About the work
Siroe, re di Persia is an opera seria in three acts by George Frideric Handel, its libretto by Nicola Francesco Haym after Pietro Metastasio's text of the same name, one of the most frequently set librettos of its day. It premiered on 17 February 1728 at the King's Theatre in London.
Plot
King Cosroe of Persia wants to settle the succession on his second son Medarse, passing over the popular crown prince Siroe. At court, disguised as a man under the name Idaspe, lives Princess Emira, whose father Cosroe had murdered and who secretly loves Siroe. The power struggle between father and son unleashes betrayal and jealousy before Siroe is finally vindicated.
Cultural significance
Metastasio's libretto was one of the most frequently set of its time, used among others by Vinci, Vivaldi, Porpora and Hasse. Despite a top cast of Cuzzoni, Faustina and Senesino, Handel's setting fell short of expectations as audiences were drawn instead to John Gay's The Beggar's Opera, playing at the same time.