For other uses, see Parthenope
Operas by George Frideric Handel
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Almira
(1705)
Florindo
(1708)
Rodrigo
(1707)
Agrippina
(1709)
Rinaldo
(1711)
Il pastor fido
(1712)
Silla
(1713)
Teseo
(1713)
Amadigi di Gaula
(1715)
Acis and Galatea
(1718)
Radamisto
(1720)
Muzio Scevola
(1721)
Floridante
(1721)
Ottone
(1723)
Flavio
(1723)
Giulio Cesare
(1724)
Tamerlano
(1724)
Rodelinda
(1725)
Scipione
(1726)
Alessandro
(1726)
Admeto
(1727)
Riccardo Primo
(1727)
Siroe
(1728)
Tolomeo
(1728)
Lotario
(1729)
Partenope
(1730)
Poro
(1731)
Ezio
(1732)
Sosarme
(1732)
Orlando
(1733)
Arianna in Creta
(1734)
Oreste
(1734)
Ariodante
(1735)
Alcina
(1735)
Atalanta
(1736)
Arminio
(1737)
Giustino
(1737)
Berenice
(1737)
Alessandro Severo
(1738)
Faramondo
(1738)
Serse
(1738)
Giove in Argo
(1739)
Imeneo
(1740)
Deidamia
(1741)
Semele
(1744)
Alceste
(1750)
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Partenope
(HWV 27) is an opera by George Frideric Handel, first performed at the King's Theatre in London on 24 February, 1730.
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PARTENOPE TICKETS
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Background
The opera, which is in three acts, is composed to an Italian
libretto adapted by an unknown hand from a libretto originally written in 1699 by
Silvio Stampiglia. Stampiglia's libretto had received many previous settings, including one by
Caldara which Handel may have seen in
Venice around 1710.
[1]
It was Handel's first comic (or, rather, unserious) opera since the much earlier
Agrippina
, breaking away from the more traditional
opera seria works for which the composer was known in London. He originally proposed the libretto to the opera company the Royal Academy of Music
[2] in 1726. They however rejected the work because of its frivolous nature, its relatively few extended arias and its long passages of recitative. The opera manager Owen Swiney opined that the project was uncommercial; in a letter of 1726 he wrote:
[The libretto] is the very worst book (excepting one) that I ever read in my whole life. Signor Stampiglia [...] endeavours to be both humorous and witty in it: if he succeeded in his attempt on any stage in Italy, 'twas merely from a depravity of taste in the audience; for I am very sure it will be received with contempt in England' [3]
The opera was presented during the 1730 season at the King's Theatre when Handel was working in partnership with the director
John Jacob Heidegger. The score was completed by Handel just two weeks before the premiere.
Roles
Role
| Voice type
| Premiere Cast, 24 February 1730 (Conductor:- )
|
Partenope, Queen of Naples
| soprano
| Anna Maria Strada del Pò
|
Arsace, Prince of Corinth
| castrato
| Antonio Bernacchi
|
Armindo, Prince of Rhodes
| alto
| Francesca Bertolli
|
Emilio, Prince of Cumae
| tenor
| Annibale Pio Fabri
|
Rosmira/Eurimene, beloved of Arsace
| contralto
| Antonia Maria Merighi
|
Ormonte
| bass
| Johann Gottfried Reimschneider
|
Synopsis
Prince Arsace of Corinth and Prince Armindo of Rhodes are seeking Queen Partenope, the founder of the city of
Naples, in marriage. A third prince, Emilio of Cumae, is at war with Naples and with Partenope. Partenope is primarily attracted to Arsace. However, she does not know that Arsace has previously abandoned Rosmira, who is disguised as a man named Eurimene, and is trying to win him back. Rosmira, confronts him as Eurimene and harasses him for his faithlessness, and demands that he keep her true identity secret. Ultimately, Rosmira/Eurimene challenges her lover to a duel in a court of honour, but her identity is revealed when he demands the condition that they fight stripped to the waist.
[4]
Modern revival
A production in English (entitled
Parthenope
) was staged in 2008 (premiere October 9, 2008, with the title role sung by
Rosemary Joshua) by the
English National Opera, in a co-production with
Opera Australia. The libretto was translated by Amanda Holden. The production was set in an 1920s atmosphere and was inspired by the
surrealist images of
Man Ray. Also, a concert version of the opera was performed at the 2009
Proms on
July 19,
2009.
Recording
- Harmonia Mundi IC 157-99 855-8: Kristzina Laki, Helga Müller Molinari, René Jacobs, John York Skinner, Martyn Hill, Stephen Varcoe; La Petite Bande; Sigiswald Kuijken, conductor. [5] [6] [7] [8]
Notes
- English National Opera programme, ''Parthenope'', 8
- Not to be confused with the much later educational institution, the Royal Academy of Music
- cited in English National Opera programme, ''Parthenope'', 12
- Dean, Winton, "Music in London: Handel Operas" (January 1984). ''The Musical Times'', '''125''' (1691): pp. 36-37.
- Anderson, Nicholas, Review of recording of ''Partenope'' (July 1981). ''Early Music'', '''9''' (3): pp. 385, 387.
- Dean, Winton, "Record Reviews: ''Partenope''" . (April 1980). ''The Musical Times'', '''121''' (1646): pp. 251-252.
- ''Partenope''. George Frideric Handel
- ''Partenope''. George Frideric Handel
References
- English National Opera programme, ''Parthenope'', 8
- Not to be confused with the much later educational institution, the Royal Academy of Music
- cited in English National Opera programme, ''Parthenope'', 12
- Dean, Winton, "Music in London: Handel Operas" (January 1984). ''The Musical Times'', '''125''' (1691): pp. 36-37.
- Anderson, Nicholas, Review of recording of ''Partenope'' (July 1981). ''Early Music'', '''9''' (3): pp. 385, 387.
- Dean, Winton, "Record Reviews: ''Partenope''" . (April 1980). ''The Musical Times'', '''121''' (1646): pp. 251-252.
- ''Partenope''. George Frideric Handel
- ''Partenope''. George Frideric Handel