Deidamia (opera)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Deidamia was George Frideric Handel's last opera. The Italian text was by Paolo Antonio Rolli.

[edit] Performance history

The opera was first performed on 10 January 1741 at Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre, London. The opera received only three performances, at a time when the public was becoming tired of Italian opera. (Handel subsequently turned his attention to composing oratorios.) The opera was revived in the 1950s and is occasionally staged. It has been recorded.

[edit] Roles

• Deidamia (Deidamea), daughter of Licomede (soprano)
• Nerea, friend of Deidamia (soprano)
• Achille (Achilles), in women's dress, under the name of Pirra (soprano)
• Ulisse (Odysseus), King of Ithaca, using the name Antiloco (contralto)
• Fenice, King of Argos (bass)
• Licomede (Lycomedes), King of Skyros (bass)

[edit] Synopsis

The opera is based upon the Greek mythological character Deidamea, the daughter of King Lycomedes of Skyros, who bore a child by Achilles.