Ottone
Encyclopedia
Ottone, re di Germania is an opera
by George Frideric Handel
, to an Italian–language libretto adapted by Nicola Francesco Haym
from the libretto by Stefano Benedetto Pallavicino for Antonio Lotti
's opera Teofane. It was the first new opera written for the Royal Academy of Music (1719)'s fourth season. Handel had completed the first version on 10 August 1722, but revised the opera before its first performance.
, Haymarket, also marked the London debut of Francesca Cuzzoni
as Teofane. The opera was a great success in Handel's lifetime, and received revivals in December 1723, 1726, 1727 and 1733, in some cases with additional music. Ottone also is notable as the only Handel opera in which Farinelli
appeared, in the role of Adelberto, in December 1734. In Germany, Ottone was staged in Brunswick (Braunschweig
) and Hamburg
in the 1720s. The next production in Germany, on 5 July 1921 in Göttingen
, was the first revival of any Handel opera in the twentieth century. In the UK, the next production after 1734 was given by the Handel Opera Society on 19 October 1971 at Sadler's Wells Theatre
.
The "Argument" then went on to mention the fictional events for dramatic purposes initiating from the capture of Teofane by Adelberto, and that Teofane falls in love with Adelberto while he is incognito in Constantinople.
The next scene is in a garden near the River Tiber, at night. From an underground passage, Emireno and Adelberto have escaped, with the presumed surreptitious assistance of Matilda. Before a boat manned by several of Emireno's men leads them off, Emireno has abducted Teofane, who was walking dejectedly in the garden and faints upon being captured. Gismonda and Matilda are pleased that the night has furthered their plans.
Matilda then explains to Ottone about Teofane's capture. Gismonda, in turn, says that Matilda had helped in the escape of Emireno and Adelberto. Matilda becomes remorseful. Adelberto then is brought in, in chains. Matilda thinks of stabbing Adelberto, but her resolve fails. Contemptuous of this weakness, Gismonda tries to take her own life, but the arrival of Teofane stops this. The entire situation becomes unravelled. In the end, Ottone is united with Teofane. Gismonda and Adelberto must abase themselves. In a sudden change, Matilda consents to marry Adelberto.
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...
by George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Handel was born in 1685, in a family indifferent to music...
, to an Italian–language libretto adapted by Nicola Francesco Haym
Nicola Francesco Haym
Nicola Francesco Haym was an Italian opera librettist, composer, theatre manager and performer, and numismatist. He is best remembered for adapting texts into libretti for the London operas of George Frideric Handel and Giovanni Bononcini...
from the libretto by Stefano Benedetto Pallavicino for Antonio Lotti
Antonio Lotti
Antonio Lotti was an Italian composer of classical music.Lotti was born in Venice, although his father Matteo was Kapellmeister at Hanover at the time. In 1682, Lotti began studying with Lodovico Fuga and Giovanni Legrenzi, both of whom were employed at St Mark's Basilica, Venice's principal church...
's opera Teofane. It was the first new opera written for the Royal Academy of Music (1719)'s fourth season. Handel had completed the first version on 10 August 1722, but revised the opera before its first performance.
Performance history
The premiere, on 12 January 1723 at the King's TheatreHer Majesty's Theatre
Her Majesty's Theatre is a West End theatre, in Haymarket, City of Westminster, London. The present building was designed by Charles J. Phipps and was constructed in 1897 for actor-manager Herbert Beerbohm Tree, who established the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art at the theatre...
, Haymarket, also marked the London debut of Francesca Cuzzoni
Francesca Cuzzoni
Francesca Cuzzoni was an Italian operatic soprano of the Baroque era.-Early career:Cuzzoni was born in Parma. Her father, Angelo, was a professional violinist, and her singing teacher was Francesco Lanzi. She made her debut in her home city in 1714, singing in La virtù coronata, o Il Fernando by...
as Teofane. The opera was a great success in Handel's lifetime, and received revivals in December 1723, 1726, 1727 and 1733, in some cases with additional music. Ottone also is notable as the only Handel opera in which Farinelli
Farinelli
Farinelli , was the stage name of Carlo Maria Broschi, celebrated Italian castrato singer of the 18th century and one of the greatest singers in the history of opera.- Early years :...
appeared, in the role of Adelberto, in December 1734. In Germany, Ottone was staged in Brunswick (Braunschweig
Braunschweig
Braunschweig , is a city of 247,400 people, located in the federal-state of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located north of the Harz mountains at the farthest navigable point of the Oker river, which connects to the North Sea via the rivers Aller and Weser....
) and Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
in the 1720s. The next production in Germany, on 5 July 1921 in Göttingen
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
, was the first revival of any Handel opera in the twentieth century. In the UK, the next production after 1734 was given by the Handel Opera Society on 19 October 1971 at Sadler's Wells Theatre
Sadler's Wells Theatre
Sadler's Wells Theatre is a performing arts venue located in Rosebery Avenue, Clerkenwell in the London Borough of Islington. The present day theatre is the sixth on the site since 1683. It consists of two performance spaces: a 1,500 seat main auditorium and the Lilian Baylis Studio, with extensive...
.
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 12 January 1723 (Conductor: - ) |
|---|---|---|
| Ottone | alto Alto Alto is a musical term, derived from the Latin word altus, meaning "high" in Italian, that has several possible interpretations.When designating instruments, "alto" frequently refers to a member of an instrumental family that has the second highest range, below that of the treble or soprano. Hence,... 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... |
Senesino Senesino Senesino was a celebrated Italian contralto castrato, particularly remembered today for his long collaboration with the composer George Frideric Handel.-Early life and career:... (Francesco Bernardi) |
| Teofane | 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... |
Francesca Cuzzoni Francesca Cuzzoni Francesca Cuzzoni was an Italian operatic soprano of the Baroque era.-Early career:Cuzzoni was born in Parma. Her father, Angelo, was a professional violinist, and her singing teacher was Francesco Lanzi. She made her debut in her home city in 1714, singing in La virtù coronata, o Il Fernando by... |
| Emireno | bass | Giuseppe Maria Boschi Giuseppe Maria Boschi Giuseppe Maria Boschi was an Italian bass singer - though in modern terms a baritone - of the 18th century. He is best remembered for his association with the composer George Frideric Handel, whom he worked for in both Italy and London.During the first decade of the century he is known to have... |
| Gismonda | soprano | Margherita Durastanti Margherita Durastanti Margherita Durastanti was an Italian singer of the 18th century. Vocally, she is best described as a soprano, though later in her career her tessitura descended to that of a mezzo-soprano. First heard of professionally in Mantua in 1700-01, she later appeared in Bologna and Reggio Emilia , Milan... |
| Adelberto | alto castrato | Gaetano Berenstadt Gaetano Berenstadt Gaetano Berenstadt was an Italian alto castrato who is best remembered for his association with the composer George Frideric Handel. Berenstadt created roles in three of Handel's operas. Berenstadt's parents were German and his father was timpanist to the Grand Duke of Tuscany... |
| Matilda | 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... |
Anastasia Robinson Anastasia Robinson Anastasia Robinson was an English soprano, later contralto, of the Baroque era. She is best remembered for her association with the composer George Frideric Handel, in whose operas she sang.-Early life and initial career:... |
Synopsis
The opera is based on events from the lives of Otto I and Otto II in around 970 AD. The "Argument" to the opera provides the context of the events that precede the opera.Prologue
Ottone's father had sent him to Italy to fight the Greeks in their battle for Italy. Ottone prevailed over the Greeks, and the Saracens as well. Having obtained a peace agreement with the Greeks, he acquired as his fiancée Teofane, the daughter of Romano, the Eastern Emperor. Basilio, Theophane's brother, had been driven into exile by "the Tyrant" Nicephoro, until his recall, years later, by Zemisces to assist in governing the empire. However, Basilio had become a pirate during his exile, and took on the name of Emireno. Unaware of Ottone's victories, he gave chase to the escort which was transporting Teofane back to Rome, and was captured. Meanwhile, Adelberto, son of the "Tyrant in Italy" Berengario, under the influence of his mother Gismonda, instigated a rebellion by Rome against the Germans. The "Argument" acknowledged these events as historical.The "Argument" then went on to mention the fictional events for dramatic purposes initiating from the capture of Teofane by Adelberto, and that Teofane falls in love with Adelberto while he is incognito in Constantinople.
Act 1
After Gismonda has instigated the rebellion, she persuades Adelberto to pose as Ottone as he tries to win Teofane over. Teofane had, prior to this, fallen in love with Ottone's portrait, and when she meets Adelberto (as Ottone), the discrepancy in the appearances disconcerts her. Meanwhile, the captured Emireno continues to conceal his identity from Ottone. Matilda, cousin of Ottone and the fiancée of Adelberto, demands troops to avenge Adelberto's revolt and betrayed faith. Praising Matilda as a "brave German Amazon", Ottone assents. Adelberto is on the brink of winning Teofane's hand, but then learns that Ottone is drawing near. Gismonda arms Adelberto and sends him off into battle.Act 2
Adelberto has been captured. In the meantime, Matilda's attitude toward Adelberto has begun to soften, and she has a meeting with Gismonda. Later, she visits Ottone just before he and Teofane are to meet for the first time, and she begs for mercy on behalf of Adelberto. Ottone disdains the request, but embraces Adelberto out of pity. Teofane sees this and jumps to the conclusion that he is unfaithful.The next scene is in a garden near the River Tiber, at night. From an underground passage, Emireno and Adelberto have escaped, with the presumed surreptitious assistance of Matilda. Before a boat manned by several of Emireno's men leads them off, Emireno has abducted Teofane, who was walking dejectedly in the garden and faints upon being captured. Gismonda and Matilda are pleased that the night has furthered their plans.
Act 3
Gismonda is gloating over Ottone's misfortunes. A storm has caused Emireno and Adelberto to put in to land. Emireno then realises who Teofane is, but continues to conceal his own identity. He does try to embrace her, but Teofane and Adelberto look upon this as some sort of advance on her. Emireno orders the arrest of Adelberto, and tries to calm Teofane's suspicions, but leaves without giving a full explanation. Teofane prays for death.Matilda then explains to Ottone about Teofane's capture. Gismonda, in turn, says that Matilda had helped in the escape of Emireno and Adelberto. Matilda becomes remorseful. Adelberto then is brought in, in chains. Matilda thinks of stabbing Adelberto, but her resolve fails. Contemptuous of this weakness, Gismonda tries to take her own life, but the arrival of Teofane stops this. The entire situation becomes unravelled. In the end, Ottone is united with Teofane. Gismonda and Adelberto must abase themselves. In a sudden change, Matilda consents to marry Adelberto.
Recordings
- harmonia mundi HMU 907073.75: Drew Minter, Lisa Saffer, Juliana Gondek; Freiburger Barockorchester; Nicholas McGeganNicholas McGeganNicholas McGegan OBE is a British harpsichordist, flautist, conductor and early music expert....
, conductor