Erismena
Encyclopedia
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.
at the Teatro S Apollinare on 30 December 1655 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.
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 a prologue and three acts by Francesco Cavalli
Francesco Cavalli
Francesco Cavalli was an Italian composer of the early Baroque period. His real name was Pietro Francesco Caletti-Bruni, but he is better known by that of Cavalli, the name of his patron Federico Cavalli, a Venetian nobleman.-Life:Cavalli was born at Crema, Lombardy...
. It was designated as a dramma per musica
Dramma per musica
Dramma per musica is a term which was used by dramatists in Italy and elsewhere between the late-17th and mid-19th centuries...
. The Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
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 VeniceVenice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
at the Teatro S Apollinare on 30 December 1655 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 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... |
|
| Aldimira, favourite of Erimante | soprano | |
| Alcesta, Aldimira's former nurse | contralto Contralto Contralto is the deepest female classical singing voice, with the lowest tessitura, falling between tenor and mezzo-soprano. It typically ranges between the F below middle C to the second G above middle C , although at the extremes some voices can reach the E below middle C or the second B above... |
|
| 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)