prague baroque orchestra & vocal ensemble
| Josef MYSLIVEČEK – L'Olimpiade |
 L'Olimpiade (1778)opera seria in three acts on libretto by Pietro Metastasio Premiere: May 2013, National Theatre in Prague The opera was first performed at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples on 4 November 1778, the name day of king Charles III of Spain, the former ruler of the Kingdom of Naples whose birthday and name day were still celebrated with operatic productions under the rule of his son Ferdinand. It is unquesti-onably one of the finest settings of this Metastasian libretto ever produced. Contemporary music criticism praised in particular the composer's setting of the aria "Se cerca, se dice" as sung by Luigi Marchesi, a close friend and professional collaborator of the composer. Clistene, king of Sicyon – tenor Aristea, his daughter, beloved of Megacle – soprano Megacle, in love with Aristea, friend of Licida soprano Licida, believed to be the son of the king of Crete, in love with Aristea, friend of Megacle – mezzo-soprano Argene, a Cretan lady dressed as a shepherdess under the name of Licori, in love with Licida – soprano Aminta, tutor of Licida – tenor Alcandro, confidant of Clistene – soprano (breeches role) Coproduction TBC: Theatre de Caen, Opera de Dijon, Opera de Rennes, Opera de Massy (FR) & Grand Theatre de Luxembourg (LU) |
