About the work
Scipione is an opera seria by George Frideric Handel to a libretto by Paolo Antonio Rolli, based on a text by Antonio Salvi. Handel composed the score in about three weeks as a stopgap after the singer Faustina Bordoni's arrival in London was delayed; it premiered on 12 March 1726 at the King's Theatre in the Haymarket, London.
Plot
After conquering New Carthage, the Roman general Scipio falls for his captive Berenice, who is betrothed to the Celtiberian prince Lucejo. Rather than claim her as a victor's spoil, Scipio releases her, accepts only her father's ransom, and hands Berenice and the dowry on to Lucejo.
Cultural significance
The plot follows the ancient tale of the "continentia Scipionis" told by Livy. A march from the opera remains the official slow regimental march of the British Grenadier Guards, making Scipione one of the few Handel operas still heard regularly today.