Composer

:

Johann Christian Bach

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1760

Publication Date

:

1986

First Performance

:

Dec 26, 1760

Artaserse is an opera seria composed by Johann Christian Bach, the youngest son of Johann Sebastian Bach. The opera was composed in 1760 and premiered on February 4, 1762, at the Teatro Regio Ducal in Turin, Italy. The libretto was written by Metastasio, a prominent Italian poet and librettist of the time. The plot of Artaserse revolves around the Persian king Artaserse, who is falsely accused of murdering his father, King Xerxes. The real culprit is Artabano, Artaserse's advisor, who is jealous of the king's power and wants to take the throne for himself. Artaserse's brother, Mandane, is also implicated in the plot, but he is innocent. The opera is divided into three acts, each with several musical numbers. The first act sets up the plot and introduces the characters, while the second act focuses on the trial of Artaserse and the revelation of the true culprit. The third act features a series of arias and duets that resolve the various plot threads and bring the opera to a close. Artaserse is notable for its use of the da capo aria form, which was popular in opera seria at the time. This form features a repeated section (the "da capo") that allows the singer to embellish and improvise on the original melody. The opera also features a number of duets and ensemble pieces, which were less common in opera seria but became more popular in the later classical period. The music of Artaserse is characterized by its elegance, lyricism, and emotional depth. Bach's use of orchestration is particularly noteworthy, with the strings and winds often playing in dialogue with each other. The vocal writing is also highly virtuosic, with many of the arias featuring elaborate runs, trills, and other embellishments. Overall, Artaserse is a fine example of the opera seria genre and a testament to Bach's skill as a composer. Its premiere in Turin was a great success, and the opera went on to be performed throughout Europe in the years that followed. Today, it remains a beloved work of the classical repertoire and a testament to the enduring power of opera.

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