Muzio Scevola

George Frideric Handel

Muzio Scevola (Italian pronunciation: [ˈmuttsjo ʃˈʃeːvola]; "Mucius Scaevola", HWV 13) is an opera seria in three acts about Gaius Mucius Scaevola. The Italian-language libretto was by Paolo Antonio Rolli, adapted from a text by Silvio Stampiglia. The music for the first act was composed by Filippo Amadei (family name sometimes given as Mattei[1]), the second act by Giovanni Bononcini, and the third by George Frideric Handel.[2] Collaborations of groups of composers were common in the 18th century, though this is the only one done in London. Bononcini had written the music for two earlier treatments of this story on his own, works dating from 1695 and 1710.[3]

  1. ^ Bond, Donald F., "Book Reviews: Paolo Rolli in Inghilterra by Tarquinio Vallese" (February 1940). Modern Philology, 37 (3): pp. 327-332.
  2. ^ W.H.C. (no full name given), Muzio Scevola (July 1, 1890). The Musical Times and Singing Class Circular, 31 (569): pp. 399-400.
  3. ^ Ford, Anthony, "Music and Drama in the Operas of Giovanni Bononcini" (1974-1975). Proceedings of the Royal Musical Association, 101: pp. 107-120.