Arminio (Biber) Explained

Arminio or Chi la Dura la Vince is an opera ("Dramma musicale") – and the earliest extant opera composed in Salzburg – in three acts about the Germanic military hero Arminius, and the only surviving opera composed by Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber, composed ca. 1690–1692 with an Italian libretto probably by Francesco Maria Raffaelini. The manuscript score is kept in the Carolino Augusteum of Salzburg.

Roles

RoleVoice type
Arminio A Germanic warriorBass
Calligola Son of Germanico, enamored of SegestaAlto
Claudia Enamored of CaligolaSoprano
Climmia Giulia's nurseTenor or Soprano
Erchino Court jester, enamored of ClimmiaTenor
Germanico A Roman commander, adopted son of Tiberio Tenor
Giulia Enamored of CaligolaSoprano
Nerone Son of Germanico, enamored of GiuliaTenor
Segesta The wife of ArminioSoprano
Seiano Prefect of the PraetoriansAlto or Bass
Tiberio Emperor of the RomansBass
Vitellio A friend of GermanicoAlto

Synopsis

The opera is about the story of the wife of Arminius, Thusnelda (Segesta) who becomes prisoner of Germanicus.

Recordings

H.I.F. Biber: Arminio, Salzburger Hofmusik, Il Dolcimelo.

Gotthold Schwarz / Bernhard Landauer / Irena Troupova / Regina Schwarzer / Otto Rastbichler / Hermann Oswald / Barbara Schlick / Gerd Türk / Xenia Meijer / Florian Mehltretter / Gerd Kenda / Markus Forster

See also

References