Difference between revisions of "Elena (Francesco Cavalli)"

'''{{lang|it|Elena}}''' is an opera (''dramma per musica'') by [[Francesco Cavalli]] to a libretto by [[Giovanni Faustini]] and [[Nicolò Minato]]. The opera premiered at the Teatro San Cassiano in Venice on {{Start date|1659|12|26|df=y}}.<ref name="Wiki"/><ref name="TeatriVenezia"/>

'''{{lang|it|Elena}}''' is an opera (''dramma per musica'') by [[Francesco Cavalli]] to a libretto by [[Giovanni Faustini]] and [[Nicolò Minato]]. The opera premiered at the Teatro San Cassiano in Venice on {{Start date|1659|12|26|df=y}}.<ref name="Wiki"/><ref name="TeatriVenezia"/>

(''Translated from: Libretto 1659, Library of Congress''<ref name="LibrettoLOC"/><ref name="FR"/>

(''Translated from: Libretto 1659, Library of Congress''<ref name="LibrettoLOC"/><ref name="FR"/>

From Leda, wife of Tindar, king of Sparta, was born Helen, so rare in beauty that she became admired by the whole world, and gained fame with the fires of Troy, which were started because of her. Menelaus, the nephew of Atreus, the famous king of Crete, took a fancy to her and became her husband. But first, she was kidnapped by Theseus, in the company of Pirithous, them having made a vow to marry only the daughters of Jupiter. For this reason, Theseus abducted Helen, of whom it was said that she had been begotten by Jupiter in the guise of a Swan. In order to achieve this rapture, Theseus abandoned Hippolyta, sister of Antiope, Queen of the Amazons, who had been given to him by Hercules, and when he fought with him against the Amazons, he defeated them and took Hippolyta prisoner.

From Leda, wife of Tindar, king of Sparta, was born Helen, so rare in beauty that she became admired by the whole world, and gained fame with the fires of Troy, which were started because of her. Menelaus, the nephew of Atreus, the famous king of Crete, took a fancy to her and became her husband. But first, she was kidnapped by Theseus, in the company of Pirithous, them having made a vow to marry only the daughters of Jupiter. For this reason, Theseus abducted Helen, of whom it was said that she had been begotten by Jupiter in the guise of a Swan. In order to achieve this rapture, Theseus abandoned Hippolyta, sister of Antiope, Queen of the Amazons, who had been given to him by Hercules, and when he fought with him against the Amazons, he defeated them and took Hippolyta prisoner.

===German===

===German===

(''Translated from: Libretto 1659, Library of Congress''<ref name="LibrettoLOC"/><ref name="FR"/>

(''Translated from: Libretto 1659, Library of Congress''<ref name="LibrettoLOC"/><ref name="FR"/>

Leda, Gemahlin des Tindar, dem König von Sparta, gebar Helena, deren Schönheit so außergewöhnlich war, dass sie von der ganzen Welt bewundert wurde und sie durch das wegen ihr entfachte Feuer von Troja berühmt wurde. Menelaos, ein Neffe von Atreus, dem berühmten König von Kreta, fand Gefallen an ihr und wurde ihr Ehemann. Aber zuerst wurde sie von Theseus in Begleitung des Peirithoos entführt, da diese geschworen hatten, nur Töchter Jupiters zu heiraten; aus diesem Grund entführte Theseus Helena, von der es hieß, dass sie von Jupiter in der Gestalt eines Schwans gezeugt worden war. Damit die Entführung möglich wurde, verließ Theseus Hippolyta, die Schwester der Antiope, Königin der Amazonen, die ihm von Herkules geschenkt worden war. Als er mit ihm gegen die Amazonen kämpfte, besiegte er sie und nahm Hippolyta gefangen.  

Leda, Gemahlin des Tindar, dem König von Sparta, gebar Helena, deren Schönheit so außergewöhnlich war, dass sie von der ganzen Welt bewundert wurde und sie durch das wegen ihr entfachte Feuer von Troja berühmt wurde. Menelaos, ein Neffe von Atreus, dem berühmten König von Kreta, fand Gefallen an ihr und wurde ihr Ehemann. Aber zuerst wurde sie von Theseus in Begleitung des Peirithoos entführt, da diese geschworen hatten, nur Töchter Jupiters zu heiraten; aus diesem Grund entführte Theseus Helena, von der es hieß, dass sie von Jupiter in der Gestalt eines Schwans gezeugt worden war. Damit die Entführung möglich wurde, verließ Theseus Hippolyta, die Schwester der Antiope, Königin der Amazonen, die ihm von Herkules geschenkt worden war. Als er mit ihm gegen die Amazonen kämpfte, besiegte er sie und nahm Hippolyta gefangen.  

(''Source: Libretto 1659, Library of Congress'')

(''Source: Libretto 1659, Library of Congress'')

In questo stato di cose si principia l'Opera : nella quale si rappresentano gl' Amori di Menelao, che per introdursi à seruire Elena si finge vn Amazone famosa nella Lotta : si rappresenta il Rapimento fatto da Teseo di Elena, e si figura, che Peritoo, veduto Menelao in habito di Femina lottar con Elena, credendo, che fosse Donna, se ne inamori, e la rapisca, scordandosi, che haueua destinato di non maritarsi, se non con Figlie di Gioue.  

In questo stato di cose si principia l'Opera : nella quale si rappresentano gl' Amori di Menelao, che per introdursi à seruire Elena si finge vn Amazone famosa nella Lotta : si rappresenta il Rapimento fatto da Teseo di Elena, e si figura, che Peritoo, veduto Menelao in habito di Femina lottar con Elena, credendo, che fosse Donna, se ne inamori, e la rapisca, scordandosi, che haueua destinato di non maritarsi, se non con Figlie di Gioue.  

Finalmente Castore, e Polluce Fratelli d'Elena arrivano per liberarla dalle mani di Teseo. Ippolita si scopre: Teseo resta vinto dalli affetti di essa: e se gli fa sposo: e Menelao, scopertosi, resta Sposo di Elena e così fra questi successi si conclude l'opera intrecciata con vari accidenti.

Finalmente Castore, e Polluce Fratelli d'Elena arrivano per liberarla dalle mani di Teseo. Ippolita si scopre: Teseo resta vinto dalli affetti di essa: e se gli fa sposo: e Menelao, scopertosi, resta Sposo di Elena e così fra questi successi si conclude l'opera intrecciata con vari accidenti.

==Roles and premiere cast==

==Roles and premiere cast==

!Role

!Role

!Voice type

!Voice type

|-

|-

|colspan="3">|<b>Prologue:</b>

|colspan="3">|<b>Prologue:</b>

  |isbn=

  |isbn=

}}</ref>

}}</ref>

}}

}}

[[Category:Music]]

[[Category:Music]]

[[Category:17th-century music]]

[[Category:17th-century music]]

[[Category:secular]]<!-- secular or sacred -->

[[Category:secular]]<!-- secular or sacred -->