Semiramide riconosciuta (Porpora)

Semiramide riconosciuta (Semiramis Recognized) is an Italian opera with serious action, or dramma per musica, by Nicola Porpora, set to a libretto by Metastasio with some textual changes, possibly by Domenico Lalli. The opera was written for some of the finest contemporary singers, and includes a technically demanding series of da capo arias.

Nicola Antonio Porpora

Performance history

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The opera was first performed on 26 December 1729 at the Teatro San Giovanni Grisostomo in Venice. Metastasio's libretto had been used in Rome, on 6 February that same year, for another setting of the same title by Leonardo Vinci.[1]

Roles

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Roles, voice types, premiere cast
Role Voice type Premiere cast, 26 December 1729[2]
Semiramide, an Egyptian princess soprano Lucia Facchinelli
Merteo, an Egyptian prince, brother of Semiramide soprano castrato Carlo Maria Broschi "Farinelli"
Sibari, also formerly in love with Semiramide alto castrato Domenico Gizzi
Idreno/Scitalce, an Indian prince, former lover of Semiramide soprano castrato Nicolò Grimaldi "Nicolini"
Tamiri, princess of Bactria soprano Antonia "Anna" Negri
Ircano, a Scythian prince bass Giuseppe Maria Boschi

Synopsis

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The Egyptian princess Semiramide rules Assyria disguised as a man. Princess Tamiri prepares to choose a husband from three candidates, setting in motion a series of events that lead to Semiramide being reunited with her lover Scitalce, and the exposure of the villainy of his rival Sibari.

Revivals and recordings

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  • Semiramide riconosciuta: Stefano Montanari at Le Festival International d’Opéra Baroque de Beaune
  • Excerpts Carnevale 1729 Ann Hallenberg Montanari, Il pomo d'Oro Pentatone

References

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  1. ^ Casaglia, Gherardo (2005). "Semiramide riconosciuta (Vinci)". L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian).
  2. ^ Casaglia, Gherardo (2005). "Semiramide riconosciuta, 26 December 1729". L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian).
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  • Semiramide riconosciuta (Porpora): Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
  • Libretto for Vinci's opera, from Libretti d'Opera.it, accessed 13 July 2011
  • Full score of Semiramide riconosciuta, accessed 30 December 2012, 256 pages, Urtext-Edition by Holger Schmitt-Hallenberg, Gran Tonante
  • Robinson, Michael F. (1992): "Semiramide riconosciuta" in The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, ed. Stanley Sadie (London) ISBN 0-333-73432-7