Temistocle (J.C. Bach)

File:Johann Christian Bach by Thomas Gainsborough.jpg by Thomas Gainsborough, 1776]]

Temistocle (Themistocles) 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 first set by Antonio Caldara 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 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 and Elisabeth Wendling, all singers that later worked with Mozart.

Roles

class="wikitable"

|+{{sronly|Roles, voice types, premiere cast}}

!Role

!Voice type

!Premiere cast, 4 November 1772{{Almanacco|dmy=4 November 1772|match=Temistocle}}

Temistocle (Themistocles), Athenian general and politician

|tenor

|Anton Raaff

Aspasia, daughter of Temistocle, in love with Lisimaco

|soprano

|Dorothea Wendling

Rossana (Roxana), a princess, in love with Serse

|soprano

|Elisabeth Wendling

Lisimaco (Lysimachus), Athenian ambassador and friend of Temistocle

|soprano castrato

|Silvio Giorgetti

Serse, King of Persia (Xerxes I)

|bass

|Giovanni Battista Zonca

Neocle (Neocles), son of Temistocle

|soprano castrato

|Francesco Roncaglia

Sebaste (Sebastes), confidant of Serse, later a conspirator against him

|alto castrato

| Vincenzo Mucciolo

Synopsis

The opera takes place in Persia. Temistocle, together with his son Neocle, has been expelled from Athens. 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, the cast includes William McAlpine, Marie Hayward, Anne Evans, Patricia Kern, April Cantelo, 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 9999632, 2003). WorldCat lists a recording of Temistocle with Vladimir Delman, Herbert Handt, Kate Gamberucci, Renato Cesari, Radiotelevisione Italiana, Orchestra Alessandro Scarlatti di Napoli, {{OCLC|604044585}}.