| Antonio Vivaldi |
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Operas
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Armida al campo d'Egitto is an opera in three acts by Antonio Vivaldi to a libretto by Giovanni Palazzo. It was first performed during the Carnival season of 1718 at the Teatro San Moisè in Venice. Vivaldi's version is different from the more than 50 operas whose themes derive in varying degrees from the story of Rinaldo and Armida in Torquato Tasso's epic poem La Gerusalemme liberata (Jerusalem Delivered).[1] Unlike the more than 50 operas based on the romance of Rinaldo and Armida, Vivaldi's version starts during previous events before the war against the Crusaders. Armida was revived for the Carnival season of 1738, with much of the music rewritten, and arias by Leonardo Leo added. Act II of the original version of the opera is now lost.
| Role | Voice type | Premiere cast[2] |
|---|---|---|
| Armida, a royal princess | contralto | Antonia Merighi |
| Califfo, King of Egypt | bass | Annibale Imperatori |
| Tisaferno | contralto castrato | Francesco Braganti |
| Adrasto | contralto | Costanza Maccari |
| Emireno, a general | contralto castrato | Francesco Natali |
| Erminia, a royal princess | soprano | Chiara Orlandi |
| Osmira, Califfo's niece | soprano | Rosa Venturini |
Complete recording with a restored version of Act II:
The overture to Armida al campo d'Egitto can be heard on:
Two arias from the work, Invan la mia pietà tenta l'ingrato and Chi alla colpa fà tragitto, can be heard on: