Calliroe

Not to be confused with Callirrhoe.

Calliroe is an opera by Antonio Sacchini, set to a libretto by Mattia Verazi. It was first performed in Schloss Ludwigsburg on 11 February 1770 and the ballets were set by French choreographer Louis Dauvigny.

Calliroe
Opera seria by Antonio Sacchini
Antonio Sacchini, engraved portrait
Librettist	Mattia Verazi
Language	Italian
Premiere	11 February 1770 (1770-02-11) Schloss Ludwigsburg

The opera follows the usual pattern of opera seria of the time: secco recitative interlaced with da capo arias. Within this format Sacchini introduced strong dramatic music to suit the libretto: stromentato recitative is also used for extra dramatic effect, and the arias are sometimes interrupted by bursts of recitative. Stylistically, the work is thought to anticipate Italian opera of the following decade, and in particular Mozart's Il re pastore.

Roles

Role	Voice type	Premiere Cast, 11 February 1770 (Conductor:)
Bicestre	soprano	Anna Cesari Seeman
Tarsile	soprano castrato	Andrea Grassi
Sidonio	soprano castrato	Francesco Guerrieri
Calliroe	mezzo-soprano	Caterina Bonafini
Dorisia	mezzo-soprano	Monaca (or Monica) Bonanni
Agricane	alto castrato	Giovanni Maria Rubinelli
Arsace	tenor	Gaetano Petti

References

• Italianopera, 12 February 2011
• Casaglia, Gherardo (2005)."Calliroe, 11 February 1770". L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian).
• Marita P. McClymonds: "Calliroe", Grove Music Online ed L. Macy (Retrieved 3 June 2007), grovemusic.com Archived 16 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine, subscription access.