NICOLO PORPORA – L’Agrippina

Dramma per musica in 3 atti

Libretto: Nicolò Giuvo

SP 3

Full score (A4, spiral binding, 300 p.)

Language: Italian

Urtext edition by Holger Schmitt-Hallenberg

Introduction by Stefano Aresi

Cast:

Germanico (Contralto)

Agrippina (Contralto)

Caligola (Contralto)

Giunio (Contralto)

Settimio (Tenore)

Orestilla (Soprano)

Giulia (Soprano)

Armilla (Soprano)

Planco (Bassbariton)

Orchestra:

Violino I, II; Viola; Violoncello I, II; Basso Continuo (con Liuto obl.)

L’Agrippina is Nicolò Porpora’s very first opera, written in 1708 for a private celebration at the Royal Palace in Naples. The libretto by Nicolò Giuvo (who also wrote the text for Handel’s serenata  Aci, Galatea e Polifemo) tells the story of Agrippina Major (mother of the more famous Agrippina known from Handel’s opera), wife of Germanicus. Among much political turmoil she is pursued by Giunio, but remains faithful and loyal to her husband.  More love stories, for example between the young Caligola and Giulia, are woven into the intricate but amusing plot. A comical couple of servants, Armilla and Planco, whose amorous adventures form entertaining intermezzi, place the work firmly in the tradition of earlier Neapolitan Opera. The score contains not less than 58 musical numbers (including numerous duets and ensembles), often rather short, and is still far from the virtuosic approach of Porpora’s later works. The musical quality however is already very high, and several of its arias have already been included in CD recitals (for example by Simone Kermes and Ann Hallenberg).