Erismena
| Francesco Cavalli |
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Operas
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Erismena is an opera in a prologue and three acts by Francesco Cavalli. It was designated as a dramma per musica. The Italian libretto was by Aurelio Aureli, the only work by this writer for Cavalli.
Erismena is the first full-length opera known to have been translated into English and may have been first performed in England in 1674.
Performance history
It was first performed in Venice at the Teatro Sant 'Apollinare on 30 December 1655[1] with further performances between that date and 28 February 1656. Cavalli revised the work in 1670. Both versions have survived as well as one with an English translation, also dated to the 17th century.
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, December 30, 1655 (Conductor: - ) |
|---|---|---|
| Erimante, King of Media | bass | |
| Erismena, daughter of Erimante | soprano | |
| Aldimira, favourite of Erimante | soprano | |
| Alcesta, Aldimira's former nurse | contralto | |
| Idraspe (Erineo), Prince of Iberia | contralto | |
| Orimeno, Prince of Colchus | soprano | |
| Agrippo, servant of Orimeno | bass | |
| Diarte, a prison guard | bass | |
| Clerio | soprano | |
| Flerida | soprano | |
| Oriste | bass | |
Recordings
Pier Francesco Cavalli: L'Erismena - Oakland Symphony Orchestra - 'Sung in English
- Conductor: Alan Curtis
- Principal singers: Walt McKibben (Alcesta), Carole Bogard (Aldimira), Edward Jameson (Argippo), Leslie Retallick (Clerio), Edgar Jones (Diark), Walter Matthes (Erimante), Delreen Hafenrichter (Erismena), Holly Alonso (Flerida), Melvin Brown (Idraspe), Paul Esswood (Orimeno)
- Recording date: 1968
- Label: Vox - SVBX 5213 (LPs)
Score
A manuscript score of Erismena, with English libretto, is the oldest surviving opera score in England, dating from the 1670s. The score was in a private library until 2008. A public subscription raised ₤85,000 to donate the score to the Bodleian Library, Oxford, after export of the score had been blocked by the British Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art. The manuscript has a unique allegorical prologue, with characters who do not feature in the opera; this is believed to indicate that the version was performed, or intended to be performed, for a Royal audience.[2]
References
- Notes
- ↑ Amadeus Almanac (see references) gives the date as 26 December 1655.
- ↑ "The earliest opera in English saved for the nation: The Bodleian library acquires Erismena", Bodleian Library website, 16 January 2009, accessed 30 August 2016.
- Sources
- Casaglia, Gherardo (2005).[http://www.amadeusonline.net/almanacco?r=&alm_testo=Erismena "Erismena"]. Almanacco Amadeus (Italian).
- Clinkscale, Martha Novak (1992), " Erismena " in The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, ed. Stanley Sadie (London) ISBN 0-333-73432-7
- Hall, George (2006, October 9) "Erismena" The Guardian. Accessed 7 September 07.