Demetrio (Metastasio)

It was first performed to music composed by Antonio Caldara on 4 November 1731 during celebrations of the name day of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI in Vienna.

[1][2] The opera is about the seizure of power by the Seleucid king Demetrius II Nicator after his return from exile.

The roles in the opera are: The following plot summary is based on the 1734 libretto used in the Brunswick version by Antonio Caldara.

[Digital 1] Private room: Cleonice has ruled Syria since her father Alexander died in battle: her people expect her to choose a husband who will become the new king.

Her councillor Olinto offers himself, but she rejects him as she loves the shepherd Alceste who has also been missing since the battle.

He himself survived badly wounded and drifted in the water until he was rescued by a fisherman who took good care of him.

Olinto presses for a new king to be chosen, and tries to prevent Alceste from joining them, as he is a mere shepherd.

Since Olinto refuses, Cleonice declares that she wants to give up her crown and leaves without announcing her choice.

When Alceste asks Barsene why Cleonice's behavior has changed, she advises him to find another mistress.

[Digital 1] One of the queen's rooms: Alceste has returned and Cleonice explains her rejection - they must part for the good of the people.

Cleonice leaves and Fenicio accuses Barsene of pursuing her own plans, suspecting that she loves Alceste herself.

Mitrane assures him that the ships of his allies are already in sight and Alceste's true identity can soon be revealed.

A hundred ships have landed and Olinto has spread a rumor that Fenicio is planning a trick to seize power.

[Digital 1] Olinto comes with an emissary from the ships and brings a sealed letter from the older Demetrio, written shortly before his death.

[2] The action in Metastasios drama had an antecedent in Pierre Corneilles comédie héroïque Dom Sanche d'Aragon (1649).

Demetrio was his first work written for the court in Vienna and the 1731 performance was a great success with music by Antonio Caldara.

In 1732 the castrato Antonio Bernacchi played the role of Alceste in two versions, one by Johann Adolph Hasse in Venice (with Faustina Bordoni as Cleonice) and the other by de:Gaetano Maria Schiassi in Milan (where Antonia Negri sang Cleonice).

The role of Alceste was later played by other famous castrati including Carestini, Farinelli, Senesino und Venanzio Rauzzini.