[Early Opera] Santinelli, Francesco Maria. (1627 - 1697)
Armida nemica, amante, e sposa [Armide - Enemy, Lover, and Wife] - LIBRETTO
Venitia: Appresso F. Salerni, e G. Cagnolini. 1669. 120 pp. Engraved throughout with elaborate title illustration, head and tail-pieces. Galvani App 2,20; Alm 164, 165. OCLC locates 4 copies worldwide."This five-act dramma musicale is survived by a libretto calling for a prologue and baletto in addition to its acts. The libretto was dedicated to the Empress Eleonora on 19 December 1668; the title-page is dated 1669. Composer unknown, text by Francesco Maria Santinelli, who in his dedication recommends the 'royal damsel' who is his subject to the empress."
"The scale to which this work is drawn is very grand and Galvani's observation that it was not intended for a Venetian theater is probably correct. It is more suggestive of court wedding spectacles of preceding generations, but there is no obvious occasion for its performance in a suitable timeframe. It was to feature nine principle roles; nymphs who sang, played instruments, and danced; three sirens; various allegorical characters (including the nine Muses, who were all to fly, together with Fame and Apollo); and groups of Armide's attendants. Its eleven sets were to alternate between those of bucolic tranquility and those of royal splendor. Scene 3 of Act Three presented a play (a commedia on the subject of Dido in Carthage) within the main drama. It was particularly richly invested with machines, many emphasizing deeds of gods and muses. Armide's involvements with magic are not neglected." (Eleanor Selfridge-Field, "A New Chronology of Venetian Opera and Related Genres, 1660 - 1760," p. 549) (8556)
Printed Music Opera