Xerse (Bononcini) Explained

Xerse (Xerxes) is an opera in three acts by Giovanni Bononcini. It was designated as a dramma per musica. The libretto was written by Silvio Stampiglia after that by Nicolò Minato which had been used for the 1654 opera of the same name by Francesco Cavalli. Stampiglia's version was in turn used as the basis for Handel's Serse.

Stampiglia's version keeps to the story used by Minato but there are major differences in the way the work as a whole is structured.

Performance history

The opera was first performed in Rome at the Teatro di Tor di Nona on 25 January 1694.

Roles

!Role!Voice type!Premiere cast, 25 January 1694
Xersesoprano castratoNicolò Paris 'Nicolino'
Romildasoprano castratoAntonio Romolo Ferrini
Adelantasoprano castratoRinaldo Gherardini
Arsamenealto castratoFrancesco Antonio Pistocchi
Amastrealto castratoLuigi Albarelli
Elvirosoprano castratoCarlo Antonio Corno
Eumenealto castratoBenedetto Cini
AristonetenorPietro Paolo Alberti
ClitotenorGiuseppe Trivelli
AriodatebassMatteo de Grandis

References