Niobe is an opera that was written by the Italian composer Agostino Steffani. It was first performed in 1688 in Munich but went out of fashion as an opera and has only recently been revived and performed on stage again. Often considered to be a forgotten masterpiece, Steffani's work was admired by such great contemporaries as Handel for it's musical intricacy.
Ovid's Metamorphoses is the basis for the story of the opera Niobe. Niobe is the arrogant queen of Thebes whose boastfulness incurs the wrath of the gods and results in her ultimate downfall. The opera ends in tragedy but a subplot featuring a young love blossoming and comedy scenes provided by Niobe's nurse Nerea give the story some light-hearted moments.
The opera has several main characters and some minor characters that add to the subplot. The part of Queen Niobe is sung by a soprano and a male soprano sings the part of King Anfione. Poliferno (bass) an evil magician adds malevolence to the main plot and Creonte (counter-tenor) a prince from Thessalonia, is bewitched by Poliferno into attacking the kingdom of Thebes.
The first Act sees Anfione the King abdicating and handing the crown over to his Queen, Niobe. Anfione appoints Clearte as her advisor not realizing that this man is secretly in love with his wife. The love-story subplot comes in the form of two characters Tiberino a prince and Manto a daughter of a priest. They meet outside the walls of Thebes and fall in love.
As he has a grudge against the former king, magician Poliferno tricks prince Creonte of Thessalonia into attacking Thebes. Anfione saves Thebes by singing to the walls and miraculously charming them into rising up higher, preventing access. Amazed Niobe compares her husband to the gods for this feat but blind priest Tiresias argues with her saying that her boastful nature will anger the gods. In an ensuing argument Tiresias calls on the gods for revenge against Niobe.
In the second Act Niobe continues to fill Anfione's head with the idea that he must be a god. Poliferno arranges for Creonte to come to Thebes to overthrow the former king. Poliferno uses his magical powers and has the king taken away by spirits. Poliferno then helps Creonte to disguise himself as the god Mars, which results in Niobe falling in love with Creonte in his god-like guise.
The final Act sees Poliferno warning Creonte and Niobe that the gods are enraged by their newfound love and are seeking vengeance. Poliferno and Creonte immediately flee the scene, breaking the magic, and Niobe realizes she has been tricked. Thebes is now restored to its former peaceful state but Niobe infuriates the gods again when Manto makes an offering to Latona, a goddess to bless her union with Tiberino. Niobe believes that the offering should be made to her as the wife of a god.
Punishment by the gods is swift with the palace burning down and Niobe's children being killed. Anfione commits suicide at the sight of his dead children and all this is too much for Niobe who in her despair turns to stone. Creonte is crowned king of Thebes and gives his blessing to the marriage between Tiberino and Manto but Poliferno is banished from the kingdom for his wicked ways. - 42265
Ovid's Metamorphoses is the basis for the story of the opera Niobe. Niobe is the arrogant queen of Thebes whose boastfulness incurs the wrath of the gods and results in her ultimate downfall. The opera ends in tragedy but a subplot featuring a young love blossoming and comedy scenes provided by Niobe's nurse Nerea give the story some light-hearted moments.
The opera has several main characters and some minor characters that add to the subplot. The part of Queen Niobe is sung by a soprano and a male soprano sings the part of King Anfione. Poliferno (bass) an evil magician adds malevolence to the main plot and Creonte (counter-tenor) a prince from Thessalonia, is bewitched by Poliferno into attacking the kingdom of Thebes.
The first Act sees Anfione the King abdicating and handing the crown over to his Queen, Niobe. Anfione appoints Clearte as her advisor not realizing that this man is secretly in love with his wife. The love-story subplot comes in the form of two characters Tiberino a prince and Manto a daughter of a priest. They meet outside the walls of Thebes and fall in love.
As he has a grudge against the former king, magician Poliferno tricks prince Creonte of Thessalonia into attacking Thebes. Anfione saves Thebes by singing to the walls and miraculously charming them into rising up higher, preventing access. Amazed Niobe compares her husband to the gods for this feat but blind priest Tiresias argues with her saying that her boastful nature will anger the gods. In an ensuing argument Tiresias calls on the gods for revenge against Niobe.
In the second Act Niobe continues to fill Anfione's head with the idea that he must be a god. Poliferno arranges for Creonte to come to Thebes to overthrow the former king. Poliferno uses his magical powers and has the king taken away by spirits. Poliferno then helps Creonte to disguise himself as the god Mars, which results in Niobe falling in love with Creonte in his god-like guise.
The final Act sees Poliferno warning Creonte and Niobe that the gods are enraged by their newfound love and are seeking vengeance. Poliferno and Creonte immediately flee the scene, breaking the magic, and Niobe realizes she has been tricked. Thebes is now restored to its former peaceful state but Niobe infuriates the gods again when Manto makes an offering to Latona, a goddess to bless her union with Tiberino. Niobe believes that the offering should be made to her as the wife of a god.
Punishment by the gods is swift with the palace burning down and Niobe's children being killed. Anfione commits suicide at the sight of his dead children and all this is too much for Niobe who in her despair turns to stone. Creonte is crowned king of Thebes and gives his blessing to the marriage between Tiberino and Manto but Poliferno is banished from the kingdom for his wicked ways. - 42265
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