About the work
Vologeso is a three-act opera seria by Baldassare Galuppi on a libretto by Apostolo Zeno, a reworking of his earlier text 'Lucio Vero'. It premiered on 13 February 1748 at the Teatro Argentina in Rome.
Plot
After Rome's victory over the Parthians, their queen Berenice, betrothed to King Vologeso who is believed lost in battle, is brought to the court of the victorious general Lucio Vero at Ephesus. Vero falls in love with his captive and tries to win her with promises and threats, although he is already betrothed to Lucilla, the emperor's daughter. When Vologeso turns out to be alive, disguised as a slave, Vero ultimately gives up Berenice, grants the couple their freedom, and returns to Lucilla.
Cultural significance
Zeno's text, originally centred on the Roman general, was renamed for this version after the defeated Parthian king; Galuppi's setting spread quickly and was restaged within a few years in cities including Cremona, Foligno, Perugia, Mantua and Graz.