Saffò

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Saffò is an opera in three acts by Giovanni Pacini on a libretto by Salvatore Cammarano, based on a play by Franz Grillparzer, after the legend of the ancient Greek poetess Sappho.

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[edit] Performance history

The opera was first performed at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples, on November 29, 1840, and was also performed in Paris at the Théâtre-Italien on March 15, 1842. It was frequently performed during the 19th century, and occasionally during the 20th century, a notable revival took place at the San Carlo in Naples on April 7, 1967, with Leyla Gencer.

[edit] Main characters

[edit] Synopsis

The story takes place during Greek antiquity.

Saffo loves Faone, but the High Priest Alcandre of Apollo wants his daughter Climene to marry Faone. He succeed in convincing Faon of Saffo's love for Alceo.

On the day of the wedding between Faone and Climene, Saffo appears and curse the sacred altar. Alcandre consults the gods and is told that to expiate her crime Saffo must throw herself in the ocean, but is also told that Saffo is his eldest daughter believed to be long dead. He then tries to stop Saffo from killing herself. Saffo discovering who she is, enter a trance and enthrusts Faone to Climene, her sister, and throws herself in the ocean while the others restrain Faone from following her.

[edit] Sources

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