Poro, re dell'Indie (Opera in concert version)

Royal Opera of Versailles (Palace of Versailles), Crusades Room, Paris, France

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7 PM

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Important Info

Type: Opera

City: Paris, France

Starts at: 19:00

Acts: 3

Intervals: 1

Duration: 2h 50min

Ticket delivery: E-Tickets

E-tickets: Print at home or at the box office of the event if so specified. You will find more information in your booking confirmation email.

Can I choose my seats?

Overview

Opera in three acts on a booklet by Pietro Metastasio, first performed at the King's Theatre in London in 1731. The young tenor Marco Angioloni - who sings the role of Alexander - resurrects this opera in concert with his Ensemble Il Groviglio, and a magnificent cast that would have delighted Handel!

At the height of his London fame, Handel created his 28th opera seria in 1731: vocal pyrotechnics about the warring rivalry between Alexander the Great and the Indian King Porus. But the King's sister, Erissena, is in love with Alexander, and Porus also feels betrayed by his lover Cleofide!

Rage and spite, love and glory inspire the extraordinary arias that Handel entrusts to two of his favourite singers: the castrato star Senesino for the title role, and the soprano Anna Maria Strada del Pò as the mistress/traitor of his heart!

The creation of Poro was indeed a challenge for Handel: the economic fragility of the London Opera had led to the bankruptcy of his first Royal Academy of Music in 1728: but Handel had bounced back and Poro was performed twenty times in 1731, an almost exceptional figure, a sign of the success of the work and the prestige of its cast. Then, in the frantic competition that constantly demanded new works, Poro was replaced by Ezio, but revived in 1736 (proof that Handel was once again banking on its success) before a slumber of almost three centuries...

History

Premiere of this production: 02 February 1731, King's Theatre, Haymarket, London

Poro, re dell'Indie ("Porus, King of the Indians") is an opera seria in three acts by George Frideric Handel. The Italian-language libretto was adapted from Alessandro nell'Indie by Metastasio, and based on Alexander the Great's encounter with King Porus in 326 BC. The libretto had already been set to music by Leonardo Vinci in 1729 and was used as the text for more than sixty operas throughout the 18th century.

Synopsis

Scene: By the Hydapses River, about 327 B.C.

Act 1
Alessandro has conquered India and its King, Poro, who in despair wants to take his own life, but is restrained by his friend Gandarte who reminds the King of his loving wife Queen Cleofide and how distraught she would be at his death. To prevent the King's capture by the advancing troops, he and Gandarte switch clothes so that Gandarte now appears to be the King and the King a simple warrior, "Asbite". Poro in this disguise is captured however and taken to Alessandro.

Poro's sister Erissena is also taken to Alessandro and captivates both the commander and his general, Timagene.

Poro in disguise makes his way into the palace where he is reunited with his wife Cleofide. He is distraught however when she sends a friendly greeting to the victorious Alessandro and sets out to pay him a visit, fearing that his wife will betray him with the conqueror. Gandarte brings word to Poro that Alessandro has fallen for their disguise and believes Gandarte to be the King, and that Alessandro's troops are dissatisfied and planning to mutiny.

Gandarte is in love with Erissena and is unhappy to find her full of praise for the many qualities of Alessandro.

Cleofide appeals to Alessandro to show mercy to her defeated husband. Alessandro is charmed by Cleofide's person, which Poro observing in his disguise as "Asbite" feels is evidence that his wife is planning to betray him. Cleofide accuses her husband of suspecting her unjustly.

Act 2
Alessandro pays a visit to Cleofide in the palace, further inflaming Poro's jealousy, who decides to launch an attack against Alessandro with his army, but he is once again defeated. In despair, he decides that the only way out is death both for himself and his wife and is going to kill first her and them himself but he is discovered by Alessandro just as he is about to stab Cleofide and Alessandro has the supposed "Asbite" arrested.

Timagene releases "Asbite" however. Timagene knows that Alessandro's troops are planning to mutiny and is now on their side. He thinks "Asbite" may be able to help them.

Alessandro proposes to Cleofide that she become his Queen now, but she refuses. Erissena brings terrible news – Poro in trying to escape, has been drowned attempting to cross a river. Cleofide is devastated.

Act 3
Erissena meets the disguised Poro in the royal gardens, astonished to find him alive. Poro is determined to be revenged on Alessandro and conspires with Timagene to kill him.

Cleofide tells Alessandro she will marry him after all, but really she is planning to immolate herself on a pyre directly after the marriage.

In the temple prepared for the marriage, with a sacrificial fire upon which Cleofide intends to throw herself, she is about to marry Alessandro when Poro appears and sinks to his knees before his wife, begging her to change her mind. For the first time, Alessandro realises that "Asbite" is really Poro and is deeply moved by such marital devotion. Alessandro forgives the conspiracy against him, will allow Poro and Cleofide to live together undisturbed and requests Poro's hand in friendship. All celebrate the fortunate outcome of events.

Venue Info

Royal Opera of Versailles (Palace of Versailles) - Paris
3 Place Léon Gambetta, Versailles

The Royal Opera of Versailles is the main theatre and opera house of the Palace of Versailles. The Royal Opera is one of the greatest works by the architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel. Inaugurated in 1770 during the reign of Louis XV, it was at the time the largest concert hall in Europe, and was also a great technical achievement and an impressive feat of decorative refinement. A theatre for monarchic and then republican life, it has hosted celebrations, shows and parliamentary debates.

Designed by Ange-Jacques Gabriel, it is also known as the Théâtre Gabriel. The interior decoration by Augustin Pajou is constructed almost entirely of wood, painted to resemble marble in a technique known as faux marble. The excellent acoustics of the opera house is at least partly due to its wooden interior.

The house is located at the northern extremity of the north wing of the palace. General public access to the theater is gained through the two-story vestibule. Some parts of the Opéra, such as the King's Loge and the King's Boudoir represent some of the earliest expressions of what would become known as the Louis XVI style.

Lully’s Persée — written in 1682, the year Louis XIV moved into the palace — inaugurated the Opéra on 16 May 1770 in celebration of the marriage of the dauphin — the future Louis XVI — to Marie Antoinette.

The Opéra Royal can serve either as a theater for opera, stage plays, or orchestral events, when it can accommodate an audience of 712 or as a ballroom when the floor of the orchestra level of the auditorium can be raised to the level of the stage. On these occasions, the Opéra can accommodate 1,200.

Important Info

Type: Opera

City: Paris, France

Starts at: 19:00

Acts: 3

Intervals: 1

Duration: 2h 50min

Masterclasse : Jan Versweyveld le mercredi

Opera National de Paris - Paris

15 May 2019, Wed, 7 PM

Semele

Théâtre des Champs-Elysées - Paris