Andromaca (1790)

Original id: 
10636
Start date: 
1 February 1790
Degree of relationship to ancient play: 
Distant relative
Production notes: 
The libretto is an adaptation of Antonio Salvi's Astianatte (Florence 1701, Sartori ID 3265): Andromaca. Dramma per musica da rappresentarsi nel nobilissimo Teatro di San Samuele il carnovale dell'anno 1790 (Venice: Modesto Fenzo, 1790). Salvi's libretto was first set by Perti for Florence in 1701 (see Sartori ID 3265). The libretto can be linked to Euripides via Racine's Andromaque: it is an adaptation of Racine's tragedy into an opera libretto. According to the operatic convention the ending is modified into a 'lieto fine' (happy ending). The ballets performed during the intervals of the opera were not connected with the plot: titled La conquista di Sionne, they represented part three of the suite Rinaldo et Armida by Salvatore Viganò. Another production of the opera in Nasolini's lifetime took place in London, probably also in 1790 (see Sartori ID 1919).
Media of production: 
Opera, musical and related genres
Choreographic work (dance, ballet, mime etc)
Languages: 
Italian
Companies:
Ancient works:

Information related to this production

Script Author(s)
Andromache Euripides
Person Role Notes
Matteo Babini (1754-1816) Singer tenor, Pirro
Giuseppe Benigni Singer Pilade
Maria Cattenacci Singer Ermione
Francesco Gafforin Singer Clearte
Pietro Gherardi Singer Oreste
Gertrud Elisabeth Mara (1749-1833) AKA née Schmeling Singer soprano, Andromaca
Antonio Mauro Set Designer
Sebastiano Nasolini (1768-1798/99) Composer
Antonio Salvi (1664-1724) Librettist
Onorato Viganò (1739-1811) Choreographer for the dances
Salvatore Viganò (1769-1821) Composer for the dances
Venue Festival Dates Notes
Teatro S. Samuele (Venice, Veneto, Italy)
Source Format Location if held at the APGRD Pagination
Grove Music Online Website New Grove Opera: John A. Rice, 'Nasolini, Sebastiano', Dale E. Monson, 'Andromache', Giuntini, Francesco, 'Salvi, Antonio', Lindgren Lowell, 'Astianatte'
I Libretti Italiani a Stampa dalle Origini al 1800. 7 vols Book library Entry numbers 1919 and 1920
From Alessandro (1726) to Tolomeo (1728): The Final Royal Academy Operas Thesis archive Ch. 7: Astianatte and the Scandal
I drammi per musica di Antonio Salvi. Aspetti della 'riforma' del libretto nel primo Settecento Essay

How to cite this production

Andromaca (1790), accessed at http://www.apgrd.ox.ac.uk/productions/production/10636 <18 April 2024>