| Operas by George Frideric Handel |
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Almira (1705) |
Serse (Xerxes, HWV40) is an opera seria by George Frideric Handel. The libretto is adapted by an unknown hand from that by Silvio Stampiglia for an earlier opera of the same name by Giovanni Bononcini. Stampiglia's libretto was itself based on one by Nicolò Minato that was set by Francesco Cavalli in 1654. Serse is considered Handel's most Mozartian opera, and one of his finest. Passion is mixed with farce and satire; the folly of human nature is exposed but never ridiculed. The opera is set in Persia in 480 BC and is very loosely based upon Xerxes I of Persia, though there is little in either the libretto or music that is relevant to that setting. Xerxes is a pants role; that is, it is a male role played by a mezzo-soprano. The opening aria, "Ombra mai fu", a love song sung by Xerxes to a tree (Platanus orientalis), is set to one of Handel's best-known melodies, and is often played in an orchestral arrangement, known as Handel's "largo" (despite being marked "larghetto" in the score).
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Performance history
It was first performed in London on April 15, 1738 but was not a success. It was withdrawn from London's Haymarket Theatre after only five performances and forgotten for 250 years. A complete recording was made in 1979 and it was revived on stage in the 1980s. A particularly highly acclaimed production, sung in English, was staged by the English National Opera in 1985, to mark the 300th anniversary of the composer's birth. Conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras, it was directed by Nicholas Hytner, who also translated the libretto, and starred Ann Murray in the title role, with Valerie Masterson as Romilda, Christopher Robson as Arsamene, and Lesley Garrett as Atalanta. A DVD recording was made in 1995, when a revival of this production was staged with the same conductor and cast, and issued by Arthaus Musik. An additional recording was made in Italian in 2003 with Anne Sofie von Otter and Elizabeth Norberg-Schulz with William Christie conducting the Les Arts Florissants. This was issued by Virgin Veritas in 2004. (Texts & translations at emiclassics.com)
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, April 15, 1738 (Conductor: - ) |
|---|---|---|
| Serse | soprano castrato | Gaetano Majorano (Caffarelli) |
| Arsamene | alto | Maria Antonia Marchesini (La Lucchesina) |
| Amastre | contralto | Antonia Maria Merighi |
| Romilda | soprano | Elisabeth Duparc (La Francesina) |
| Atalanta | soprano | Margherita Chimenti (La Droghierina) |
| Ariodate | bass | Antonio Montagnana |
| Elviro | bass | Antonio Lottini |
Synopsis
King Xerxes is determined to wed Romilda; Romilda loves Xerxes' brother, Arsamene; Arsamene loves Romilda. Romilda's sister Atalanta is determined to make Arsamene hers. Xerxes banishes Arsamene, who sends a note to Romilda through his servant Elviro, disguised as a flower vendor, pledging his eternal fidelity, but it is delivered instead to Atalanta, who shows it to her sister claiming that it was addressed to Atalanta. Arsamene and Romilda fight. Xerxes pursues Romilda, and tells her father Ariodante that Romilda must wed, by the king's command, a member of Xerxes' family, equal in blood to himself. Ariodante mistakenly thinks he is referring to his brother Arsamene rather than himself. Amastre, Xerxes' fiancée, forsaken by him for Romilda, disguises herself as a man and observes Xerxes. After Arsamene and Romilda wed, Amastre reveals herself to Xerxes, who becomes ashamed of his faithlessness. Amastre accepts his apology.
