Medonte (Mysliveček)

Il Medonte is an Italian opera in three acts by Josef Mysliveček set to a libretto by Giovanni de Gamerra.

The most famous vocal piece from the opera is the rondò "Luci belle, se piagente," which was widely disseminated in Europe until the early 19th century and was indeed one of the most outstanding vocal compositions of its era.

All of the original performers in the opera were male, since women were prohibited from appearing on stage in Roman theaters until Pius VII was elevated to the Holy See in the year 1800.

Act I, scene 1 - Cavatina of Arsace, "Deh, s'affretti, astri tiranni" Act I, scene 1 - Aria of Evandro, "Merta gli allori al crine" Act I, scene 2 - Aria of Arsace, "Fra gli affanni" Act I, scene 3 - Aria of Zelinda, "Ch'io presso del soglio" Act I, scene 4 - Aria of Selena, "Ah, caro ben vicina" Act I, scene 5 - Aria of Medonte, "Pensa che sol per poco" Act I, scene 7 - Accompanied recitative for Selena and Arsace, "Tu parli di morire?"

Act I, scene 7 - Duet for Selena and Arsace, "Ah, se mi sei fedete" Act II, scene 1 - Aria of Talete, "Vedrò fier sempre in calma" Act II, scene 3 - Aria of Zelinda, "Se vuoi dell'indegno" Act II, scene 5 - Aria of Medonte, "Serba costante" Act II, scene 7 - Accompanied recitative of Selena, "Dov'è, ah dov'è, son io" Act II, scene 7 - Cavatina of Selena, "Adorata mia speranza" Act II, scene 9 - Accompanied recitative of Arsace, "Cedere è forza, o cara" Act II, scene 9 - Aria (Rondò) of Arsace, "Luci belle, se piangete" Act II, scene 12 - Aria of Evandro, "Vedrai se un fido core" Act II, scene 13 - Trio for Selena, Arsace, and Medonte, "Tremate empi" Act III, scene 2 - Aria of Medonte, "Perfidi io sciolgo il freno" Act III, scene 3 - Aria of Arsace, "Scioglio cara un dolce riso" Act III, scene 4 - Aria of Selena, "Mesti affanni" The complete score of Medonte is available for study online on the website gallica.bnf.fr in the form of a reproduction of the autograph manuscript housed in the collection of the Bibliothèque nationale de France.