Arminio (Biber)

Arminio or Chi la Dura la Vince is an opera ("Dramma musicale") – and the earliest extant opera composed in Salzburg – in three acts about the Germanic military hero Arminius, and the only surviving opera composed by Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber, composed ca. 1690–1692 with an Italian libretto probably by Francesco Maria Raffaelini. The manuscript score is kept in the Carolino Augusteum of Salzburg.

Roles

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Role Voice type
Arminio A Germanic warrior Bass
Calligola Son of Germanico, enamored of Segesta Alto
Claudia Enamored of Caligola Soprano
Climmia Giulia's nurse Tenor or Soprano
Erchino Court jester, enamored of Climmia Tenor
Germanico A Roman commander, adopted son of Tiberio Tenor
Giulia Enamored of Caligola Soprano
Nerone Son of Germanico, enamored of Giulia Tenor
Segesta The wife of Arminio Soprano
Seiano Prefect of the Praetorians Alto or Bass
Tiberio Emperor of the Romans Bass
Vitellio A friend of Germanico Alto

Synopsis

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The opera is about the story of the wife of Arminius, Thusnelda (Segesta) who becomes prisoner of Germanicus.

Recordings

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H.I.F. Biber: Arminio, Salzburger Hofmusik, Il Dolcimelo.

  • Conductor: Wolfgang Brunner
  • Singers:

Gotthold Schwarz / Bernhard Landauer / Irena Troupova / Regina Schwarzer / Otto Rastbichler / Hermann Oswald / Barbara Schlick / Gerd Türk / Xenia Meijer / Florian Mehltretter / Gerd Kenda / Markus Forster

  • Recording date: April 1994
  • Label: CPO

See also

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References

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  • Piero Gelli, Filippo Poletti: Dizionario Dell'opera 2008, Dalai editore, 2007