Composer

:

Francesco Cavalli

Genre

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1642

La virtù dei strali d'Amore is an opera composed by Francesco Cavalli in 1642. The libretto was written by Giovanni Faustini, and the opera premiered in Venice at the Teatro San Cassiano. The opera is a mixture of comedy and tragedy, and it tells the story of the love between the goddess Venus and the mortal Adonis. The plot of the opera revolves around the love between Venus and Adonis. Venus is in love with Adonis, but he is not interested in her. Instead, he is in love with the huntress Diana. Venus is jealous of Diana and decides to use her powers to make Adonis fall in love with her. She sends her son Cupid to shoot Adonis with his arrows of love. However, Cupid accidentally shoots himself with one of his own arrows and falls in love with the nymph Erycina. Meanwhile, Adonis is still in love with Diana, and he rejects Venus's advances. Venus becomes angry and decides to punish Adonis by sending a wild boar to attack him while he is hunting. Adonis is killed in the attack, and Venus is devastated by his death. She realizes that her jealousy and desire for Adonis led to his death, and she mourns his loss. The opera is divided into three acts, and it features a variety of musical styles, including recitative, arias, and ensemble pieces. The music is characterized by its lyrical melodies, expressive harmonies, and dramatic use of dissonance. The opera also features a number of dance movements, which were a popular feature of Venetian opera at the time. Overall, La virtù dei strali d'Amore is a complex and emotionally charged opera that explores themes of love, jealousy, and mortality. It is a testament to Cavalli's skill as a composer and his ability to create music that is both beautiful and emotionally powerful.

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