As a side note, this opera in this story does not exist, but however, the libretto does and it has an English translation that is incredibly difficult to read but is nonetheless online. It is by Apostolo Zeno and this is the best summary I can give, and occasionally I filled in some plot holes.
The overture to this fictional opera, I imagine, sounds like or is the 'La stravaganza' overture by Carlo Tessarini. I have a whole playlist for this book, let me know if you want the link. The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.
(Polifonte) Tommaso Giorgi - Bass
(Merope) Isabella Giorgi - Soprano
(Epitide) Alessandro Scognamiglio - Alto Castrato
(Argia) Gabriele Sanfelice - Soprano Castrato, in travesti
(Trasimede) Gennaro Fabrizi - Alto Castrato
(Licisco) Jacopo Vespignani - Soprano Castrato
(Anassandro) Federico Lucenti - Tenor
Cresfonte is king of Messenia, with Merope being his queen. Before the opera begins, he is assassinated by Anassandro, former confidante of Merope, who was ordered to do so by Polifonte. Yes, I know. There's a lot of guys with 'fonte' in their name here.
Along with Cresfonte, his two sons by Merope are also killed, with the exception of the hero of the opera, Epitide. He escapes to Etolia where he is raised in the court of King Tideo. Merope is spared from death because Polifonte, now tyrant of Messenia, has become enamored with her. With the transfer of power to Polifonte, there is one condition, that being that if Epitide is ever to return to Messenia, he should immediately become king. Polifonte has expressed that he wants to marry Merope. However, she has insisted on waiting 10 years, hoping that her son will arrive within that time.
Anassandro has gone into hiding with the help of Polifonte. The tyrant has also made the suspicion of the assassination of Cresfonte fall upon the innocent Princes. In the time before the beginning of the opera, Polifonte has attempted to kill Epitide with little success, because Tideo has been protecting him.
With none of his methods working, Polifonte plotted and succeeded in kidnapping Tideo's daughter and Epitide's betrothed, Argia. An ambassador, Licisco, who happens to be a friend of Epitide, has been sent from Etolia to Messenia to bring Argia back.
On the exact end of the 10 years that Merope has made Polifonte wait before marrying her, Epitide, going by the name Cleon, has also returned, and upon his entry of Messenia, he has slain an enormous boar that was terrorizing the people of the land, and was deemed a hero. Epitide is welcomed by Polifonte and Trasimede, the councilor of the capital of Messenia and would-be lover of Merope. Merope, not recognizing Epitide, or rather, Cleon, believes him to be the murderer of Epitide.
Near the beginning of the second act, Epitide and Argia are reunited. Merope is accused of being the killer of her children and husband. In the very next scene, Anassandro confesses to being the killer of Cresfonte, but lies that he was ordered to do so by Merope herself. Apparently losing all his romantic feelings towards Merope, Polifonte demands for her execution to be hastened.
The action swells to an all-time high in the third act. Anassandro reveals his suspicions towards Epitide, saying that he has often seen him in the Etolian court. Trasimede attempts to confess his love for Merope but is rejected. In the very next scene, Epitide tells Merope that he is not Cleon, but in fact, Epitide. He calls upon upon Argia, but much to his distress, she pretends not to recognize him. Soon after, he is taken away to be executed.
Entering, Polifonte tells her that Epitide is dead, and by her command. Merope teeters on the brink of insanity, believing herself responsible for the death of her son. She requests for the ever faithful Trasimede to kill her, but Argia enters just on time, demanding to know whether her beloved is dead yet or not. But then, Merope accuses Polifonte of killing Epitide. She enters the ninth scene, prepared to die, but then Epitide enters, showing that he is alive and telling her that Trasimede delayed his death.
At the end of the opera, Polifonte loses both life and kingdom, Anassandro is exiled, Epitide becomes king of Messenia, and Merope is declared innocent.
This was all pieced together from reviews of Riccardo Broschi's opera 'Merope' performed at the Innsbruck Early Music Festival, informational articles on Geminiano Giacomelli's opera of the same name, and the English translation of the original libretto from the first half of the 18th century. This was most certainly a challenge, though it was an entertaining and informative one. Oh and, so it wouldn't be as dry and a difficult read, I changed some of the confusing wording to be more easy to understand.
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A Songbird's Lament
Ficción histórica[Ongoing] Gabriele Sanfelice. Rondinello. Castrato. In a small town outside Napoli during the beginning of the 18th century, 9-year-old Gabriele Sanfelice lives a simple life; playing with his friends, and singing in the local church choir on Sunday...
