Semiramide riconosciuta (Porpora)

Semiramide riconosciuta (Semiramis Recognized) is an Italian opera with serious action, or dramma per musica, by Nicola Porpora, set to a libretto by the renowned poet Metastasio with some textual changes, possibly by Domenico Lalli. The opera was written for some of the finest contemporary singers, and includes a technically demanding series of da capo arias.

This article is about the opera by Porpora. For other operas based on the same libretto, see Semiramide riconosciuta.

Performance history

The opera was first performed on 26 December 1729 at the Teatro San Giovanni Gristostomo in Venice. Metastasio's libretto had been used in Rome, on 6 February that same year, for another setting of the same title by Leonardo Vinci.[1]

Roles
Role Voice type Premiere cast, 26 December 1729
Semiramide, an Egyptian princess soprano Lucia Facchinelli
Merteo, an Egyptian prince, brother of Semiramide soprano castrato Carlo Maria Broschi "Farinelli"
Sibari, also formerly in love with Semiramide alto castrato Domenico Gizzi
Idreno/Scitalce, an Indian prince, former lover of Semiramide soprano castrato Nicolò Grimaldi "Nicolini"
Tamiri, princess of Bactria soprano Antonia "Anna" Negri
Ircano, a Scythian prince bass Giuseppe Maria Boschi

Synopsis

The Egyptian princess Semiramide rules Assyria disguised as a man. Princess Tamiri prepares to choose a husband from three candidates, setting in motion a series of events that lead to Semiramide being reunited with her lover Scitalce, and the exposure of the villainy of his rival Sibari.

Revivals and recordings
  • Semiramide Riconosciuta: Stefano Montanari at Le Festival International d’Opéra Baroque de Beaune
  • Excerpts Carnevale 1729 Ann Hallenberg Montanari, Il pomo d'Oro Pentatone
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References
  1. Casaglia, Gherardo (2005)."Semiramide riconosciuta (Vinci), 26 December 1729". L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian).
  • Amadeus Almanac, accessed 11 February 2010
  • Libretto for Vinci's opera, from Libretti d'Opera.it, accessed 13 July 2011
  • Full score of Semiramide riconosciuta, accessed 30 December 2012, 256 pages, Urtext-Edition by Holger Schmitt-Hallenberg, Gran Tonante
  • Robinson, Michael F(1992): "Semiramide riconosciuta" in The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, ed. Stanley Sadie (London) ISBN 0-333-73432-7
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