About the work
Adriano in Siria is an opera seria by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, set to a libretto adapted from Pietro Metastasio for Naples. It was written for the 42nd birthday of Queen Elisabetta Farnese of Spain and premiered on 25 October 1734 at the Teatro San Bartolomeo in Naples, with the celebrated castrato Caffarelli in the role of Farnaspe.
Plot
In ancient Antioch, the Roman emperor Adriano falls in love with the Parthian princess Emirena, though he is already promised to Sabina and Emirena is betrothed to the prince Farnaspe. After intrigue, jealousy and Farnaspe's imprisonment, Adriano renounces his passion, marries Sabina, and lets Emirena go to Farnaspe while restoring her father Osroa to power.
Cultural significance
For the production, Pergolesi cut Metastasio's original 27 arias down to about ten to suit Caffarelli's voice. Despite its musical quality, the opera met with only moderate success and was not revived during the 18th century; better remembered is the intermezzo La contadina astuta, performed between its acts.