Giovanni Battista Pergolesi L'OLIMPIADE (1735)

Giovanni Battista Pergolesi L'OLIMPIADE, (1735) Opera seria. Libretto by Pietro Metastasio. L'OLIMPIADE Giovanni Battista Pergolesi L'OLIMPIADE, (1735) Opera seria. Libretto by Pietro Metastasio. Clistene – Raul Gimenez Aristea – Lyubov Petrova Argene – Yetzabel Arias Fernandez Licida – Jennifer Rivera Megacle – Sofia Soloviy Aminta – Antonio Lozano Alcandro – Milena Storti Conductor – Alessandro De Marchi Director – Italo Nunziata Set – Luigi Scoglio Costumes – Ruggero Vitrani Light – Patrick Latronica Academia Montis Regalis Fondazione Pergolesi Spontini SYNOPSIS: Megacle arrives in Sicyon just in time to enter the Olympic Games under the name of Licida, a friend who once saved his life. Unknown to Megacle, Licida is in love with Aristea, whose hand is to be offered to the winner of the games by her father, King Clistene. Licida, once betrothed to Princess Argene of Crete, is unaware that Megacle and Aristea already love each other, and he subsequently tells his friend of the prize. Aristea and Megacle greet each other fondly, but Megacle now feels bound by his promise to compete as Licida. Meanwhile, Argene arrives in Olympia disguised as a shepherdess, to win back Licida. Megacle wins the games, confesses the truth to Aristea and departs, broken-hearted. When Licida comes to claim her, Aristea reproaches him, as does the disguised Argene, much to his dismay. Aminta, tutor to Licida, reports that Megacle has drowned himself, and King Clistene, apprised of the deception, banishes Licida. Argene prevents the desperate Aristea from suicide, Megacle is rescued by a fisherman, and Licida contemplates the assassination of the king. Aristea pleads mercy for Licida and Argene offers herself in his place; as proof that she is a princess, she shows Clistenes a chain given her by Licida. He recognizes it as belonging to his son, abandoned in infancy to forestall the prophecy that he would kill his father. Licida, reinstated, accepts Argene, leaving his sister Aristea to Megacle.