Antigona (Mysliveček)
Encyclopedia
Antigona is an Italian opera
in three acts by the Czech composer Josef Mysliveček
set to a libretto by Gaetano Roccaforte. All of Mysliveček's are of the serious type in Italian language referred to as opera seria
.
operatic season. Opera productions at the royal court of Turin, which were sponsored only for the carnival season that took place at the beginning of each year, were famed for their lavish staging. Antigona was the last opera Mysliveček composed for Turin; there is no information concerning its reception. The most distinguished cast member was the castrato Venanzio Rauzzini
. Antigona was revived for performances in Prague
and Schloss Rheinsberg
in 2006 and Biel, Switzerland, in 2011, with the title role sung by Mexican soprano Rosa Elvira Sierra. The latter production was also revived in October of 2011 in Szeged
.
Act I, scene 4 - Aria of Ermione, "Già più nel seno timor non sento"
Act I, scene 5 - Aria of Euristeo, "Pensa, o Dio, bell'idol mio"
Act I, scene 6 - Aria of Antigona, "Ben potet e scetro"
Act I, scene 8 - Aria of Learco, "Sento l'affanno"
Act I, scene 9 - Aria of Alceste, "Se intorno all prova"
Act I, scene 10 - Duet for Antigona and Euristeo, "Se'l tuo fedel son io"
Act II, scene 3 - Aria of Ermione, "Vado, ma dove, o Dio"
Act II, scene 4 - Aria of Creonte, "Io sento che in petto"
Act II, scene 5 - Aria of Euristeo, "Che fiero destino"
Act II, scene 6 - Aria of Antigona, "Rende il mar"
Act II, scene 7 - Aria of Alceste, "Fra tante vicende"
Act II, scene 8 - Aria of Learco, "Quelle luci del mio bene"
Act II, scene 10 - Aria of Antigona, "Empio crudel tiranno"
Act II, scene 12 - Aria of Euristeo, "Deh, se mi brami in vita"
Act II, scene 13 - Aria of Creonte, "Sarò quel è il torrente"
Act III, scene 1 - Aria of Euristeo, "Frema in orrida sembianza"
Act III, scene 2 - Aria of Ermione, "Finche mi lusinga"
Act III, scene 3 - Aria of Learco, "Fra cento schiere e cento"
Act III, scene 4 - Cavatina of Antigona, "Fiere imagini di morte"
Act III, scene 5 - Aria of Creonte, "Empia, tremar comincia"
Act III, scene 7 - Trio for Antigona, Euristeo, and Ermione, "Ah, cela quel pianto non tanto dolor"
Act III, scene 13 - Chorus, "O grande, o generosa"
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
in three acts by the Czech composer Josef Mysliveček
Josef Myslivecek
Josef Mysliveček was a Czech composer who contributed to the formation of late eighteenth-century classicism in music...
set to a libretto by Gaetano Roccaforte. All of Mysliveček's are of the serious type in Italian language referred to as opera seria
Opera seria
Opera seria is an Italian musical term which refers to the noble and "serious" style of Italian opera that predominated in Europe from the 1710s to c. 1770...
.
Performance history
The opera was first performed at the Teatro Regio in Turin on 26 December 1773 at the beginning of the 1774 carnivalCarnival
Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
operatic season. Opera productions at the royal court of Turin, which were sponsored only for the carnival season that took place at the beginning of each year, were famed for their lavish staging. Antigona was the last opera Mysliveček composed for Turin; there is no information concerning its reception. The most distinguished cast member was the castrato Venanzio Rauzzini
Venanzio Rauzzini
Venanzio Rauzzini was an Italian castrato, composer, pianist and singing teacher. As a boy he was a member of the Sistine Chapel Choir and was a pupil of Domenico Corri and Muzio Clementi. He also studied with Giuseppe Santarelli in Rome and Nicola Porpora in Naples.Rauzzini was born at Camerino...
. Antigona was revived for performances in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
and Schloss Rheinsberg
Rheinsberg
Rheinsberg is a town and a municipality in the Ostprignitz-Ruppin district, in Brandenburg, Germany. It is situated on the river Rhin, approx. 20 km north-east of Neuruppin and 75 km north-west of Berlin.-History:...
in 2006 and Biel, Switzerland, in 2011, with the title role sung by Mexican soprano Rosa Elvira Sierra. The latter production was also revived in October of 2011 in Szeged
Szeged
' is the third largest city of Hungary, the largest city and regional centre of the Southern Great Plain and the county town of Csongrád county. The University of Szeged is one of the most distinguished universities in Hungary....
.
Roles
| Cast | Voice type | Premiere, 26 December 1773, Teatro Regio, Turin |
|---|---|---|
| Antigona | soprano Soprano A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody... |
Elisabetta Teuber |
| Creonte | tenor Tenor The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2... |
Giuseppe Afferri |
| Euristeo | soprano castrato Castrato A castrato is a man with a singing voice equivalent to that of a soprano, mezzo-soprano, or contralto voice produced either by castration of the singer before puberty or one who, because of an endocrinological condition, never reaches sexual maturity.Castration before puberty prevents a boy's... |
Venanzio Rauzzini Venanzio Rauzzini Venanzio Rauzzini was an Italian castrato, composer, pianist and singing teacher. As a boy he was a member of the Sistine Chapel Choir and was a pupil of Domenico Corri and Muzio Clementi. He also studied with Giuseppe Santarelli in Rome and Nicola Porpora in Naples.Rauzzini was born at Camerino... |
| Ermione | soprano | Francesca Varrese |
| Learco | soprano castrato | Lorenzo Piatti |
| Alceste | soprano | Teresa Silvani |
Vocal Set Pieces
Act I, scene 2 - Aria of Creonte, "No, tollerar, non voglio il tuo disprezzo altero"Act I, scene 4 - Aria of Ermione, "Già più nel seno timor non sento"
Act I, scene 5 - Aria of Euristeo, "Pensa, o Dio, bell'idol mio"
Act I, scene 6 - Aria of Antigona, "Ben potet e scetro"
Act I, scene 8 - Aria of Learco, "Sento l'affanno"
Act I, scene 9 - Aria of Alceste, "Se intorno all prova"
Act I, scene 10 - Duet for Antigona and Euristeo, "Se'l tuo fedel son io"
Act II, scene 3 - Aria of Ermione, "Vado, ma dove, o Dio"
Act II, scene 4 - Aria of Creonte, "Io sento che in petto"
Act II, scene 5 - Aria of Euristeo, "Che fiero destino"
Act II, scene 6 - Aria of Antigona, "Rende il mar"
Act II, scene 7 - Aria of Alceste, "Fra tante vicende"
Act II, scene 8 - Aria of Learco, "Quelle luci del mio bene"
Act II, scene 10 - Aria of Antigona, "Empio crudel tiranno"
Act II, scene 12 - Aria of Euristeo, "Deh, se mi brami in vita"
Act II, scene 13 - Aria of Creonte, "Sarò quel è il torrente"
Act III, scene 1 - Aria of Euristeo, "Frema in orrida sembianza"
Act III, scene 2 - Aria of Ermione, "Finche mi lusinga"
Act III, scene 3 - Aria of Learco, "Fra cento schiere e cento"
Act III, scene 4 - Cavatina of Antigona, "Fiere imagini di morte"
Act III, scene 5 - Aria of Creonte, "Empia, tremar comincia"
Act III, scene 7 - Trio for Antigona, Euristeo, and Ermione, "Ah, cela quel pianto non tanto dolor"
Act III, scene 13 - Chorus, "O grande, o generosa"
Recording
- One ariaAriaAn aria in music was originally any expressive melody, usually, but not always, performed by a singer. The term is now used almost exclusively to describe a self-contained piece for one voice usually with orchestral accompaniment...
from Mysliveček's Antigona is available in a collection recorded by the Czech soprano Zdena Kloubová: "Rendi il mar" with substitute text "Nil me gladius vel parmo" due to the use of a source from a Bohemian ecclesiastical music collection; the recording is Panton 81 1044-2231 (1992) with the Benda Chamber OrchestraBenda Chamber OrchestraBenda Chamber Orchestra is a Czech amateur music ensemble in Usti nad Labem, Czech Republic. It is named after the renowned Czech family of musicians and composers of the 18th century - the Bendas .-History:The orchestra was founded in 1956 in Usti nad Labem, North Bohemia, Czech Republic...
, Miroslav Hrdlička, conductor. - One aria from Mysliveček's Antigona is available in a collection recorded by the Czech mezzo-soprano Magdalena KoženáMagdalena KoženáMagdalena Kožená is a Czech mezzo-soprano.In 2003, Kožená was awarded the title of Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Government...
: "Sarò qual è del torrente"; the recording is Deutsche Grammophon 0289-4776153 (2002) with the Prague PhilharmoniaPrague PhilharmoniaThe Prague Philharmonic Orchestra was established in 1995 by Czech musicians with the German conductor Friedemann Riehle. The Prague Philharmonic Orchestra quickly developed into one of the leading orchestras for CD-recording in Europe. The orchestra plays about 200 recording sessions every year...
, Michel Swierczewski, conductor.