fbpx
Wikipedia

Pyrrhus and Demetrius

April 12, 2024

Pyrrhus and Demetrius was a 1708 adaptation for the London stage of the 1694 opera Il Pirro e Demetrio by Alessandro Scarlatti with a libretto by Adriano Morselli, first performed at the Teatro San Bartolomeo.[1]

Rehearsal, said to be for Pyrrhus and Demetrius - Nicola Haym at the harpsichord, Nicolo Grimaldi (Nicolini) standing and singing, Dr. Pepusch entering the room on the right
Nicolò Grimaldi (Nicolini)
Alessandro Scarlatti

Pyrrhus and Demetrius was the second most successful opera in early 18th century London, after Camilla. It had 58 or 59 performances between 1708 and 1717.[2][3]: 103  The opera marked the London debut of the castrato Nicolò Grimaldi (Nicolini).[4][3]: 99 

Score and libretto edit

The London version was prepared by Nicola Haym, who composed a new overture and 24 new arias, retaining only 14 of Scarlatti's original arias.[2][3]: 100  Haym also inserted an aria by Handel from Agrippina: Ho un non so che nel cor.[5] The English libretto was created by Owen Swiny.[6]

In January 1709 Walsh, Randall, and Hare printed the overture and 54 arias in Songs in the Opera Call'd Pyrrhus and Demetrius. In May 1709 a different edition of The Songs in the Opera of Pyrrhus and Demetrius was published by John Cullen.[5]

Roles and action edit

The roles in the opera are:

Pyrrhus, king of Epirus; Demetrius king of Macedonia; Climene, daughter of King Lysimachus, enemy of Demetrius; Climene, sister of Pyrrhus; Clearte, lover of Deidamia; Arbante, a knight; Marius, son of Arbante; Breno, servant of Deidamia.[7]

The action is set in ancient Macedonia. Demetrius has seized the throne after having murdered Alexander, himself the murderer of his mother Thessalonice. He then wants to invade Asia, but Ptolemy, Seleucus and Lysimachus join forces against him, joined by Pyrrhus, king of Epirus. Pyrrhus succeeds in driving out Demetrius and replacing him on the throne, before himself being driven away by Lysimachus.[7]

Performance history edit

The opera opened at the Queen's Theatre on December 14, 1708, with the castrato Nicolò Grimaldi (Nicolini) starring as Pyrrhus, who had sung in the original 1694 production in Naples;[6] another castrato Valentino Urbani, (Valentini) in the role of Demetrius, Littleton Ramondon (Cleartes), Purbeck Turner (Arbantes), Margherita de L’Epine (Marius), Cook (Brennus), Catherine Tofts (Climene), Joanna Maria Lindelheim (Deidamia).[4] The two castrati sang in Italian, the other singers in English.[5] The sets for the first production were created by Marco Ricci and Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini.[8]

The opera had a significant impact on the business of running an opera house in England. Nicolini brought with him a detailed account of the economics of Venetian opera houses, and the management of the Queen's Theatre adapted its business model accordingly. In accordance with Nicolini's advice a subscription of 1000 guineas was raised from Queen Anne and both subscriptions and ticket prices were increased.[9]

Critical reception edit

Richard Steele described the opera as 'a noble entertainment,' and praised Nicolini who, ‘by the grace and propriety of his action and gesture, does honour to an human figure.’[9] The author of A Critical Discourse stated that the opera was considered to be the best Scarlatti ever wrote, having achieved universal applause wherever it was performed. He also praised the judicious composition and addition of new material in the Lindon adaptation, which he contrasted with the incoherent efforts of earlier ventures such as Arsinoe, Queen of Cyprus.[10]

External links edit

  • digital copy of songs from Pyrrhus and Demetrius

References edit

  1. ^ Il Pirro e Demetrio. Bibliothèque Nationale. 1694. Retrieved 15 December 2019 – via data.bnf.fr.
  2. ^ a b Nicola Francesco Haym (2002-01-01). Complete sonata: Part 1. A-R Editions, Inc. p. 10. ISBN 978-0-89579-503-8.
  3. ^ a b c Shirley Strum Kenny (1984). British Theatre and the Other Arts, 1660-1800. Associated University Presses. ISBN 978-0-918016-65-2.
  4. ^ a b James Anderson Winn (2014). Queen Anne: Patroness of Arts. Oxford University Press. p. 442. ISBN 978-0-19-937219-5.
  5. ^ a b c "Pirro e Demetrio". operabaroque.fr. Opéra Baroque. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  6. ^ a b Iacono, Sarah (2008). "Il 'pirro e Demetrio' di Alessandro Scarlatti: Fonti Sconosciute e Novità Documentarie Fra Napoli e l'Europa". Rivista Italiana di Musicologia. 43/45: 3–43. JSTOR 24326172.
  7. ^ a b "Il Pirro e Demetrio". corago.unibo.it. University of Bologna. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  8. ^ Jane Martineau; Andrew Robison (1994). The Glory of Venice: Art in the Eighteenth Century. Yale University Press. pp. 113–. ISBN 978-0-300-06186-4.
  9. ^ a b Marshall, Julian (1900). A Dictionary of Music and Musicians . London: Macmillan and Co. – via Wikisource.
  10. ^ Lincoln, Stoddard (July 1967). "J. E. Galliard and "A Critical Discourse"". The Musical Quarterly. 53 (3): 347–364. doi:10.1093/mq/LIII.3.347. JSTOR 740975.

April 12, 2024
pyrrhus, demetrius, 1708, adaptation, london, stage, 1694, opera, pirro, demetrio, alessandro, scarlatti, with, libretto, adriano, morselli, first, performed, teatro, bartolomeo, rehearsal, said, nicola, haym, harpsichord, nicolo, grimaldi, nicolini, standing,. Pyrrhus and Demetrius was a 1708 adaptation for the London stage of the 1694 opera Il Pirro e Demetrio by Alessandro Scarlatti with a libretto by Adriano Morselli first performed at the Teatro San Bartolomeo 1 Rehearsal said to be for Pyrrhus and Demetrius Nicola Haym at the harpsichord Nicolo Grimaldi Nicolini standing and singing Dr Pepusch entering the room on the rightNicolo Grimaldi Nicolini Alessandro ScarlattiPyrrhus and Demetrius was the second most successful opera in early 18th century London after Camilla It had 58 or 59 performances between 1708 and 1717 2 3 103 The opera marked the London debut of the castrato Nicolo Grimaldi Nicolini 4 3 99 Contents 1 Score and libretto 2 Roles and action 3 Performance history 4 Critical reception 5 External links 6 ReferencesScore and libretto editThe London version was prepared by Nicola Haym who composed a new overture and 24 new arias retaining only 14 of Scarlatti s original arias 2 3 100 Haym also inserted an aria by Handel from Agrippina Ho un non so che nel cor 5 The English libretto was created by Owen Swiny 6 In January 1709 Walsh Randall and Hare printed the overture and 54 arias in Songs in the Opera Call d Pyrrhus and Demetrius In May 1709 a different edition of The Songs in the Opera of Pyrrhus and Demetrius was published by John Cullen 5 Roles and action editThe roles in the opera are Pyrrhus king of Epirus Demetrius king of Macedonia Climene daughter of King Lysimachus enemy of Demetrius Climene sister of Pyrrhus Clearte lover of Deidamia Arbante a knight Marius son of Arbante Breno servant of Deidamia 7 The action is set in ancient Macedonia Demetrius has seized the throne after having murdered Alexander himself the murderer of his mother Thessalonice He then wants to invade Asia but Ptolemy Seleucus and Lysimachus join forces against him joined by Pyrrhus king of Epirus Pyrrhus succeeds in driving out Demetrius and replacing him on the throne before himself being driven away by Lysimachus 7 Performance history editThe opera opened at the Queen s Theatre on December 14 1708 with the castrato Nicolo Grimaldi Nicolini starring as Pyrrhus who had sung in the original 1694 production in Naples 6 another castrato Valentino Urbani Valentini in the role of Demetrius Littleton Ramondon Cleartes Purbeck Turner Arbantes Margherita de L Epine Marius Cook Brennus Catherine Tofts Climene Joanna Maria Lindelheim Deidamia 4 The two castrati sang in Italian the other singers in English 5 The sets for the first production were created by Marco Ricci and Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini 8 The opera had a significant impact on the business of running an opera house in England Nicolini brought with him a detailed account of the economics of Venetian opera houses and the management of the Queen s Theatre adapted its business model accordingly In accordance with Nicolini s advice a subscription of 1000 guineas was raised from Queen Anne and both subscriptions and ticket prices were increased 9 Critical reception editRichard Steele described the opera as a noble entertainment and praised Nicolini who by the grace and propriety of his action and gesture does honour to an human figure 9 The author of A Critical Discourse stated that the opera was considered to be the best Scarlatti ever wrote having achieved universal applause wherever it was performed He also praised the judicious composition and addition of new material in the Lindon adaptation which he contrasted with the incoherent efforts of earlier ventures such as Arsinoe Queen of Cyprus 10 External links editdigital copy of songs from Pyrrhus and DemetriusReferences edit Il Pirro e Demetrio Bibliotheque Nationale 1694 Retrieved 15 December 2019 via data bnf fr a b Nicola Francesco Haym 2002 01 01 Complete sonata Part 1 A R Editions Inc p 10 ISBN 978 0 89579 503 8 a b c Shirley Strum Kenny 1984 British Theatre and the Other Arts 1660 1800 Associated University Presses ISBN 978 0 918016 65 2 a b James Anderson Winn 2014 Queen Anne Patroness of Arts Oxford University Press p 442 ISBN 978 0 19 937219 5 a b c Pirro e Demetrio operabaroque fr Opera Baroque Retrieved 15 December 2019 a b Iacono Sarah 2008 Il pirro e Demetrio di Alessandro Scarlatti Fonti Sconosciute e Novita Documentarie Fra Napoli e l Europa Rivista Italiana di Musicologia 43 45 3 43 JSTOR 24326172 a b Il Pirro e Demetrio corago unibo it University of Bologna Retrieved 15 December 2019 Jane Martineau Andrew Robison 1994 The Glory of Venice Art in the Eighteenth Century Yale University Press pp 113 ISBN 978 0 300 06186 4 a b Marshall Julian 1900 A Dictionary of Music and Musicians London Macmillan and Co via Wikisource Lincoln Stoddard July 1967 J E Galliard and A Critical Discourse The Musical Quarterly 53 3 347 364 doi 10 1093 mq LIII 3 347 JSTOR 740975 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pyrrhus and Demetrius amp oldid 1179172505, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.