Seleuco, re di Siria

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Seleuco, re di Siria
Opera seria by Francesco Bianchi
Francesco Bianchi (composer).jpg
The composer in 1805
LibrettistMattia Botturini
LanguageItalian
Based onAntioco by Apostolo Zeno and Pietro Pariati
Premiere
26 December 1791 (1791-12-26)

Seleuco, re di Siria (Seleucus, King of Syria) is an opera seria in three acts by Francesco Bianchi. The libretto was by Mattia Botturini, after Antioco by Apostolo Zeno and Pietro Pariati, a libretto first set by Francesco Gasparini in 1705.

Contents

Marita P. McClymonds notes that the work "is significant for its several ensembles (one incorporating chorus and dance), its choruses (sometimes functioning as a 'character' in the drama) and its multi-sectional, action-ensemble finale." [1]

Performance history

The opera was first performed at the Teatro San Benedetto in Venice on 26 December 1791.

Roles

RoleVoice typePremiere Cast, 26 December 1791
(Conductor: Antonio Capuzzi)
Seleuco (Seleucus), King of Syria tenor Giacomo David / Giuseppe Simoni
Antioco (Antiochus), Seleuco's son, in love with Stratonica soprano castrato Vitale Damiani / Paolo Belli
Stratonica (Stratonice), betrothed to Seleuco, in love with AntiocosopranoMaria Marchetti Fantozzi / Cecilia Bolognese
ArgenesopranoTeresa Giurini / Anna Schiroli
TolomeotenorFrancesco Gafforini / Antonio Pozzi
Nearco bass Filippo Boccucci

Synopsis

Antioco agonizes between his loyalty to his father, Seleuco, and his love for his father's young bride Stratonice. Eventually the generosity of Seleuco resolves everything.

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References

  1. McClymonds, Marita P (1992), 'Seleuco, re di Siria' in The New Grove Dictionary of Opera vol 1 p 162