Partenope
Partenope ("Parthenope", HWV 27) is an opera by George Frideric Handel, first performed at the King's Theatre in London on 24 February 1730.
Although following the structure and forms of opera seria, the work is humorous in character and light-textured in music, with a plot involving romantic complications and gender confusion.
A success with audiences at the time of its original production and then unperformed for many years, Partenope is now often seen on the world's opera stages.
The opera manager Owen Swiney opined that the project was uncommercial; in a letter of 1726 he wrote: [The libretto] is the very worst book (excepting one) that I ever read in my whole life.
Signor Stampiglia [...] endeavours to be both humorous and witty in it: if he succeeded in his attempt on any stage in Italy, 't was merely from a depravity of taste in the audience; for I am very sure it will be received with contempt in England'[3]The opera was presented during the 1730 season at the King's Theatre when Handel was working in partnership with the director John James Heidegger.
The Christopher Alden production, seen in London and in Australia, premiered at the San Francisco Opera in October 2014.
[7] Scene: Naples, in antiquity In the first scene we see Queen Partenope, founder of Naples, in her throne room adorned with a statue of Apollo, entertaining her guests, among them handsome and dashing Prince Arsace of Corinth, suitor for her hand, and the rather shy and lacking in confidence Prince Armindo of Rhodes, who is also in love with Partenope but cannot bring himself to tell her so.
A new guest arrives and introduces "himself" as Prince Eurimene, but "he" is really the princess Rosmira in disguise, Arsace's previous fiancée whom he jilted when he decided to try to win the hand of Queen Partenope and who has tracked him down to Naples.
Hearing this, Rosmira steps forward in her disguise as "Eurimene" and says "he" loves her too, hoping to keep Partenope from Arsace, but upsetting Armindo in the process.
Partenope is ultimately victorious, and Emilio is imprisoned, but not before Armindo has rescued her from a dangerous situation and thereby saved her life.
Arsace is in a dilemma, as he has solemnly sworn not to reveal Rosmira's identity, but cannot bring himself to fight a duel with a girl.
Suddenly seized by an inspiration, he says that as the person who was challenged, he is allowed to decide how the duel will be fought - and demands they fight without their shirts on.
[11] The opera is scored for two flutes, two oboes, bassoon, trumpet, two horns, strings and continuo (cello, lute, harpsichord).
