Erismena

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Operas by Francesco Cavalli

Le nozze di Teti e di Peleo (1639)
Gli amori d'Apollo e di Dafne (1640)
La Didone (1641)
La virtù dei strali d'Amore (1642)
Egisto (1643)
L'Ormindo (1644)
Doriclea (1645)
Il Giasone (1649)
Orimonte (1650)
Oristeo (1651)
La Calisto (1652)
Eritrea (1652)
Veremonda (1652)
Rosinda (1653)
Orione (1653)
Ciro (1654)
Xerse (1655)
Statira principessa di Persia (1655)
Erismena (1655)
Artemisia (1657)
Hipermestra (1658)
Elena (1659)
Ercole amante (1662)
Scipione affricano (1664)
Mutio Scevola (1665)
Pompeo Magno (1666)
Eliogabalo (1667)

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Erismena is an opera in a prologue and three acts by Francesco Cavalli. It was designated as a drama per musica. The Italian libretto was by Aurelio Aureli, the only work by this writer for Cavalli.

Contents

[edit] Performance history

It was first performed in Venice 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.

[edit] Roles

Role Voice type Premiere Cast, December 30, 1655
(Conductor: - )
Erimante, King of Media bass
Erismena, daughter of Erimante soprano
Aldimira, favourite of Erimante soprano
Alcesta, Aldimira's former nurse contralto
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

[edit] Selected 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)

[edit] Sources