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La catena d'Adone

April 15, 2024

La catena d'Adone (The Chain of Adonis) is the only surviving opera by the Italian composer Domenico Mazzocchi. It was commissioned by Cardinal Ippolito Aldobrandini and first performed at the Palazzo Conti, Rome on February 12, 1626. The libretto, in a prologue and five acts, is by Ottavio Tronsarelli and is based on episodes from Giambattista Marino's epic poem Adone (1623).

Historical importance edit

La catena d'Adone was an important step in the development of Roman opera. The demarcation between recitative and aria grew more distinct in this work as Mazzocchi tried to escape what he called the "monotony" of Florentine opera.

Roles edit

The prologue includes Apollo (tenor) and cyclopes. The opera itself has roles for the enchantress Falsirena (soprano); Adone (alto); Plutone (bass); Venere (soprano); Idonia (soprano) and Arsete (bass), advisers of Falsirena ; Oraspe (tenor) ; Amore (soprano) ; Eco (alto) ; nymphs and shepherds.[1] At the premiere, Adone was sung by the 'artificial' contralto[2] (i.e. countertenor) Lorenzo Sances. Falsirena was sung by the composer and castrato Loreto Vittori.

Synopsis edit

In the prologue, Apollo descends from the clouds and laments Venere's desertion of her husband, the god Vulcan, for the young Adone. In the opera proper (drawn from Cantos XII and XIII of Marino's poem), Adone has to flee from Venere's former lover, the god Marte, and takes refuge in the land of the enchantress Falsirena, who falls in love with him. Falsirena keeps him captive in her realm by means of a magic, invisible chain. She asks Plutone to find out who Adone's love is, then pretends to be Venere. But the real goddess arrives, frees Adone and binds Falsirena to a rock with her own chain.

Recordings edit

  • La catena d'Adone, Reinoud Van Mechelen (Adone), Luciana Mancini (Falsirena), Merel Elishevah Kriegsman (Venere/Ninfa), Catherine Lybaert (Amore/Ninfa), Scherzi Musicali conducted by Nicolas Achten (2 CDs, Alpha, 2010)

Notes edit

  1. ^ Voice types according to Vaccariini.
  2. ^ Sances, a brother of composer Giovanni Felice, is styled an '"artificial" contralto' (namely, a non-castrated male falsettist) in Rodolfo Celletti, La grana della voce. Opere, direttori e cantanti, 2ª edition, Rome, Baldini & Castoldi, 2000, p. 42, ISBN 88-80-89-781-0

Sources edit

  • A Short History of Opera by Donald Jay Grout (Columbia University Press, 2003 ed.)
  • Marina Vaccarini, Catena d'Adone, La, in Gelli, Piero & Poletti Filippo eds. (2007). Dizionario dell'Opera 2008, Milan: Baldini Castoldi Dalai, pp. 208-209. ISBN 978-88-6073-184-5 (in Italian; reproduced online at Opera Manager or
  • Magazine de l'opéra baroque (in French)

External links edit

  • Libretto in Italian

April 15, 2024
catena, adone, chain, adonis, only, surviving, opera, italian, composer, domenico, mazzocchi, commissioned, cardinal, ippolito, aldobrandini, first, performed, palazzo, conti, rome, february, 1626, libretto, prologue, five, acts, ottavio, tronsarelli, based, e. La catena d Adone The Chain of Adonis is the only surviving opera by the Italian composer Domenico Mazzocchi It was commissioned by Cardinal Ippolito Aldobrandini and first performed at the Palazzo Conti Rome on February 12 1626 The libretto in a prologue and five acts is by Ottavio Tronsarelli and is based on episodes from Giambattista Marino s epic poem Adone 1623 Contents 1 Historical importance 2 Roles 3 Synopsis 4 Recordings 5 Notes 6 Sources 7 External linksHistorical importance editLa catena d Adone was an important step in the development of Roman opera The demarcation between recitative and aria grew more distinct in this work as Mazzocchi tried to escape what he called the monotony of Florentine opera Roles editThe prologue includes Apollo tenor and cyclopes The opera itself has roles for the enchantress Falsirena soprano Adone alto Plutone bass Venere soprano Idonia soprano and Arsete bass advisers of Falsirena Oraspe tenor Amore soprano Eco alto nymphs and shepherds 1 At the premiere Adone was sung by the artificial contralto 2 i e countertenor Lorenzo Sances Falsirena was sung by the composer and castrato Loreto Vittori Synopsis editIn the prologue Apollo descends from the clouds and laments Venere s desertion of her husband the god Vulcan for the young Adone In the opera proper drawn from Cantos XII and XIII of Marino s poem Adone has to flee from Venere s former lover the god Marte and takes refuge in the land of the enchantress Falsirena who falls in love with him Falsirena keeps him captive in her realm by means of a magic invisible chain She asks Plutone to find out who Adone s love is then pretends to be Venere But the real goddess arrives frees Adone and binds Falsirena to a rock with her own chain Recordings editLa catena d Adone Reinoud Van Mechelen Adone Luciana Mancini Falsirena Merel Elishevah Kriegsman Venere Ninfa Catherine Lybaert Amore Ninfa Scherzi Musicali conducted by Nicolas Achten 2 CDs Alpha 2010 Notes edit Voice types according to Vaccariini Sances a brother of composer Giovanni Felice is styled an artificial contralto namely a non castrated male falsettist in Rodolfo Celletti La grana della voce Opere direttori e cantanti 2ª edition Rome Baldini amp Castoldi 2000 p 42 ISBN 88 80 89 781 0Sources editA Short History of Opera by Donald Jay Grout Columbia University Press 2003 ed Marina Vaccarini Catena d Adone La in Gelli Piero amp Poletti Filippo eds 2007 Dizionario dell Opera 2008 Milan Baldini Castoldi Dalai pp 208 209 ISBN 978 88 6073 184 5 in Italian reproduced online at Opera Manager or Del Teatro Magazine de l opera baroque in French External links editLibretto in Italian Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title La catena d 27Adone amp oldid 1164204166, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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