Antigono (Mysliveček)
Antigono is an 18th-century Italian
Performance history
Antigono was the composer's last opera, first performed at the
No score survives for Mysliveček's last opera, but some of the
Roles
Cast | Voice type | Premiere, 5 April 1780, Teatro delle Dame, Rome |
---|---|---|
Antigono | tenor | Giovanni Ansani |
Demetrio | soprano castrato | Pietro Benedetti |
Berenice | soprano castrato | Giuseppe Benigni |
Alessandro | soprano castrato | Michelangelo Bologna |
Ismene | soprano castrato | Silvestro Fiammenchi |
Clearco | alto castrato | Lorenzo Galeffi |
Vocal set pieces
Act I, scene 1 - Aria of Ismene, "Di vantarsi ha ben ragione" (music lost)
Act I, scene 3 - Aria of Demetrio, "Fra tanti affanni" [a non-Metastasian text]
Act I, scene 5 - Aria of Berenice, "Io non so se amor tu sei" (music lost)
Act I, scene 8 - Aria of Antigono, "Tu m'involasti un regno" (music lost)
Act I, scene 10 - Aria of Alessandro - "Meglio rifletti al dono"
Act I, scene 13 - Duet for Demetrio and Berenice, "Non temer, non son più amante" [a non-Metastasian text]
Act II, scene 1 - Aria of Clearco, "Pianta, che sorge in alta" [a non-Metastasian text] (music lost)
Act II, scene 2 - Aria of Alessandro, "Sai quell'ardor m'accende" (music lost)
Act II, scene 3 - Aria (Rondò) of Demetrio, "Ho perduto il mio tesoro" [a non-Metastasian text]
Act II, scene 6 - Aria of Ismene, "Perchè due cori insieme" (music lost)
Act II, scene 9 - Aria of Antigono, "Se mai senti, amato bene" [a non-Metastasian text] (music lost)
Act II, scene 11 - Cavatina of Berenice, "Non partir bell'idol mio"
Act II, scene 11 - Aria of Berenice, "Perchè se tanti siete"
Act III, scene 1 - Aria of Antigono, "Dì che ricuso il trono" (music lost)
Act III, scene 3 - Aria of Demetrio, "Tu regna felice" [a non-Metastasian text] (music lost)
Act III, scene 4 - Cavatina of Berenice, "È pena troppo barbera" [a non-Metastasian text] (music lost)
Act III, scene 6 - Chorus, "Doppo torbida procella" (music lost)
Plot
The Egyptian princess Berenice is betrothed to the Macedonian King Antigono, but is actually in love with his banished son Demetrio. Antigono's daughter Ismene loves Alessandro, king of Epirus, who is the enemy of Macedonia. The opera portrays a violent struggle between Antigono and Alessandro. Typical for opera plots in the genre of opera seria, identities and the emotional relations between the characters become confused, and there is intense competition for love partners. Everything is resolved through the forgiveness of King Antigono at the end, with Berenice allowed to marry Demetrio.
References
- Notes
- ^ Freeman, pp. 164-69, has more information concerning the Rome performance of Antigono.
- Sources
- Freeman, Daniel E., Josef Mysliveček, "Il Boemo". Sterling Heights, Mich.: Harmonie Park Press, 2009.