Mutio Scevola
Encyclopedia
Mutio Scevola or Muzio Scevola (Mucius Scaevola) is an opera
in three acts and a prologue by the Italian
composer Francesco Cavalli
, with a libretto
by Giovanni Faustini
. It was based on the story of the Roman hero, Gaius Mucius Scaevola. The opera was first performed at the Teatro San Samuele
, Venice
on January 26, 1665 and revived in Bologna
in 1667.
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
in three acts and a prologue by the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
composer Francesco Cavalli
Francesco Cavalli
Francesco Cavalli was an Italian composer of the early Baroque period. His real name was Pietro Francesco Caletti-Bruni, but he is better known by that of Cavalli, the name of his patron Federico Cavalli, a Venetian nobleman.-Life:Cavalli was born at Crema, Lombardy...
, with a libretto
Libretto
A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
by Giovanni Faustini
Giovanni Faustini
Giovanni Faustini was an Italian librettist and opera impresario of the 17th century. He is best remembered for his collaborations with the composer Francesco Cavalli.Faustini was born in Venice...
. It was based on the story of the Roman hero, Gaius Mucius Scaevola. The opera was first performed at the Teatro San Samuele
Teatro San Samuele
Teatro San Samuele was an opera house and theatre located at the Rio del Duca, between Campo San Samuele and Campo Santo Stefano, in Venice. One of several important theatres built in that city by the Grimani family, the theatre opened in 1656 and operated continuously until a fire destroyed the...
, Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
on January 26, 1665 and revived in Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
in 1667.
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 26 February 1665 (Conductor: - ) |
|---|---|---|
| Muzio Scevola | tenor Tenor The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2... |
|
| Orazio | soprano Soprano A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody... |
|
| Porsenna | tenor | |
| Publicola | bass | |
| Melvio | contralto Contralto Contralto is the deepest female classical singing voice, with the lowest tessitura, falling between tenor and mezzo-soprano. It typically ranges between the F below middle C to the second G above middle C , although at the extremes some voices can reach the E below middle C or the second B above... |
|
| Tarquinio | bass | |
| Valeria | soprano | |
| Elisa | soprano | |
| Vitellia | soprano | |
| Ismeno | bass | |
| Clodio | contralto | |
| Floro | soprano | |
| Porfiria | contralto | |
| Milo | contralto | |
| Publio | tenor | |
| La statua di Giano | bass | |
| Pallade | contralto | |
| Venere | indefinite | |
| Two vestal virgins | backing singers Backing vocalist A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... |