L'Olimpiade (Mysliveček)
Template:Mysliveček operas L'Olimpiade is an eighteenth-century Italian opera in 3 acts by the Czech composer Josef Mysliveček. It was composed to a libretto by the Italian poet Metastasio that was first performed in 1733. For a performance in the 1770s, it would only be expected that a libretto of such age would be abbreviated and altered to suit contemporary operatic taste. The cuts and changes in the text made for the 1767 performance of Mysliveček's opera are not attributable.[1]
Performance history
The opera was first performed at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples on 4 November 1778, the nameday of king Charles III of Spain, the former ruler of the Kingdom of Naples whose birthday and nameday were still celebrated with operatic productions under the rule of his son Ferdinand. It is unquestionably one of the finest setting of this Metastasian libretto ever produced. Contemporary music criticism praised in particular the composer's setting of the aria "Se cerca, se dice" as sung by Luigi Marchesi, a close friend and professional collaborator of the composer
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere cast, 4 November 1778, Teatro San Carlo, Naples |
|---|---|---|
| Clistene, king of Sicyon | tenor | Giovanni Ansani |
| Aristea, his daughter, beloved of Megacle | soprano | Giuseppa Maccherini Ansani |
| Megacle, in love with Aristea, friend of Licida | soprano castrato | Luigi Marchesi |
| Licida, believed to be the son of the king of Crete, in love with Aristea, friend of Megacle | soprano castrato | Pietro Muschietti |
| Argene, a Cretan lady dressed as a shepherdess under the name of Licori, in love with Licida | soprano | Geltrude Flavis |
| Aminta, tutor of Licida | bass | Giacinto Perrone |
| Alcandro, confidant of Clistene | soprano | Antonia Rubinacci (in a breeches role) |
Synopsis
Eighteenth-century Italian operas in serious style are almost always set in a distant or legendary past and are built around historical, pseudo-historical, or mythological characters. Metastasio's L'Olimpiade is highly exceptional in being named for an event, not a character, in this case a celebration of the Olympic Games in ancient Greece. Metastasio's librettos are ordinarily love intrigues that resolve into marriage. Seemingly insoluable dilemmas that keep lovers from marrying throughout the drama find solutions just before the end. Two happy marriages are generally portrayed, just as in this drama.
Act I
Megacle arrives in Sicyon just in time to enter the Olympic Games under the name of Licida, a friend who once saved his life. Unknown to Megacle, Lycida is in love with Aristea, whose hand is to be offered to the winner of the games by her father, King Clistene. Licida, once betrothed to Princess Argene of Crete, is unaware that Megacle and Aristea already love each other, and he subsequently tells his friend of the prize. Aristea and Megacle greet each other fondly, but Megacle now feels bound by his promise to compete as Licida. Meanwhile Argene arrives in Olympia disguised as a shepherdess, to win back Licida.
Act II
Megacle wins the games, confesses the truth to Aristea and departs, broken-hearted. When Licida comes to claim her, Aristea reproaches him, as does the disguised Argene, much to his dismay. Aminta, tutor to Lycidas, reports that Megacle has drowned himself, and King Clistene, apprised of the deception, banishes Licida.
Act III
Argene prevents the desperate Aristea from suicide, Megacle is rescued by a fisherman, and Licidas contemplates the assassination of the king. Aristea pleads mercy for Licida and Argene offers herself in his place; as proof that she is a princess, she shows Clistene a chain given her by Licida. He recognizes it as belonging to his son, abandoned in infancy to forestall the prophecy that he would kill his father. Licida, reinstated, accepts Argene, leaving his sister to Megacle.
Recording
Two arias from Mysliveček's L'Olimpiade are available in a collection recorded by the Czech mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená: "Non più si trovano" and "Che non mi disse." The recording is Deutsche Grammophon 0289-4776153 (2002) with the Prague Philharmonia, Michel Swierczewski, conductor. [2] [3]
References
- ^ Detailed documentation concerning the Naples performance of Mysliveček's L'Olimpiade is found in Daniel E. Freeman, Josef Mysliveček, "Il Boemo" (Sterling Heights, Mich.: Harmonie Park Press, 2009).
- ^ "Magdalena Kožená - Le belle immagini - Catalogue". Deutsche Grammophon. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ Aidan Twomey (April 2002). "Le Belle Immagini - Kozena - review". MusicWeb International. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
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