The Lost Operas – Unearthing the forgotten manuscripts of the Baroque
The 17th and 18th centuries, particularly during the Baroque period, witnessed an explosion in operatic composition. It was an era when some of the greatest composers of all time such as Claudio Monteverdi, Heinrich Biber, Francesco Cavalli, Georg Friedrich Handel, Johann Joseph Fux, Domenico Scarlatti, Antonio Vivaldi, Christoph Willibald Gluck, Niccolò Jommelli, Wolfgang Joseph Taeggi, and George Frideric Handel wrote operas. Despite the prominent contribution of these composers towards the development of opera music, many of their operas remain lost to history.
There were several factors that led to these works getting lost over time. In many cases, these manuscripts got destroyed in fires during wars or got lost due to lack of care and attention by the librarians. Moreover, some of these works may have existed only as vocal pieces and instrumental parts which would have been difficult for the librettist to identify with the opera score.
In recent years, musicologists have been working tirelessly to unearth some of the lost operas from this era. These days, libraries and archives are equipped with advanced technology that enable them to scan through the manuscripts in great detail.
Francesco Cavalli: Il Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda
One of the notable lost operas from the Baroque period is Francesco Cavalli’s “Il Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda”. The opera was written around 1665, and its score was recently recovered by musicologists. This opera tells the story of two warriors, Tancredi and Clorinda, who are engaged in a battle on horseback but eventually fall in love.
Wolfgang Joseph Taeggi: Orfeo
Another lost opera from this era is Wolfgang Joseph Taeggi’s “Orfeo”, which was written around 1716. The opera is based on the Greek myth of Orpheus, who travels to the underworld and brings back his beloved wife Eurydice. Unfortunately, he cannot bring her back again.
Wolfgang Joseph Taeggi: Lucio Silla
Yet another lost opera from this era is Wolfgang Joseph Taeggi’s “Lucio Silla”, which was written around 1717. The opera tells the story of the life of Roman statesman Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus, and his struggle with Tarquin. This struggle eventually leads to his downfall.
Niccolò Jommelli: Ester Momo
Niccolò Jommelli’s “Ester Momo” is another lost opera from the Baroque period. The opera was written around 1754, and its score was recently discovered by musicologists. This opera tells the story of the life of Esther, the wife of the Egyptian Pharaoh Ahasverus.
Measuring the Significance
The recovery of lost operas is a significant milestone in the world of classical music. These works provide valuable insights into the development of music during the Baroque period and enable us to understand the evolution of opera over time.
These recovered operas serve as evidence that the composers of this era were prolific and created a wide variety of musical pieces. Moreover, these operas demonstrate the vast creativity and range of the composers who lived during this time.
References
– Cavalli, F. (1665). Il Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda.
– Taeggi, W. J. (1716). Orfeo.
– Taeggi, W. J. (1717). Lucio Silla.
– Jommelli, N. (1754). Ester Momo.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this article is based on the knowledge available up to December 2023. Any further updates or changes may not be included in this article.