An Exotic and Irrational Entertainment: The Italian Opera in Mozart’s London

Intro

A programme of arias and duets from the resident Italian Opera Company’s 1764-1765 season at the King’s Theatre, Haymarket. This company comprised several of the most celebrated singers of the day, including the castrati Tenducci and Manzuoli, and the programme includes highlights from J.C. Bach’s Adriano in Siria, Matteo Vento’s Demoofonte and the pasticcio operas Ezio, Berenice and Solimano.

Programme

Ezio:
“Belle luci che accendete” (Vento)
“Caro mio bene, addio” (Pescetti)

Berenice:
“Che pretendi, o ciel tiranno?” (Vento)
“Confusa, smarrita” (J.C. Bach)

Adriano in Siria:
“Disperato in mar turbato”
“Tutti nemici e rei”
“Ah, come mi balza il cor… Deh, lascia, o ciel pietoso”

Demofoonte:
“Misero pargoletto”
“Se tutti i mali miei”
Duet, “Sposo, consorte… La destra ti chiedo”

Solimano:
“Se del caro mio germano” (Pescetti)
“Se non ti moro a lato” (Perez)