Flavio, Re de LongobardiDramma per musica in tre attiIncluding the aria "Il suol che preme", which was replaced before the first performanceHWV 16
German Translation by Peter Brenner
Vocal Score based on the Urtext of the Halle Handel Edition by H. Fuchs
BA 4046a
Preface ContentsPreface
Flavio is a light, entertaining opera, which combines tragic, comic and satirical elements. The libretto, by Nicola Haym, is based on Flavio Cuniberto by Matteo Noris (Rome 1696); additional material for the basis of the action was taken from the Historia Langobardorum of Paulus Diaconus (c. 720-797), and Pierre Corneille's Le Cid of 1637. The characters in the drama are effectively portrayed by Handel's music.
The conflicts of the plot are set in motion by the behaviour of the King, Flavio, who puts his selfish desires before sound principles of government. When the post of Governor of Britain becomes vacant, candidates for this office are the two counsellors Lotario and Ugone. Although Lotario is the more deserving, Flavio's choice falls on Ugone, because he has a beautiful daughter, Teodata, with whom the King is in Love. Lotario, disappointed and feeling cheated of what he had hoped for, slaps the face of his successful rival Ugone, whose honour is insulted by such an action; Ugone's son Guido must therefore demand satisfaction on his father's behalf.
For Guido this means a stark conflict between love and duty, since he is shortly to marry Lotario's daughter Emilia. There is a duel, in which Guido kills Lotario; his death puts a barrier between the lovers Emilia and Guido, who are plunged into despair. In another twist of the plot, Teodata secretly loves Vitige, one of Flavio's courtiers. Flavio tries to persuade Vitige, of all people, to be a go-between in his pursuit of Teodata.
Neither of the lovers dares to oppose the King, so in his presence they act out a comedy of pretence which leaves them confused. Eventually Flavio discovers their relationship and sees his hopes dashed. Faced by the chaos he has himself created, he has to remember his responsibility as a ruler, and resolve the situation. He brings Emilia and Guido together, commands Vitige to marry Teodata, and sends Ugone to Britain.
Handel completed the opera, which was originally to be called Emilia, on 7 May 1723; it was first performed an 14 May at the Haymarket Theatre, with the following cast:
Flavio - Gaetano Berenstadt
Guido - Francesco Bernardi, called Senesino
Vitige - Margherita Durastanti
Ugone - Alexander Gordon
Lotario - Giuseppe Maria Boschi
Emilia - Francesca Cuzzoni
Teodata - Anastasia Robinson
Compared with other Handel operas, Flavio is relatively short, lasting only some two and a half hours.Flavio was performed eight times, and it ended the season on 15 June 1723. It was revived in 1732 for four performances between 18 and 29 April, in an altered form and with a different cast. At the time of this revival Handel's company was different from that of 1723, so that the voice-ranges of some roles had to be altered; the composer made cuts and transpositions, and added new texts and new movements.
After these last performances under Handel's direction, the work was forgotten, and not heard until 1967, when it was performed at the Handel Festival in Göttingen. Between 1985 and 1990 Flavio acquired increasing popularity.
In April 1993 a critical edition was issued in the HHA (II, 13), prepared according to modern edition principles by late Merill Knapp; this is the basis of the present vocal score. The HHA score includes in Appendix I movements which were composed for Flavio, but not performed, and in Appendix II the variant versions made for the 1732 revival.The autograph contains an aria "Il suol che preme", which Handel replaced before the first performance with "L'armellin vita non cura". The original aria is printed in the Appendix of this vocal score.
Halle, June 2000
Annette Landgraf
(English translation by Terence Best)
Contents
Ouverture
Atto Primo
Scena I
Recitativo Fra i ciechi orror (Vitige, Teodata)
1. Duetto Ricordati, mio ben (Vitige, Teodata)
Scena II
2. Sinfonia
Recitativo Lotario, al sacro nodo (Ugone, Lotario, Guido)
Scena III
Recitativo Con l'alma riverente (Emilia, Guido, Ugone, Lotario, Teodata)
3. Aria Quanto dolci (Emilia)
Scena IV
Recitativo Son pur felice (Guido)
4. Aria Bel contento (Guido)
Scena V
Recitativo O dell'Italo (Ugone, Flavio, Teodata)
5. Aria Benché povera (Teodata)
Scena VI
Recitativo Della mia prole Emilia (Lotario, Flavio)
Scena VII
Recitativo Di qual sovrano (Ugone, Flavio, Lotario)
6. Aria Se a te vissi fedele (Lotario)
Scena VIII
Recitativo Vitige. Mio signore (Flavio, Vitige)
7. Aria Di quel bel (Flavio)
Scena IX
Recitativo Io vo temendo (Vitige)
8. Aria Che bel contento (Vitige)
Scena X
Recitativo Ah! Guido, Guido! (Ugone, Guido)
Scena XI
Recitativo Amor, Emilia, onore (Guido)
9. Aria L'armellin vita non cura (Guido)
Scena XII
Recitativo Guido! consorte! (Emilia, Guido)
Scena XIII
Recitativo Chi mai l'intende, o Dio (Emilia)
10. Aria Amante stravagante (Emilia)
Atto Secondo
Scena I
Recitativo Al tuo cenno Reale (Teodata, Flavio)
Scena II
Recitativo Dove, dove mi celo? (Ugone, Flavio, Teodata)
Scena III
Recitativo Ah! Teodata! (Ugone, Teodata)
11. Aria Fato tiranno (Ugone)
Scena IV
Recitativo Dunque per le mie nozze (Emilia, Lotario)
12. Aria S'egli ti chiede affetto (Lotario)
Scena V
Recitativo Che mai chiedete (Emilia, Guido)
13. Aria Parto, sì (Emilia)
Scena VI
Recitativo Privarmi ancora dell'amata beltà? (Guido)
14. Aria Rompo i lacci (Guido)
Scena VII
Recitativo Di Teodata (Flavio, Vitige)
15. Aria Chi può mirare (Flavio)
Scena VIII
Recitativo Teodata! Vitige, ah! (Vitige, Teodata)
16. Aria Con un vezzo (Teodata)
Scena IX
Recitativo Amo, e quel ben ch'adoro (Vitige)
17. Aria Non credo instabile (Vitige)
Scena X
Recitativo Io deluso? (Lotario, Guido)
Scena XI
Recitativo Ah! misera! (Emilia, Lotario)
18. Aria Ma chi punir desio? (Emilia)
Atto Terzo
Scena I
Recitativo Alma, tu non l'intendi (Flavio, Emilia, Ugone)
19. Aria Da te parto (Emilia)
Scena II
Recitativo Guido, Lotario uccise? (Flavio, Vitige, Teodata)
20. Arioso Corrispondi (Vitige)
Recitativo Teodata! Eh, mio Signor? (Flavio, Teodata, Vitige)
21. Aria Starvi a canto (Flavio)
Recitativo Barbara Teodata (Vitige)
22. Aria Che colpa è la mia (Teodata)
Scena III
Recitativo Del nuovo amante (Vitige)
23. Aria Sirti, scogli (Vitige)
Scena IV
24. Accompagnato O Guido! o mio tiranno! (Emilia, Guido)
25. Aria Amor, nel mio penar (Guido)
Scena V
Recitativo Vitige! Mia Reina! (Teodata, Vitige, Flavio)
Scena VI
Recitativo Signor, se il mio delitto (Guido, Ugone, Flavio)
Scena VII
Recitativo Al tuo piede (Emilia, Flavio, Vitige, Ugone, Guido)
26. Duetto Deh! perdona (Emilia, Guido)
Recitativo E tu, Vitige (Flavio, Vitige, Teodata, Guido, Ugone)
27. Coro Doni pace (Emilia, Vitige, Guido, Teodata, Flavio, Ugone)
Appendix
Music originally intended for Flavio but never used in performance
(2) Aria Il suol che preme (Atto I, Scena XI)