Didone abbandonata (Dido Abandoned) was an opera in three acts composed by Tomaso Albinoni. Albinoni's music (now lost) was set to Pietro Metastasio's libretto, Didone abbandonata, which was in turn based on the story of Dido and Aeneas from the fourth book of Virgil'sAeneid. The opera premiered on 26 December 1724 at the Teatro San Cassiano in Venice and was the first time that an opera based on a Metastasio libretto was performed in Venice.[1]
Metastasio's libretto was first set by Domenico Sarro, whose opera premiered at the Teatro San Bartolomeo in Naples on 1 February 1724. However, for the libretto's presentation in Venice, Giovanni Orsato, the impresario of the Teatro San Cassiano, commissioned his fellow Venetian, Tomaso Albinoni, to compose a completely new setting.[2] According to the April 1725 edition of Mercure Galant, Albinoni's version had a considerable success not only in Venice, but also in Florence and Milan.[3] It was frequently revived over the next few years, including performances in Crema (1726), Breslau (1726), Linz (date unknown), Pesaro (1730), Prague (1731), and Ferrara (1733).[4]
The title role was sung in the premiere by Marianna Bulgarelli, famed for her talent as an actress. Bulgarelli was also the patron and mistress of the young Metastasio who was living in her home while he wrote Didone. He intended it as a showcase for her, and according to contemporary accounts, Bulgarelli had considerable influence on the work, especially in shaping Dido's scenes of jealousy in act 2.[5] Marianna Bulgarelli and her Aeneas, Nicolò Grimaldi, reprised their roles on 10 May 1725 in Reggio Emilia for the premiere of Nicola Porpora's setting of the Didone libretto. Markstrom suggests that she was probably also present in Rome to coach the castrato"Farfallino" who sang the title role in Leonardo Vinci's 1726 setting of the libretto. (The papal ban on female performers in Rome's theatres prevented Bulgarelli from singing the role of Dido herself).[5]
Dido (Didone), Queen of Carthage, is promised in marriage to King Iarbas (Iarba), but has fallen in love with the Trojan warrior Aeneas (Enea), who had been shipwrecked on the shores of her city. Iarbas appears disguised as "Arbace" to warn Dido that Aeneas cannot become King of Carthage. Nevertheless, Dido refuses to marry Iarbas. Although Aeneas is now in love with Dido, he asks her sister Selene to tell her of his plans to leave Carthage for Italy. War then breaks out between Aeneas and Iarbas in which the Trojan is triumphant. After his victory, Dido convinces Aeneas to remain in Carthage and become her husband. But when the ghost of Aeneas' father reminds him of his duty to his people, Aeneas realises that he must abandon Dido. Heartbroken, she commits suicide by throwing herself on a funeral pyre as Aeneas and his men set sail for Italy.
Markstrom, Kurt Sven, The operas of Leonardo Vinci, Napoletano, Pendragon Press, 2007. ISBN1-57647-094-6
Selfridge-Field, Eleanor, A new chronology of Venetian opera and related genres, 1660–1760, Stanford University Press, 2007. ISBN0-8047-4437-8
Strohm, Reinhard. "The Neapolitans in Venice" in Iain Fenlon and Tim Carter (eds.), Con che soavità: studies in Italian opera, song, and dance, 1580–1740, Oxford University Press, 1995. ISBN0-19-816370-3
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Didone abbandonata Dido Abandoned was an opera in three acts composed by Tomaso Albinoni Albinoni s music now lost was set to Pietro Metastasio s libretto Didone abbandonata which was in turn based on the story of Dido and Aeneas from the fourth book of Virgil s Aeneid The opera premiered on 26 December 1724 at the Teatro San Cassiano in Venice and was the first time that an opera based on a Metastasio libretto was performed in Venice 1 Didone abbandonataOpera seria by Tomaso AlbinoniMarianna Bulgarelli who created the title roleLibrettistPietro MetastasioLanguageItalianBased onDidone abbandonataPremiere26 December 1724 1724 12 26 Teatro San Cassiano Venice Contents 1 Background and performance history 2 Roles 3 Synopsis 4 Notes and references 5 Sources 6 External linksBackground and performance history editMetastasio s libretto was first set by Domenico Sarro whose opera premiered at the Teatro San Bartolomeo in Naples on 1 February 1724 However for the libretto s presentation in Venice Giovanni Orsato the impresario of the Teatro San Cassiano commissioned his fellow Venetian Tomaso Albinoni to compose a completely new setting 2 According to the April 1725 edition of Mercure Galant Albinoni s version had a considerable success not only in Venice but also in Florence and Milan 3 It was frequently revived over the next few years including performances in Crema 1726 Breslau 1726 Linz date unknown Pesaro 1730 Prague 1731 and Ferrara 1733 4 The title role was sung in the premiere by Marianna Bulgarelli famed for her talent as an actress Bulgarelli was also the patron and mistress of the young Metastasio who was living in her home while he wrote Didone He intended it as a showcase for her and according to contemporary accounts Bulgarelli had considerable influence on the work especially in shaping Dido s scenes of jealousy in act 2 5 Marianna Bulgarelli and her Aeneas Nicolo Grimaldi reprised their roles on 10 May 1725 in Reggio Emilia for the premiere of Nicola Porpora s setting of the Didone libretto Markstrom suggests that she was probably also present in Rome to coach the castrato Farfallino who sang the title role in Leonardo Vinci s 1726 setting of the libretto The papal ban on female performers in Rome s theatres prevented Bulgarelli from singing the role of Dido herself 5 Roles editRoles voice types premiere cast Role Voice type Premiere cast 6 26 December 1724Didone Dido queen of Carthage in love with Enea soprano Marianna BulgarelliEnea Aeneas a Trojan hero alto castrato Nicolo GrimaldiIarba Iarbas king of the Moors who appears as Arbace contralto en travesti Lucia LancettiSelene sister of Dido and secretly in love with Aeneas contralto Teresa PeruzziAraspe confidant of Iarba and lover of Selene soprano castrato Domenico GizziOsmida confidant of Dido tenor Pietro BarattiSynopsis editSetting Ancient CarthageDido Didone Queen of Carthage is promised in marriage to King Iarbas Iarba but has fallen in love with the Trojan warrior Aeneas Enea who had been shipwrecked on the shores of her city Iarbas appears disguised as Arbace to warn Dido that Aeneas cannot become King of Carthage Nevertheless Dido refuses to marry Iarbas Although Aeneas is now in love with Dido he asks her sister Selene to tell her of his plans to leave Carthage for Italy War then breaks out between Aeneas and Iarbas in which the Trojan is triumphant After his victory Dido convinces Aeneas to remain in Carthage and become her husband But when the ghost of Aeneas father reminds him of his duty to his people Aeneas realises that he must abandon Dido Heartbroken she commits suicide by throwing herself on a funeral pyre as Aeneas and his men set sail for Italy Notes and references edit Giazotto 1945 p 63 Strohm 1995 p 261 Selfridge Field 2007 p 377 The performances in Breslau Linz and Prague were in German translation Freeman 1992 pp 137 138 a b Markstrom 2007 p 146 Premiere cast from Giazotto 1945 p 62Sources editCasaglia Gherardo 2005 Didone abbandonata 26 December 1724 L Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia in Italian Freeman Daniel E The opera theater of Count Franz Anton von Sporck in Prague Pendragon Press 1992 ISBN 0 945193 17 3 Giazotto Remo Tomaso Albinoni Fratelli Bocca 1945 Markstrom Kurt Sven The operas of Leonardo Vinci Napoletano Pendragon Press 2007 ISBN 1 57647 094 6 Selfridge Field Eleanor A new chronology of Venetian opera and related genres 1660 1760 Stanford University Press 2007 ISBN 0 8047 4437 8 Strohm Reinhard The Neapolitans in Venice in Iain Fenlon and Tim Carter eds Con che soavita studies in Italian opera song and dance 1580 1740 Oxford University Press 1995 ISBN 0 19 816370 3External links editComplete libretto in Italian Portal nbsp Opera Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Didone abbandonata Albinoni amp oldid 1158860962, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
