Artaserse is an opera (dramma per musica) in three acts composed by Leonardo Vinci to an Italian libretto by Pietro Metastasio.

[3] As women were banned from the opera stage in Rome in the 18th century, all the female roles in the original production were taken up by castrati.

The first modern revival of Artaserse was staged at the Opéra national de Lorraine in Nancy on 2 November 2012, featuring Philippe Jaroussky as Artaserse, Max Emanuel Cenčić as Mandane, Juan Sancho as Artabano, Franco Fagioli as Arbace, Valer Barna-Sabadus as Semira and Yuriy Mynenko as Megabise.

[6] Eighteenth-century Italian operas in serious style are almost always set in a distant or legendary past and are built around historical, pseudo-historical, or mythological characters.

The main character of Metastasio's Artaserse is based on the life of king Artaxerxes I of Persia, a ruler of the fifth century B.C., son of Xerxes I.

As women were banned from singing on stage in Rome (part of the Papal States) at that time, all the female roles were played by castrati.

As was typical of Baroque Italian operas of the 18th century, the heroic roles of Arbace and Artaserse were played by castrati.

As Mandane heads back into the palace, Artabano arrives carrying a bloody sword.

However, Arbace is not happy about the turn of events due to his love for Mandane and his friendship with the king's son, Artaserse, as well as the sheer cruelty of the act.

Artabano tells him of his father's death and accuses Artaserse's older brother Dario of the murder, "Who but he at dead of night could penetrate the palace?

Nay, more, his royal ambition..." Artaserse commands Artabano to avenge his father's death by killing Dario.

Semira knows that something is wrong and asks Megabise, who tells her that Serse was murdered in his sleep and Dario is the one responsible.

Semira expresses her pain at separation from Artaserse due to the recent events.

(Aria: Bramar di perdere) In the King's palace, Mandane and Artaserse express their pain at having to put their brother Dario to death.

Presented with overwhelming evidence before him, Artaserse has no choice but to declare Arbace guilty.

However, Artaserse is reluctant to kill his friend, and envies Artabano for his mental strength to condemn his own son without question.

Artabano reveals his plans to kill the whole royal family and make Arbace king.

It pains both of them greatly to think of Arbace as a traitor, and Semira notes that Mandane will have to abandon her feelings for him.

Meanwhile, in the Great Hall of the Royal Council, Artaserse is hesitant about taking the throne as he is afraid that his inexperience will let everyone down.

Megabise enters and informs Artaserse that Mandane and Semira wish to speak to him.

Semira pleads with Artaserse to have mercy on Arbace, but Mandane insists that vengeance must be served.

Artaserse is unsure of what to do as making a decision means having to choose between his sister and his lover.

Artabano says that Arbace deserves to be punished, but Artaserse is conflicted, and worried about Semira wrongly accusing him of cruelty.

Meanwhile, Artabano is devastated at the apparent death of his son, and swears to have his revenge by killing Artaserse.

Semira enters the temple, still unhappy about Artaserse's decision to execute Arbace.

Mandane arrives and brings news that Megabise and his fellow rebels had reached the palace entrance, but Arbace was alive and had already killed the traitor, thus saving Artaserse.

He confesses to all that he has poisoned the cup, intending to kill Artaserse and that he had also assassinated Serse.

Artaserse, out of his love for Semira and his gratitude to Arbace, agrees to spare Artabano's life and condemn him to eternal exile instead.

With Arbace's innocence proven beyond doubt, and both pairs of lovers reunited, the entire cast (including the dead Megabise) gathers on stage for the final chorus, as they celebrate the reign of a merciful and righteous king.

Artaserse is scored for 2 trumpets, 2 horns, 2 oboes, first and second violins, violas, timpani and basso continuo.