About the work
Opera seria in three acts by Niccolò Piccinni to Pietro Metastasio's libretto 'Demetrio', first performed on 30 May 1769 at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples.
Plot
The young Alceste — in truth Demetrio, the rightful king of Syria hidden away as a child — grows up unrecognised in the household of the loyal courtier Fenicio and falls in love with Queen Cleonice. Torn between political intrigue and his love for Cleonice, his true identity is confirmed only by a letter from his late father, clearing the way for him to marry Cleonice and take the throne.
Cultural significance
With more than fifty settings, Metastasio's 'Demetrio' was among the century's most popular opera texts. Piccinni's version dates from his most productive Neapolitan period, during which he became the most frequently performed composer at the Teatro San Carlo.