About the work
Adriano in Siria is an opera seria by Johann Christian Bach, set to Pietro Metastasio's libretto of the same name, already set some 40 times before Bach's version. The premiere took place in January 1765 at the King's Theatre in London's Haymarket, where Bach had worked as opera composer since 1762.
Plot
The Roman emperor Hadrian is betrothed to Sabina but falls in love with the captive Parthian princess Emirena, whose father Osroes then plots against him. In the end virtue triumphs over passion: Hadrian releases the prisoners, gives up Emirena and reconciles with Sabina, while Emirena is allowed to marry her true love, Farnaspes.
Cultural significance
Demand was so high that only about a third of the audience found seats. The not-yet-nine-year-old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, then staying in London, probably attended one of the performances – an early encounter with a composer who would go on to influence him profoundly.