Composer

:

Giovanni Battista Lampugnani

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1742

Meraspe is an opera seria in three acts composed by Giovanni Battista Lampugnani. The opera was first performed in Milan in 1732. The libretto was written by Apostolo Zeno, a prominent librettist of the time. The plot of Meraspe revolves around the love triangle between Meraspe, a Persian prince, his beloved Elmira, and the treacherous Artabano. Artabano, who is Elmira's father, is determined to marry his daughter off to the highest bidder, regardless of her feelings. Meraspe, who is deeply in love with Elmira, is determined to win her hand in marriage. The first act of the opera opens with a scene in which Meraspe and Elmira declare their love for each other. However, their happiness is short-lived as Artabano announces that he has arranged for Elmira to marry the King of Armenia. Meraspe is devastated by this news and vows to win Elmira's hand in marriage. The second act of the opera sees Meraspe and Elmira attempting to flee from Artabano's clutches. However, they are caught and brought back to Artabano's palace. Artabano then reveals his true intentions and offers to marry Elmira off to Meraspe if he can defeat the King of Armenia in battle. The final act of the opera sees Meraspe and the King of Armenia engage in a fierce battle. Meraspe emerges victorious and is able to marry Elmira. However, Artabano is not content to let them live happily ever after and attempts to kill Meraspe. In the end, Artabano is foiled and Meraspe and Elmira are able to live happily ever after. The music of Meraspe is typical of the opera seria style of the time. The arias are long and elaborate, with a focus on vocal virtuosity. The orchestration is also typical of the time, with a large orchestra featuring strings, woodwinds, and brass. Overall, Meraspe is a typical example of the opera seria genre. It features a convoluted plot, elaborate arias, and a focus on vocal virtuosity. However, Lampugnani's music is well-crafted and the opera remains an enjoyable work to this day.

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