About the work
Antigono is an opera seria by Johann Adolph Hasse on Pietro Metastasio’s libretto of the same name — the most frequently set of all Metastasio’s texts, with over 40 settings during the 18th century. Hasse’s premiere took place on 10 October 1743 at the court theatre of Hubertusburg, followed by a production at the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples as early as December 1744.
Plot
The Macedonian king Antigono is betrothed to the Egyptian princess Berenice, but his son Demetrio also loves her and is banished for it. When the jealous King Alessandro of Epirus invades Macedonia out of his own unrequited love for Berenice, Demetrio proves his loyalty by fighting him off; in gratitude, Antigono cedes Berenice to his son and arranges the remaining matches.
Cultural significance
The plot is based on a brief account in Pompeius Trogus’s "Historiae Philippicae" of Alexander II of Epirus’s invasion of Macedonia around 230 BCE, which Metastasio expanded into a conflict between paternal duty and filial love. No other Metastasio libretto was set to music more often during the 18th century.