Alessandro Severo

"Alessandro Severo" ("Alexander Severus") is an opera by George Frideric Handel composed in 1738. It is one of Handel's three pasticcio works [Hicks, Anthony, "Handel With Care" (November 1993). "The Musical Times", 134 (1809): pp. 639-642.] , made up of the music and arias of his previous operas "Giustino", "Berenice" and "Arminio". Only the overture and recitatives (as well as the words) were new.

Performance history

"Alessandro Severo" was not a success at its premiere under the direction of the composer on 25 February 1738 at the Haymarket Theatre, London. [Hume, Robert D., "Handel and Opera Management in London in the 1730s" (October 1986). "Music & Letters", 67 (4): pp. 347-362.]

Roles

*Sallustia, soprano Elisabeth Duparc, "La Francesina"
*Claudio, soprano Margherita Chimenti, "La Drogherina"
*Giulia, contralto Antonia Margherita Merighi
*Albina, mezzo-soprano Maria Antonia Marchesini, "La Lucchesina"
*Alessandro, castrato Caffarelli
*Marziano, bass Antonio Montagnana

ynopsis

The opera is based upon the story of the Roman Emperor Alexander Severus.

References

* [http://www.amadeusonline.net/almanacco.php?Start=0&Giorno=25&Mese=02&Anno=1738&Giornata=&Testo=Alessandro+Severo&Parola=Stringa Amadeus Almanac, accessed 5 June 2008]
*citation|first=Winton|last=Dean|title=Handel's Operas, 1726-1741|publisher=Boydell Press|year=2006
id=ISBN 1843832682 The second of the two volume definitive reference on the operas of Handel