Serse

Composer : George Frideric Handel
Librettist : Niccolo Minato
Language : Italian
Opera Year : 1738

Roles in this Opera include :
Amastre
Ariodate
Arsamene
Atalanta
Elviro
Romilda
Serse

Pieces in this Opera include :
Ah chi voler fiora
Ah tigre infedele
Amor, tiranno amor
Anima infida tradita io sono
Cagion son io del mio dolore
Caro voi siete all'alma
Chi cede al furore
Crude furie degl'orridi abissi
Del ciel d'amore sorte si bella
Del mio caro baco amabile
Di tacere
Dira che amor
E gelosia quella tiranna
E tormento troppo fiero
Gran pena e gelosia
Il core spera e teme
Io le diro che l'amo
L'amerete, l'amero
Meglio in voi
Ne men con l'ombre
No, no, se tu mi sprezzi
Non so se sia la speme
Ombra mai fu
Or che siete speranze tradite
Per dar fine alla mia pena
Per rendermi beato parto
Piu che penso
Quella che tutta fe
Sapra delle mie offese
Se bramate d'amar
Se cangio spoglia
Se l'idol mio rapir mi vuoi
Si, la voglio
Si, si, mio ben
Signor, signor
Soggetto al mio volere
Speranze mie fermate
Troppo oltraggi la mia fede
Un cenno leggiadretto
Un Serse mirate
Va godendo
Val piu contento core
Voi mi dite che non l'ami

SERSE (XERXES)

ACT ONE: In his garden, King Serse admires a plane tree, before also admiring the singing of Romilda, the daughter of the commander of his army, Ariodate. Serse commands his brother Arsamene to woo Romilda on his behalf, but Arsamene is in love with Romilda himself, and won’t help.

Atalanta, Romilda’s sister, also loves Arsamene, and is determined to get him for herself, so she plots to help the King seduce her sister. Serse, however, is rejected by Romilda and banishes Arsamene in anger.

Amastre, a princess engaged to Serse, is very much in love with the King, but arrives in disguise as a man. As Serse greets the victorious forces and their commander Ariodate, the King tells his commander that his daughter will marry one from the royal lineage. Amastre then overhears the King talking of his new passion, advises him, but does not yet reveal whom she is.

Arsamene’s servant Elviro is sent with a letter from the banished lover to Romilda, whilst Atalanta tries to convince her sister that Arsamene is unfaithful, but Romilda is not fooled.

ACT TWO: Disguised as a flower seller, Elviro tires to deliver his letter, but en route tells Amastre of Serse’s passion for Romilda. Meeting Atalanta, he gives her the letter to deliver, whilst Atalanta tells him that Romilda now thinks only of the King. Serse sees Atalanta reading the letter, and takes it; Atalanta claims that Arsamene wrote it to her, although of course Arsamene will deny this if he’s asked.

Serse rushes to Romilda with the letter, but even thought she believes Arsamene to be unfaithful, she still loves him and refuses the King’s advances. Elviro tells Arsamene what Atalanta has told him, that Romilda loves the King. Arsamene is devastated.

Serse’s bridge to Europe is complete, and he mobilises the army even though a storm is brewing. The King informs Arsamene that he knows he loves Atalanta, which his brother hotly denies. Mirroring the tempestuous emotions in the state, the storm destroys Serse’s bridge. Serse again attempts to win over Romilda, but Amastre intervenes and is attacked by the guards. Romilda orders the guards off her strange hero, in Serse’s name.

ACT THREE: Arsamene and Romilda are now wise to Atalanta’s scheming, although she says she can win men over easily. Serse returns to both woo and then threaten Romilda, who says she will marry him only if her father agrees. Serse leaves to get permission from Ariodate, whilst Arsamene cannot believe she has agreed. Romilda leaves, threatening to kill herself.

Serse gets Ariodate’s blessing, but since he doesn’t actually say whom the husband will be, Ariodate assumes the King refers to Arsamene. Serse returns to Romilda, who claims she is not worthy of the marriage. Serse orders Arsamene’s death in the fury of rejection, and Romilda tries to warn Arsamene, who takes it the wrong way and they argue.

Ariodate assumes that when Romilda and Arsamene arrive that they are ready to be married, and the ceremony quickly takes place as the lovers make up. Serse arrives too late, is furious and orders Arsamene to kill Romilda. Amastre steps forward, grabs the sword and holds it against Serse’s chest; knowing now who she is, he repents and agrees to be faithful to her. The chorus end singing of the virtues of love and honour.


© 2004 Kirsty Young
Internet rights 2004 OperaTalent