Adriano in Siria

Besetzung: Cast: Adriano (Contralto), Farnaspe (Mezzosoprano), Emirena (Soprano), Sabina (Contralto), Idalma (Soprano), Osroa (Basso). Orchestra: Flauto I, II; Oboe I, II; Trombe I, II; Corno I, II; Violino concertato I, II; Violino I, II; Viola I, II; Violoncello I, II; Basso Continuo

Francesco Maria Veracini (1690-1768), in his lifetime an esteemed composer and celebrated violin virtuoso, wrote this spectacular opera in 1735 for The Opera of the Nobility, London, the company rivaling Handel‘s operatic enterprises. The all-star cast included the castrato Farinelli (Farnaspe), but also several singers formerly associated with Handel, like Senesino (in the title role) and Francesca Cuzzoni (Emirena).

The music is highly virtuosic and contains many brilliant showstoppers, but also several beautiful slow arias. The orchestra is unusually large and includes both brass and woodwinds, which are used to great effect in several arias. The manuscript doesn’t include recitatives, but all arias, orchestral pieces and three accompanied recitatives are preserved.

The edition does not reconstruct secco recitatives, but provides a complete bilingual libretto. Maestro Fabio Biondi conducted the modern premiere of this work with a distinguished cast of singers in Cracow and Vienna. This performance from 2014 has been released on CD on the “Fra Bernardo” label.