[1] The Italian libretto was written by Pietro Metastasio, who was considered to be the most important opera seria librettist.
This allowed him to reuse several arias and an entire introduction from some of his other operas, L'innocenza giustificata, Le cinesi, and La danza.
The premier of the opera was sold out and the audience seemed to have enjoyed it;[2] several arias and a duet were encored at the end of the show.
After the premier of the opera, Pope Benedict XIV awarded Gluck with the title of Cavalier of the Order of the Golden Spur.
[4] Because the authorities in Rome had strict rules against women performing on the stage, the entire cast of Antigono was made up of men, including castrati.