Composer

:

Carl Heinrich Graun

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1743

Artaserse is an opera seria composed by Carl Heinrich Graun, with a libretto by Metastasio. The opera was first performed in 1730 in Dresden, Germany. It is a five-act opera that tells the story of the Persian king Artaxerxes and his son Arbace, who is accused of plotting against his father. The plot of Artaserse revolves around the conflict between Artaxerxes and Arbace. Arbace is accused of plotting against his father, but he is innocent. The real culprit is Artabano, the father of Arbace's lover, Mandane. Artabano is jealous of Arbace's relationship with his daughter and wants to get rid of him. He convinces Artaxerxes that Arbace is plotting against him, and Arbace is sentenced to death. The opera is characterized by its beautiful arias and duets, which showcase the vocal talents of the singers. The music is typical of the opera seria style, with long, elaborate arias and recitatives that advance the plot. The music is also characterized by its use of ornamentation and virtuosity, which were popular in the Baroque era. Artaserse was a popular opera in its time and was performed throughout Europe. It was also influential in the development of opera seria, which was the dominant form of opera in the 18th century. The opera was revived in the 20th century and has been performed by many opera companies around the world. In conclusion, Artaserse is a five-act opera composed by Carl Heinrich Graun, with a libretto by Metastasio. It tells the story of the Persian king Artaxerxes and his son Arbace, who is falsely accused of plotting against his father. The opera is characterized by its beautiful arias and duets, which showcase the vocal talents of the singers. It was a popular opera in its time and has been influential in the development of opera seria.

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