Alessandro Severo
| Alessandro Severo | |
|---|---|
| Opera by George Frideric Handel | |
 George Frideric Handel, portrayed by Balthasar Denner, 1729 | |
| Librettist | Apostolo Zeno? |
| Language | Italian |
| Premiere | 25 February 1738 King's Theatre, Haymarket, London |
Alessandro Severo (Alexander Severus, HWV A13) is an opera by George Frideric Handel composed in 1738. It is one of Handel's three pasticcio works,[1] made up of the music and arias of his previous operas Giustino, Berenice and Arminio. Only the overture and recitatives (as well as the words) were new. The impresario Johann Jacob Heidegger probably selected the 1717 libretto by Apostolo Zeno, originally written for Antonio Lotti and re-used by many composers thereafter.[2]
Performance history
[edit]Alessandro Severo was not a success at its premiere under the direction of the composer on 25 February 1738 at the King's Theatre, London.[3]
Roles
[edit]| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 25 February 1738 |
|---|---|---|
| Sallustia | soprano | Elisabeth Duparc ("La Francesina") |
| Claudio | soprano | Margherita Chimenti ("La Droghierina") |
| Giulia | contralto | Antonia Merighi |
| Eurilla | mezzo-soprano | Maria Antonia Marchesini ("La Lucchesina") |
| Alessandro | mezzo-soprano castrato | Caffarelli |
| Marziano | bass | Antonio Montagnana |
Synopsis
[edit]The opera is based upon the story of the Roman Emperor Alexander Severus.
References
[edit]Notes
Sources
- Casaglia, Gherardo (2005). "Alessandro Severo, 25 February 1738". L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian).
- Dean, Winton (2006), Handel's Operas, 1726-1741, Boydell Press, ISBN 1-84383-268-2 The second of the two volume definitive reference on the operas of Handel
External Links
[edit]- Alessandro Severo at IMSLP.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
