at the Teatro San Benedetto in Venice on 26 December 1791.
Roles
editRole | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 26 December 1791 (Conductor: Antonio Capuzzi) |
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Seleuco (Seleucus), King of Syria | tenor | Giacomo David / Giuseppe Simoni |
Antioco (Antiochus), Seleuco's son, in love with Stratonica | soprano castrato | Vitale Damiani / Paolo Belli |
Stratonica (Stratonice), betrothed to Seleuco, in love with Antioco | soprano | Maria Marchetti Fantozzi / Cecilia Bolognese |
Argene | soprano | Teresa Giurini / Anna Schiroli |
Tolomeo | tenor | Francesco Gafforini / Antonio Pozzi |
Nearco | bass | Filippo Boccucci |
Synopsis
editAntioco agonizes between his loyalty to his father, Seleuco, and his love for his father's young bride Stratonice. Eventually the generosity of Seleuco resolves everything.
References
edit- ^ McClymonds, Marita P (1992), 'Seleuco, re di Siria' in The New Grove Dictionary of Opera vol 1 p 162
- Casaglia, Gherardo (2005). "Seleuco, 26 December 1791". L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian).
- McClymonds, Marita P (1992), 'Seleuco, re di Siria' in The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, ed. Stanley Sadie (London) ISBN 0-333-73432-7