Clitennestra
Opera by Ildebrando Pizzetti
Clytemnestra hesitates before killing the sleeping Agamemnon. On the left, Aegisthus urges her on.
LibrettistIldebrando Pizzetti
LanguageItalian
Premiere
1 March 1965 (1965-03-01)
La Scala, Milan

Clitennestra, an opera in a prelude and two acts, was the last work by Ildebrando Pizzetti. The libretto is in Italian. The opera play is based on ancient Greek mythology written by Aeschylus and Sophocles. It was premiered at La Scala in Milan on 1 March 1965, conducted by Gianandrea Gavazzeni.[1]

Roles

Role Voice type Premiere cast, 1 March 1965[2]
Conductor: Gianandrea Gavazzeni
Clitennestra (Clytemnestra), the Queen, Agamennone’s wife Soprano Clara Petrella
Cassandra, Trojan's prophetess, Agamennone's concubine Soprano Luisa Malagrida
Agamennone (Agamemnon), the King, Trojan war hero Bass Mario Petri
Egisto (Aegisthus), Clitennestra’s lover Bass Raffaele Arié
Elettra (Electra), daughter of Agamennone and Clitennestra Soprano Floriana Cavalli
Oreste (Orestes), son of Agamennone and Clitennestra Tenor Ruggero Bondino

Synopsis

On his return from the Trojan war, Agamennone was murdered by his wife Clitennestra, she claims, to punish him for sacrificing their daughter Iphigenia, but in reality to be with her lover, Egisto.

Seven years later, Clitennestra was killed by her son Oreste, who had been turned away as a child and returned incognito (bringing the false news of his death) to avenge his father. Oreste, with the help of his sister Elettra, kills Clitennestra and Egisto, then goes into exile to punish himself for the crime committed, abandoning Elettra in despair.

Recordings

Year Cast: Clitennestra,
Cassandra,
Agamennone,
Egisto,
Elettra,
Oreste		 Conductor,
Opera house, orchestra		 Label
1965[3] Clara Petrella,
Luisa Malagrida,
Mario Petri,
Raffaele Ariè,
Floriana Cavalli,
Ruggero Bondino		 Gianandrea Gavazzeni,
Teatro alla Scala Orchestra and Chorus, Milan		 Fiori FI-1265
(2 discs)

References

  1. ↑ "Clitennestra". Opera Manager (in Italian). Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  2. ↑ "Ildebrando Pizzettis - Clitennestra". ESDF Opera (in German). Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  3. ↑ "Fiori: Ildebrando Pizzetti ~ Clitennestra". Opera Club. Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.