Artaxerxes

Archive Listings for Artaxerxes

T1125332075 (ROH09) Producer Royal Opera. Conductor Ian Page. Director Martin Duncan. Design Johan Engels. Company Orchestra of the Classical Opera Company. Performer Christopher Ainslie (Artaxerxes). Performer Elizabeth Watts (Mandane). Performer Andrew Staples (Artabanes). Performer Caitlin Hulcup (Arbaces). Performer Rebecca Bottone (Semira). Performer Steven Ebeel (Rimenes).
30 Oct 09 to 14 Nov 09	Royal Opera House, West End :: V377 listing details L0139606219

Details

Opera or Operetta :: Artaxerxes was premiered o 2 February 1762 at Covent Garden with Charlotte Brent (mistress to Thomas Arne at the time) in the role of Mandane and the Italian castrato Ferdinando Tenducci as Arbaces. The work received over 111 performances in England before 1790. Artaxerxes was last heard in repertory at Covent Garden during the 1842/43 Season. Thomas Arne wrote Artaxerxes in 1762 adapting the libretto from Metastasio's Artaserse. The opera is set in Ancient Asia, with its theme of love, loyalty and friendship. Arne successfully merged the florid Italian style of writing with an English libretto, with one particular aria 'The Soldier, tir'd of Wars Alarms' sung by Mandane (Xerxes daughter) becoming a popular soprano showpiece.

Music

Thomas Arne