About the work
Dramma per musica in three acts, the only opera Antonio Vivaldi composed for his native Venice in 1735 – commissioned by the Grimani family, who opened one of their theatres to him for the first time in 22 years. It is based on Apostolo Zeno's 1701 libretto after a tale from Boccaccio's "Decameron", thoroughly revised, shortened and relocated to Thessaly by the young Carlo Goldoni for Vivaldi.
Plot
King Gualtiero of Thessaly has repudiated his low-born wife Griselda to test her loyalty and pretends he wants their daughter Costanza killed. While Costanza secretly becomes involved with Prince Roberto of Athens and the nobleman Ottone courts Griselda herself, Griselda withstands every trial. In the end Gualtiero acknowledges her fidelity and the couples are united.
Cultural significance
Goldoni later described his work on the source text self-mockingly as having "murdered Zeno's drama exactly as Vivaldi wanted" – yet the premiere at the Teatro San Samuele was a success. Arias such as "Agitata da due venti" and "Dopo un'orrida procella" remain among the most performed concert excerpts from Vivaldi's operatic output today.