Volume 17 (2011) No. 1
Beth L. Glixon
Giulia Masotti, Venice, and the Rise of the Prima Donna
Table 3: Act-Endings in Giulia Masotti’s Venetian Performances, 1663–73 (Masotti’s arias are indicated with the first words of the text, in bold.)
Opera/Masotti Role |
Act I |
Act II |
Act III |
Comments |
Dori (1662/63)/Dori |
Erindo |
dialogue |
ensemble |
Act III ends as it did in the original 1657 Austrian libretto |
Rosilena (1663/64)/ Rosilena |
Ariadeno |
Clito [recitative?] |
Ormondo |
|
Scipione affricano (1663/64)/ Ericlea |
chorus |
chorus/Scipione |
“O voi che portate” |
echoed by chorus [not in score] |
Alciade (1666/67)/Idiotea |
“Consolami amore” |
“Speranza lusinghiera” |
Alciade, followed by “tutti” |
|
Dori (1666/67)/Dori |
Erindo |
Golo |
duet |
duet includes Masotti’s character |
Argia (1668/69)/Argia |
Alceo + chorus |
Atamante + chorus |
ensemble |
|
Semiramide (1670/71)/ Iside |
Aria sung by a male character |
“Sospira, delira” |
“Non vi sia chi di Cupido” |
|
Dori (1670/71)/Dori |
Arsinoe and Celindo |
Golo |
“Pensieri amorosi” |
|
Heraclio (1670/71)/ Theodosia |
Aria sung by a male character |
“Alma mia ritorna in te” |
“Sin che spirto” |
|
Caligula delirante (1671/72) |
Aria sung by nurse |
Aria sung by Cesonia |
Aria sung by male character |
Role: either Cesonia or Teosena |
Attila (1671/72)/Irene |
“Splende l’Iride in ciel sereno” |
“Alma mia se non sai” |
“Miei spirti ridete” |
|
Domitiano (1672/73), first printing/Emilia |
“Miei pensieri” |
solo scene for Elisa |
“Ridete, ridete” |
|
Domitiano (1672/73), second printing/Emilia |
“Miei pensieri” |
brief aria for Livia |
“Ridete, ridete” |