The first performance took place in Innsbruck on 19 February 1656. Orontea was one of the most popular Italian operas of the 17th century. It includes well-known soprano arias such as "Intorno all'idol mio", "Addio Corindo" and "Il mio ben dice ch'io speri". It was revived more than 17 times before 1700,[1] including in Genoa, Rome, Florence, Turin, Milan, Bologna, Venice, Palermo, Naples, Hannover.[2][3] Almost all of the score was lost, and the opera was forgotten. Several manuscripts were discovered in the 1950s. Modern performances started in 1961 at the Piccola Scala [it] in Milan with Teresa Berganza and Carlo Cava [de], Bruno Bartoletti conducting. René Jacobs conducted a 1982 production in Innsbruck, and Ivor Bolton in 2015 at Oper Frankfurt. The work was first performed in Australia by Pinchgut Opera in 2022.[4]A new staging has been included in the 2023/2024 season of the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, conducted by Giovanni Antonini, directed by Robert Carsen and Stéphanie d'Oustrac in the title role.
Philosophy and Love argue which of them has more power over mankind.
Act 1
Queen Orontea renounces love, even though her chief adviser Creonte urges her to marry for the good of the kingdom. The young painter Alidoro arrives at the court seeking refuge from brigands with his presumed mother Aristea. He explains how he had to flee from the court of Queen Arnea of Phoenicia. In spite of vow, Orontea finds herself falling in love with Alidoro, as does the courtesan Silandra.
Act 2
Giacinta, disguised as the boy "Ismero", arrives at Orontea's court and explains she was behind the ambush of Alidoro, having been sent to kill him by the Queen of Phoenicia. Orontea can barely restrain herself from killing Giacinta with a sword. Creonte now guesses the queen is in love with Alidoro and reproaches her for choosing a commoner. Aristea falls in love with "Ismero". Meanwhile, Alidoro paints a portrait of Silandra. Orontea, mad with jealousy, bursts in during the sitting and he faints. She repents and leaves Alidoro a crown and a letter confessing her love.
Act 3
Creonte forces Orontea to reject Alidoro. He is discovered to be in possession of a royal medallion and accused of theft. Aristea explains the provenance of the trinket which proves that Alidoro is none other than Floridano, the long-lost son of the King of Phoenicia. As a child he had been kidnapped by a gang of pirates led by Aristea's husband and brought up by her as her own son. He is now free to marry Orontea.
orontea, opera, prologue, three, acts, italian, composer, antonio, cesti, with, libretto, giacinto, andrea, cicognini, revised, giovanni, filippo, apolloni, opera, antonio, cestilibretto, printed, 1683, production, teatro, santi, giovanni, paolo, venicelibrett. Orontea is an opera in a prologue and three acts by the Italian composer Antonio Cesti with a libretto by Giacinto Andrea Cicognini revised by Giovanni Filippo Apolloni OronteaOpera by Antonio CestiLibretto printed for the 1683 production at the Teatro Santi Giovanni e Paolo in VeniceLibrettistGiacinto Andrea CicogniniPremiere19 February 1656 1656 02 19 Hoftheater Innsbruck Contents 1 Performance history 2 Roles 3 Synopsis 4 Recordings 5 Sources 6 External linksPerformance history editThe first performance took place in Innsbruck on 19 February 1656 Orontea was one of the most popular Italian operas of the 17th century It includes well known soprano arias such as Intorno all idol mio Addio Corindo and Il mio ben dice ch io speri It was revived more than 17 times before 1700 1 including in Genoa Rome Florence Turin Milan Bologna Venice Palermo Naples Hannover 2 3 Almost all of the score was lost and the opera was forgotten Several manuscripts were discovered in the 1950s Modern performances started in 1961 at the Piccola Scala it in Milan with Teresa Berganza and Carlo Cava de Bruno Bartoletti conducting Rene Jacobs conducted a 1982 production in Innsbruck and Ivor Bolton in 2015 at Oper Frankfurt The work was first performed in Australia by Pinchgut Opera in 2022 4 A new staging has been included in the 2023 2024 season of the Teatro alla Scala in Milan conducted by Giovanni Antonini directed by Robert Carsen and Stephanie d Oustrac in the title role Roles editRoles voice types premiere cast Role Voice type Premiere castLa filosofia Philosophy sopranoAmore Love sopranoOrontea Queen of Egypt sopranoAlidoro a young painter tenor Antonio CestiSilandra a courtesan sopranoCorindo a courtier alto castratoCreonte a philosopher bassAristea Alidoro s presumed mother contraltoGiacinta disguised as a boy sopranoGelone a fool bassTibrino a page sopranoSynopsis editPrologue Philosophy and Love argue which of them has more power over mankind Act 1 Queen Orontea renounces love even though her chief adviser Creonte urges her to marry for the good of the kingdom The young painter Alidoro arrives at the court seeking refuge from brigands with his presumed mother Aristea He explains how he had to flee from the court of Queen Arnea of Phoenicia In spite of vow Orontea finds herself falling in love with Alidoro as does the courtesan Silandra Act 2 Giacinta disguised as the boy Ismero arrives at Orontea s court and explains she was behind the ambush of Alidoro having been sent to kill him by the Queen of Phoenicia Orontea can barely restrain herself from killing Giacinta with a sword Creonte now guesses the queen is in love with Alidoro and reproaches her for choosing a commoner Aristea falls in love with Ismero Meanwhile Alidoro paints a portrait of Silandra Orontea mad with jealousy bursts in during the sitting and he faints She repents and leaves Alidoro a crown and a letter confessing her love Act 3 Creonte forces Orontea to reject Alidoro He is discovered to be in possession of a royal medallion and accused of theft Aristea explains the provenance of the trinket which proves that Alidoro is none other than Floridano the long lost son of the King of Phoenicia As a child he had been kidnapped by a gang of pirates led by Aristea s husband and brought up by her as her own son He is now free to marry Orontea Recordings editOrontea Helga Muller Molinari Rene Jacobs Guy de Mey Concerto Vocale conducted by Rene Jacobs Harmonia Mundi 1982 Sources edit Laughs then and now by Genevieve Lang Pinchgut Opera 12 May 2022 Tim Carter Understanding Italian Opera Oxford University Press 2015 ISBN 978 0 19 024794 2 doi 10 1093 acprof oso 9780190247942 001 0001 p 6 Silke Leopold Die Oper im 17 Jahrhundert Handbuch der musikalischen Gattungen vol 11 Laaber 2004 ISBN 3 89007 134 1 p 273 Pinchgut Opera Orontea Limelight The Viking Opera Guide ed Amanda Holden Viking 1993 Booklet notes to the above recording External links editL Orontea Cesti Scores at the International Music Score Library Project Portal nbsp Opera Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Orontea amp oldid 1199758121, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
