L'Alceste (1679)

Original id: 
10568
Start date: 
1 January 1679
Degree of relationship to ancient play: 
Distant relative
Production notes: 
Libretto: Ortensio Mauro, 'L’Alceste. Drama per musica da rappresentarsi di-nuovo nel Theatro [sic] d’Hannover, l’anno 1679. Per ordine dell’ altezza serenissima di Madama Benedetta Henrichetta, Duchessa di Brunsvich, e Luneburg, nata Principessa Palatina del Rheno' (Hanover: Wolfgang Schwendiman, 1679). This drama per musica was based on a reworking of L'Antigona delusa da Alceste (Venice, 1660; librettist Aurelio Aureli, composer Pietro Andrea Ziani: Production ID 7463). The libretto follows the source closely. The comic element is retained. The production incorporated four ballets: of satyrs, of furies, of Moors, and of forests. Dramatis personae: Alceste, Admeto, Trasimede, Antigone, Meraspe, Eurilla, Trineo, Hercole, Orindo, Lesbo, Plutone, Cloto la Parca, Mercurio. The opera was performed on the request of the Duchess of Brunswick. The libretto for L'Alceste was set again by either Nicolaus Adam Strungk or Marc'Antonio Ziani for Hannover in 1781 (Production ID 10569). Both versions of L'Alceste libretto for Hanover served as a model for Handel's opera Admeto (Production ID 6778).
Media of production: 
Choreographic work (dance, ballet, mime etc)
Opera, musical and related genres
Languages: 
Italian
Companies:
Ancient works:

Information related to this production

Script Author(s)
Alkestis Euripides
Person Role Notes
Ortensio Mauro (1632/3-1725) Librettist
Girolamo Sertorio Machines
Mattia Trento Composer
Source Format Location if held at the APGRD Pagination
Grove Music Online Website New Grove Opera: Colin Timms, 'Mauro, (Bartolomeo) Ortensio'; John A. Rice, 'Alcestis'; Anthony Hicks, 'Admeto'
I Libretti Italiani a Stampa dalle Origini al 1800. 7 vols Book library
Der Geschmackswandel auf der Opernbühne, am Alkestis-Stoff dargestellt Article

How to cite this production

L'Alceste (1679), accessed at http://www.apgrd.ox.ac.uk/productions/production/10568 <20 April 2024>