About the work
"Berenice, regina d'Egitto" is an opera seria in three acts by Handel, its anonymously adapted libretto following Antonio Salvi's text written for the Florentine court in 1709. It premiered at Covent Garden Theatre on 18 May 1737, during a difficult period for Handel, who had suffered a stroke that spring that paralysed four fingers of his right hand, so that the premiere was likely directed by his assistant John Christopher Smith.
Plot
Queen Berenice rejects a marriage proposal from the Roman Alessandro because of her attachment to Prince Demetrio. Demetrio, however, secretly loves Berenice's sister Selene and conspires with an Egyptian rival against the queen. When Berenice overhears his treachery she nearly has him executed, but ultimately forgives him, gives her hand and throne to the ever-loyal Alessandro, and lets both couples find happiness.
Cultural significance
With only four performances, "Berenice" had the shortest initial run of any Handel opera and was never revived; soon afterwards his rival company, the Opera of the Nobility, collapsed, returning control of London's opera scene to Handel.