Scipione (HWV 20) - or Publio Cornelio Scipione - is an opera seria in three acts, with music composed by George Frideric Handel for the Royal Academy of Music (1719) in 1726. The librettist was Paolo Antonio Rolli. Handel composed Scipione whilst in the middle of writing Alessandro. It was based upon the life of Roman General Scipio Africanus. Its slow march is the regimental march of the Grenadier Guards and is played at London Metropolitan police passing out ceremonies.
| Original Name | Publio Cornelio Scipione |
| Librettist | Paolo Antonio Rolli, after Antonio Salvi |
| Date of composition | 1726 |
| Premiered | 1726, March 12th (King's Theatre in the Haymarket) in London, UK |
| Type | Opera Seria |
| Catalogue | HWV 20 |
| Spoken language | Italian |
| Instruments |
Voice (Castrato)
- Scipione, commander of the Roman army
Voice (Castrato) - Lucejo, Spanish prince, in disguise in the Roman army Voice (Tenor) - Lelio, Roman general Voice (Soprano) - Berenice, prisoner Voice (Soprano) - Armira, prisoner Voice (Bass) - Ernando, King of the Balearic Islands and father to Berenice Orchestra |
| Links | |
| Autotranslations beta |
Georg Friedrich Haendel: Scipione, HWV 20 Georg Friedrich Händel: Scipione, HWV 20 Georg Friedrich Händel: Scipione, HWV 20 |