An English opera.


Libretto and music by

Thomas Augustine ARNE


First performance: 2 February 1762, London, Theatre-Royal in Covent-Garden.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Description, name
[sex]		 Voice type
[first performer, sex]		 

Artaxerxes

prince and afterwards king of Persia; friend to Arbaces, and in love with Semira   [ ♂ ]

  

contralto
[ Nicolò Peretti,  ⚨ ]

  

Artabanes

and favourite of the royal family; father to Arbaces and Semira   [ ♂ ]

  

tenor
[ John Beard,  ♂ ]

  

Arbaces

friend of Artaxerxes, in love with Mandane   [ ♂ ]

  

soprano
[ Giusto Fernando Tenducci,  ⚨ ]

  

Rimenes

a general of the army, and confident of Artabanes   [ ♂ ]

  

tenor
[ George Mattocks,  ♂ ]

  

Mandane

sister to Artaxerxes, in love with Arbaces   [ ♀ ]

  

soprano
[ Charlotte Brent,  ♀ ]

  

Semira

sister to Arbaces, in love with Artaxerxes   [ ♀ ]

  

soprano
[ Thomas,  ♀ ]

  


Nobles, Guards, and Attendants.


 


The action is represented in and near the palace of the kings of Persia, in the city of Susa.
 

Act one Act two Act three

• • •

PDF text Simplified version