Johann Christian Bach by Thomas Gainsborough

''Temistocle'' (''

Themistocles Themistocles (; grc-gre, Θεμιστοκλῆς; c. 524–459 BC) was an Athenian politician and general. He was one of a new breed of non-aristocratic politicians who rose to prominence in the early years of the Athenian democracy. As ...

'') is an opera seria in three acts by the German composer Johann Christian Bach. The Italian text is an extensive revision of the libretto by

Metastasio Pietro Antonio Domenico Trapassi (3 January 1698 – 12 April 1782), better known by his pseudonym of Pietro Metastasio (), was an Italian poet and librettist, considered the most important writer of ''opera seria'' libretti. Early life Me ...

first set by

Antonio Caldara Antonio Caldara (ca 1670 – 28 December 1736) was an Italian Baroque composer. Life Caldara was born in Venice (exact date unknown), the son of a violinist. He became a chorister at St Mark's in Venice, where he learned several instruments, ...

in 1736, by Mattia Verazi, court poet and private secretary to the Elector Palatine Carl Theodor. The opera was the first of two which J. C. Bach set for the Elector Palatine. Some of the music was reused from earlier works, including part of the overture from ''Carattaco'' (composed in London in 1767).

Performance history

''Temistocle'' was first performed at the Court Theatre in

Mannheim Mannheim (; Palatine German: or ), officially the University City of Mannheim (german: Universitätsstadt Mannheim), is the second-largest city in the German state of Baden-Württemberg after the state capital of Stuttgart, and Germany's ...

on 4 November 1772,Grove gives the date as 5 November while Casaglia has 4 November. with a notable cast including Anton Raaff and

Dorothea Dorothea (also spelled Dorothée, Dorotea or other variants) is a female given name from Greek (Dōrothéa) meaning "God's Gift". It may refer to: People * Dorothea Binz (1920–1947), German concentration camp officer executed for war cr ...

and

Elisabeth Wendling Elisabeth ("Lisl") Augusta Wendling, (née Sarselli; 20 February 1746 (baptised) – 10 January 1786) was a German soprano, for whom Mozart wrote the role of Electra in his opera '' Idomeneo, re di Creta''. Wendling was born in Mannheim. There ...

, all singers that later worked with Mozart.

Roles

Synopsis

The opera takes place in

Persia Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...

. Temistocle, together with his son Neocle, has been expelled from

Athens Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...

. He arrives incognito at Susa, the capital of his arch-enemy King Serse, to find that his daughter Aspasia (in love with the Athenian ambassador Lisimaco) has also made her way there, following a shipwreck. Eventually all is revealed and Serse magnanimously pardons everybody, unites the lovers and makes peace with Athens.

Recordings

A complete recording is available on Oriel Music Trust, OMT945. Conducted by

Charles Mackerras Mackerras in 2005 Sir Alan Charles MacLaurin Mackerras (; 1925 2010) was an Australian conductor. He was an authority on the operas of Janáček and Mozart, and the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan. He was long associated with the Engli ...

, the cast includes William McAlpine, Marie Hayward, Anne Evans,

Patricia Kern Patricia Kern (14 July 192719 October 2015) was a British mezzo-soprano and voice teacher. Early years Patricia Kern was born in Swansea, Wales, the only daughter of a master shipwright, Clifford James Kern, and Doris Hilday (née Boyle). Patr ...

April Cantelo April Rosemary Cantelo (born 2 April 1928) is an English soprano. Life and career Cantelo was born in Purbrook, Hampshire in 1928. She attended Chelmsford County High School for Girls. She studied in London under Vilém Tauský, Joan Cross, I ...

, Raimund Herincx, Maureen Lehane, BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra and Singers. The overture is available on CD, for example on ''Johann Christian Bach: Complete Opera Overtures'', performed by the Hanover Band conducted by Anthony Halstead (

CPO Records CPO may refer to: Occupations * Certified Professional Organizer * Certified Protection Officer, a professional certification for security officers from the International Foundation for Protection Officers * Chief people officer, a corporate ...

9999632, 2003).

WorldCat WorldCat is a union catalog that itemizes the collections of tens of thousands of institutions (mostly libraries), in many countries, that are current or past members of the OCLC global cooperative. It is operated by OCLC, Inc. Many of the O ...

lists a recording of ''Temistocle'' with Vladimir Delman, Herbert Handt, Kate Gamberucci, Renato Cesari, Radiotelevisione Italiana, Orchestra Alessandro Scarlatti di Napoli, .

References

External links

* {{Authority control Italian-language operas 1772 operas Operas by Johann Christian Bach Operas set in ancient Persia Operas