''Demofonte'' (also ''Demofoonte''; ''Il Demofoonte''; ''Demofoonte, ré di Tracia'' ing of Thrace ''Démophon''; ''Demophontes''; or ''Dirce, L'usurpatore innocente'' irce, the Innocent Usurper is an

opera seria ''Opera seria'' (; plural: ''opere serie''; usually called '' dramma per musica'' or '' melodramma serio'') is an Italian musical term which refers to the noble and "serious" style of Italian opera that predominated in Europe from the 1710s to a ...

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 M ...

. The libretto was 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 1733, but remained popular throughout the eighteenth century and was set over seventy times.

General information

*Title and title abbreviation: ''Demofoonte'' (Demof.)

dramma per musica Dramma per musica ( Italian, literally: ''drama for music'', plural: ''drammi per musica'') is a libretto. The term was used by dramatists in Italy and elsewhere between the mid-17th and mid-19th centuries. In modern times the same meaning of ''dr ...

– dm *Volume and page number in the Brunelli edition of Metastasio's works: I, 635 *Text incipit of the first line of the work: ircea:"Credimi, o padre: ol tuo soverchio affetto" *Composer of first setting:

*Place and date of first performance (or of completion): Vienna, Hoftheater, November 4, 1733 *Occasion for the first performance: Name-day of the Emperor Charles VI

Other settings

The libretto, written in 1731 or 1733, became immensely popular. By 1800 it had inspired at least 73 operas (according to the Encyclopaedia ''Musical St. Petersburg: The 18th Century'') Here is only the short list of the operas with the same title: *

Antonio Vivaldi Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (4 March 1678 – 28 July 1741) was an Italian composer, virtuoso violinist and impresario of Baroque music. Regarded as one of the greatest Baroque composers, Vivaldi's influence during his lifetime was widespread ...

,Authenticity is debated. ''Demofoonte'' (RV deest; performance unknown) *

Felice Alessandri Felice Alessandri (24 November 1747 – 15 August 1798) was an Italian keyboardist and composer who was internationally active; working in Berlin, London, Paris, St. Petersburg, and Turin.Pratt, Waldo Selden. ''The History of Music''. New Yo ...

, ''Demofoonte'' (June 12, 1783 Padua) *

Pasquale Anfossi Pasquale Anfossi (5 April 1727 – February 1797) was an Italian opera composer. Born in Taggia, Liguria, he studied with Niccolò Piccinni and Antonio Sacchini, and worked mainly in London, Venice and Rome. He wrote more than 80 operas, both '' ...

, ''Demofoonte'' (

carnival Carnival is a Catholic Christian festive season that occurs before the liturgical season of Lent. The main events typically occur during February or early March, during the period historically known as Shrovetide (or Pre-Lent). Carnival ...

1773 Rome) *

Maksym Berezovsky Maxim Sozontovich Berezovsky (russian: Макси́м Созо́нтович Березо́вский , uk, Максим Созонтович Березовський, translit=Maksym Sozontovych Berezovskyi; (?) — 2 April 1777) was a compos ...

, ''

Demofonte ''Demofonte'' (also ''Demofoonte''; ''Il Demofoonte''; ''Demofoonte, ré di Tracia'' ing of Thrace ''Démophon''; ''Demophontes''; or ''Dirce, L'usurpatore innocente'' irce, the Innocent Usurper is an opera seria libretto by Metastasio. The libr ...

'' (carnival February 1773 Livorno) *

Andrea Bernasconi Andrea Bernasconi (c. 1706 – 24 January 1784) was an Italian composer. He began his career in his native country as a composer of operas. In 1755 he was appointed to the post of ''Kapellmeister (, also , ) from German ''Kapelle'' (ch ...

, ''Demofoonte'' (carnival 1741 Rome) * Antonio Boroni, aroni, Borroni, Buroni, Burroni''Demofoonte'' (carnival 1762 Turin) * Giuseppe Brivio, ''Demofoonte'' (carnival 1738 Turin) *, ''Demofoonte'' (February 5, 1735 Rome) *

Gioacchino Cocchi Gioacchino Cocchi (''circa'' 1712 – 11 September 1796) was a Kingdom of Naples, Neapolitan composer, principally of opera. Cocchi was probably born in Kingdom of Naples, Naples in about 1712, although his place of birth has also been given as ...

, ''Demofoonte'' (1754 Venice) *

Egidio Duni Egidio Romualdo Duni (or ''Egide Romuald Duny''; 11 February 1708 – 11 June 1775) was an Italian composer who studied in Naples and worked in Italy, France and London, writing both Italian and French operas. Biography Born in Matera, Duni wa ...

, ''Demofoonte'' (May 24, 1737 London) *

Johann Adolph Hasse Johann Adolph Hasse (baptised 25 March 1699 – 16 December 1783) was an 18th-century German composer, singer and teacher of music. Immensely popular in his time, Hasse was best known for his prolific operatic output, though he also composed a co ...

, ''Demofoonte'' (1748) *

Baldassare Galuppi Baldassare Galuppi (18 October 17063 January 1785) was an Italian composer, born on the island of Burano in the Venetian Republic. He belonged to a generation of composers, including Johann Adolph Hasse, Giovanni Battista Sammartini, and C.&nb ...

, ''Demofoonte'' (December 18, 1749 Madrid) *

Christoph Willibald Gluck Christoph Willibald (Ritter von) Gluck (; 2 July 1714 – 15 November 1787) was a composer of Italian and French opera in the early classical period. Born in the Upper Palatinate and raised in Bohemia, both part of the Holy Roman Empire, he g ...

, '' Demofoonte'' (January 6, 1743 Milan) *

Niccolò Jommelli Niccolò Jommelli (; 10 September 1714 – 25 August 1774) was an Italian composer of the Neapolitan School. Along with other composers mainly in the Holy Roman Empire and France, he was responsible for certain operatic reforms including re ...

, ''Demofoonte'' (1770

Naples Naples (; it, Napoli ; nap, Napule ), from grc, Νεάπολις, Neápolis, lit=new city. is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 909,048 within the city's adminis ...

) * Francesco Mancini, ''Il Demofoonte'' (1735, Naples) ogether with D. Sarro and F. Leo*

Josef Mysliveček Josef Mysliveček (9 March 1737 – 4 February 1781) was a Czech composer who contributed to the formation of late eighteenth-century classicism in music. Mysliveček provided his younger friend Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with significant co ...

, '' Demofoonte'', first setting, (carnival) 1769 Venice *Josef Mysliveček, '' Demofoonte'', second setting, birthday of King

Charles III Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms. He was the longest-serving heir apparent and Prince of Wales and, at age 73, became the oldest person to ...

of Spain, 20 January 1775 Naples *

Giovanni Paisiello Giovanni Paisiello (or Paesiello; 9 May 1740 – 5 June 1816) was an Italian composer of the Classical era, and was the most popular opera composer of the late 1700s. His operatic style influenced Mozart and Rossini. Life Paisiello was born in ...

, ''Demofoonte'' (carnival 1775 Venice) *

Antonio Pampani Antonio Gaetano Pampani (c. 1705–1775) was a Venetian composer. He was chapel master to the conservatory of the Chiesa dell'Ospedaletto.The Quarterly musical magazine and review: Volume 6 Richard Mackenzie Bacon Richard Mackenzie Bacon ( ...

, ''Demofoonte'' (carnival 1757 Rome) *

Davide Perez Davide Perez (1711 – 30 October 1778) was an Italian opera composer born in Naples of Italian parents, and later resident court composer at Lisbon from 1752. He staged three operas on librettos of Metastasio at Lisbon with huge success in 175 ...

, ''Demofoonte'' (1752 Lisbon) *

Brizio Petrucci Brizio is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Anna Maria Brizio (1902–1982), Italian professor of art history * Arturo Brizio Carter (born 1956), Mexican football referee * Edoardo Brizio (1846–1907), Italian archaeologist * ...

, ''Demofoonte'' (December 26, 1765

Ferrara Ferrara (, ; egl, Fràra ) is a city and ''comune'' in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, capital of the Province of Ferrara. it had 132,009 inhabitants. It is situated northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main stream ...

) *

Niccolò Piccinni Niccolò Piccinni (; 16 January 1728 – 7 May 1800) was an Italian composer of symphonies, sacred music, chamber music, and opera. Although he is somewhat obscure today, Piccinni was one of the most popular composers of opera—particularly th ...

, ''Demofoonte'' (May 1761

Reggio Emilia Reggio nell'Emilia ( egl, Rèz; la, Regium Lepidi), usually referred to as Reggio Emilia, or simply Reggio by its inhabitants, and known until 1861 as Reggio di Lombardia, is a city in northern Italy, in the Emilia-Romagna region. It has abou ...

) *

Giuseppe Sarti Giuseppe Sarti (also Sardi; baptised 1 December 1729 – 28 July 1802) was an Italian opera composer. Biography He was born at Faenza. His date of birth is not known, but he was baptised on 1 December 1729. Some earlier sources say he was born o ...

ardi ARDI is the Access to Research for Development and Innovation program, a partnership between the World Intellectual Property Organization and major scientific and technical publishers. ARDI provides access to nearly 10,000 online journals, books and ...

''Demofoonte'' (January 30, 1771 Copenhagen, carnival 1782 Rome) *, ''Il Demofoonte'' (carnival 1735 Venice) * Joseph Schuster, ''Demofoonte'' (1776

Forlì Forlì ( , ; rgn, Furlè ; la, Forum Livii) is a ''comune'' (municipality) and city in Emilia-Romagna, Northern Italy, and is the capital of the province of Forlì-Cesena. It is the central city of Romagna. The city is situated along the Via Em ...

) *

Angelo Tarchi Angelo Tarchi may refer to: * Angelo Tarchi (composer) Angelo Tarchi (c. 1760 – 19 August 1814) was an Italian composer of numerous operas as well as sacred music. Between 1778 and 1787, he worked primarily in Italy, producing five or six new o ...

, ''Demofoonte'' (September 1786 Crema, 1786 Milan) *

Tommaso Traetta Tommaso Michele Francesco Saverio Traetta (30 March 1727 – 6 April 1779) was an Italian composer of the Neapolitan School. Along with other composers mainly in the Holy Roman Empire and France, he was responsible for certain operatic ref ...

, ''Demofoonte'' (Autumn 1758 Verona) *

Francesco Uttini Francesco Antonio Baldassare Uttini (1723 Bologna – 25 October 1795) was an Italian composer and conductor who was active mostly in Sweden. He is best remembered today as a composer of operas in both the Italian and Swedish languages and ...

, ''Demofoonte'' (c. 1750 Ferrara) *

Mattia Vento Mattia is an Italian given name for males and, less frequently, females. Also a surname, it may refer to: Given name * Mattia Altobelli (born 1983), professional Italian footballer *Mattia Battistini (1856–1928), Italian operatic baritone * Ma ...

, ''Demofoonte'' (March 2, 1765 London *

Marcos Portugal Marcos António da Fonseca Portugal (24 March 1762 – 17 February 1830), known as Marcos Portugal, or Marco Portogallo, was a Portuguese-born Brazilian classical composer, who achieved great international fame for his operas. Biography Marco ...

(Marco Portogallo), ''Demofoonte'' (February 8, 1794 Milan, La Scala) *Marcos Portugal (Marco Portogallo), ''Il Demofoonte'' Rev. (August 15, 1808 Lisbon, S. Carlos); See also operas by

Leonardo Leo Leonardo Leo (5 August 1694 – 31 October 1744), more correctly Leonardo Ortensio Salvatore de Leo, was a Baroque composer. Biography Leo was born in San Vito degli Schiavoni (currently known as San Vito dei Normanni, province of Brindisi) ...

Carl Heinrich Graun Carl Heinrich Graun (7 May 1704 – 8 August 1759) was a German composer and tenor. Along with Johann Adolph Hasse, he is considered to be the most important German composer of Italian opera of his time. Biography Graun was born in Wahrenbrü ...

Luigi Cherubini Luigi Cherubini ( ; ; 8 or 14 SeptemberWillis, in Sadie (Ed.), p. 833 1760 – 15 March 1842) was an Italian Classical and Romantic composer. His most significant compositions are operas and sacred music. Beethoven regarded Cherubini as the grea ...

Roles

*Demofoonte *Dircea *Creusa *Timante *Cherinto *Matusio *Adrasto *Olinto

Synopsis

The

Thracian The Thracians (; grc, Θρᾷκες ''Thrāikes''; la, Thraci) were an Indo-European speaking people who inhabited large parts of Eastern and Southeastern Europe in ancient history.. "The Thracians were an Indo-European people who occupied ...

king Demofonte asks the oracle of Apollo how long the practice of the annual sacrifice of a virgin will continue. The answer is puzzling: "as long as the innocent usurper sits on the throne". The nobleman Matusio tries to protect his daughter Dircea from being sacrificed. He and Demofonte are unaware that Dircea is secretly married to Timante, the son of Demofonte and the heir to the throne. Demofonte wants Timante to marry Creusa, a princess of

Phrygia In classical antiquity, Phrygia ( ; grc, Φρυγία, ''Phrygía'' ) was a kingdom in the west central part of Anatolia, in what is now Asian Turkey, centered on the Sangarios River. After its conquest, it became a region of the great empire ...

. Timante's younger brother Cherinto is accompanying her to the kingdom of Thrace, however he falls in love with her. Meeting Creusa, Timante admits that he can't marry her, but does not explain why. Dircea has been caught while trying to flee the country and imprisoned, and Demofonte orders the immediate sacrifice of Dircea. Timante tries to release her but with no success. He is also imprisoned. Creusa asks Demofonte for mercy. The king releases Timante and Dircea, and Timante decides to give up the throne in favour of Cherinto. Suddenly they find a letter revealing that Dircea is the daughter of Demofonte, which makes Timante and Dircea brother and sister. Timante is in despair, and tries to avoid Dircea. However another letter reveals that Timante is the son of Matusio. Everybody is happy. The marriage of Timante and Dircea becomes legal, and Cherinto is the real crown prince and can marry Creusa. No more virgins are sacrificed, since Timante is no longer the "innocent usurper of the throne".

Settings of individual arias

Franz Schubert Franz Peter Schubert (; 31 January 179719 November 1828) was an Austrian composer of the late Classical and early Romantic eras. Despite his short lifetime, Schubert left behind a vast ''oeuvre'', including more than 600 secular vocal wor ...

, Aria di Timante (Act III, scene 5): " Misero pargoletto" ().

Otto Erich Deutsch Otto Erich Deutsch (5 September 1883 – 23 November 1967) was an Austrian musicologist. He is known for compiling the first comprehensive catalogue of Franz Schubert's compositions, first published in 1951 in English, with a revised edition pub ...

Werner Aderhold Werner Aderhold (4 November 1937 – 15 February 2021) was a German musicologist. Life Born in Dortmund, Aderhold was a long-time collaborator of the New Schubert Edition at the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen. Initially, he contributed ...

and others (eds.) Franz Schubert: Neue Ausgabe sämtlicher Werke
Series VIII: SupplementVolume 4: ''Franz Schubert: Thematisches Verzeichnis seiner Werke in chronologischer Folge''
Bärenreiter, 1978. , p. 35

References

External links

Work list of MetastasioMetastasio, Pietro; Mysliveček, Josef. ''Il Demofoonte''
dramma per musica, libretto. Venezia, Modesta Fenzo, 1769. {{Authority control Opera seria Italian-language operas Operas Libretti by Metastasio 1731 operas