Composer

:

Antonio Cesti

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Publication Date

:

1978

First Performance

:

Nov 4, 1655

L'Argia is an opera in three acts composed by Antonio Cesti. The opera was composed in 1655 and premiered in Innsbruck, Austria, in the same year. The libretto was written by Giovanni Filippo Apolloni and is based on the story of Argia, the daughter of the King of Thebes, who falls in love with Polinice, the son of the King of Argos, during the war between the two cities. The first act of the opera opens with the arrival of Polinice in Thebes, disguised as a shepherd. Argia, who is unaware of his true identity, falls in love with him. Meanwhile, the King of Thebes, Creonte, is planning to marry Argia off to his ally, the King of Corinth. Argia is horrified by this prospect and begs Polinice to take her away with him. In the second act, Polinice reveals his true identity to Argia and they plan to elope. However, their plans are foiled by Creonte, who captures Polinice and orders Argia to marry the King of Corinth. Argia refuses and is imprisoned. The final act sees Polinice and his army attacking Thebes. Argia is freed from prison and joins Polinice in the battle. The two lovers are eventually reunited and the opera ends with their triumphant declaration of love. L'Argia is notable for its use of recitative, which was a relatively new form of musical expression at the time. The opera also features a number of arias and duets, which showcase Cesti's skill as a composer. The music is characterized by its emotional intensity and dramatic flair, which perfectly captures the passion and turmoil of the story. Overall, L'Argia is a compelling and engaging opera that showcases Cesti's talent as a composer. Its premiere in 1655 was a great success and it remains a popular work in the operatic repertoire to this day.

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