Zeno's libretto was first performed on 27 December 1698 to music by Carlo Francesco Pollarolo in Venice (Il Faramondo). In 1719 Nicola Porpora used it at the Teatro San Bartolomeo in Naples, and Francesco Gasparini at the Teatro Alibert in Rome. The libretto for Gasparini was considerably revised, and it was this version, after further removing about half the recitatives, that Handel used. Handel's Faramondo was first performed at the King's Theatre, London, on 3 January 1738. There were 8 performances and it was never revived. The first modern production was at the Handel Festival, Halle (then in East Germany), on 5 March 1976.
| Librettist | Unknown (After Apostolo Zeno) |
| Date of composition | 1737 (November 1737 - Decembre 1737) |
| Premiered | 1738, January 3rd (King's Theatre in the Haymarket) in London, UK |
| Type | Opera |
| Catalogue | HWV 39 |
| Spoken language | Italian |
| Instruments |
Voice (Castrato)
- Faramondo, King of the Franks
Voice (Soprano) - Clotilde, Faramondo's sister Voice (Bass) - Gustavo, King of the Cimbrians Voice (Mezzo-Soprano) - Rosimonda, Gustavo's daughter Voice (Soprano) - Adolfo, Gustavo's son Voice (Contralto) - Gernando, King of the Suebi Voice (Bass) - Teobaldo, general of the Cimbrians Voice (Soprano) - Childerico, his supposed son, confidante of Rosimonda Orchestra |
| Links | |
| Autotranslations beta |
Georg Friedrich Haendel: Faramondo, HWV 39 Georg Friedrich Händel: Faramondo, HWV 39 Georg Friedrich Händel: Faramondo, HWV 39 |