About the work
Il re pastore is a festival opera seria in two acts by Johann Adolph Hasse, based on Pietro Metastasio's libretto. It premiered on 7 October 1755 for the Dresden court of August III at Hubertusburg Castle.
Plot
Alexander the Great conquers the city of Sidon and wants to restore the throne to Abdolonimo, its rightful heir, who is living as the shepherd Aminta. This puts Aminta in conflict between his love for the noblewoman Elisa and his new royal duty. Alexander resolves the dilemma by uniting both couples and granting them kingdoms of their own.
Cultural significance
Compared with other Metastasio librettos, Il re pastore found only moderate favour, with fewer than thirty settings. Hasse's version for the Dresden court was nonetheless revived in Warsaw in 1762 and in Potsdam in 1770.