Poro, re dell'Indie (or 'Porus, King of the Indians') (HWV 28) is an opera seria in three acts by George Frideric Handel. The Italian-language libretto was adapted from Alessandro nell'Indie by Metastasio. It is based on Alexander the Great's encounter with King Porus in 326 BC. Opera seria is an Italian musical term which refers to the noble and serious style of Italian opera that predominated in Europe from the 1720s to ca 1770. ... George Frideric Handel (23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-born British Baroque composer who was a leading composer of concerti grossi, operas and oratorios. ... A libretto is the complete body of words used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, sacred or secular oratorio and cantata, musical, and ballet. ... Pietro Trapassi (January 13, 1698 - April 12, 1782), Italian poet, is better known by his pseudonym of Metastasio. ... Alexander the Great (Greek: ,[1] Megas Alexandros; July 356 BC–June 11, 323 BC), also known as Alexander III, king of Macedon (336–323 BC), was one of the most successful military commanders in history. ... Alexander and Porus by Charles Le Brun, 1673 King Porus, the Greek version of the Indian names Puru, Pururava, Purushotthama or Parvata, was the ruler of a Kingdom in Punjab located between the Jhelum and the Chenab (in Greek, the Hydaspes and the Acesines) rivers in the Punjab. ...

Performance history

The opera was first given at the King's Theatre in London on 2 February 1731 and on 15 further occasions. It was revived on 23 December 1731, and again in a revised form on 8 December 1736. It was also given in Hamburg and Brunswick. This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... February 2 is the 33rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Events 10 Downing Street becomes the official residence of the United Kingdoms Prime Minister when Robert Walpole moves in. ... December 23 is the 357th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (358th in leap years). ... December 8 is the 342nd day (343rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events January 26 - Stanislaus I of Poland abdicates his throne. ... Hamburg from above Hamburgs motto: May the posterity endeavour with dignity to conserve the freedom, which the forefathers acquired. ... Coordinates: Time zone: CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2) Administration Country: Germany State: Lower Saxony District: Urban district City subdivisions: 20 Boroughs Lord Mayor: Gert Hoffmann (CDU) Governing parties: CDU / FDP Basic Statistics Area: 192. ...

The first modern performance, also in Brunswick, was in 1928. Coordinates: Time zone: CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2) Administration Country: Germany State: Lower Saxony District: Urban district City subdivisions: 20 Boroughs Lord Mayor: Gert Hoffmann (CDU) Governing parties: CDU / FDP Basic Statistics Area: 192. ... Year 1928 (MCMXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar). ...

Roles

• Poro, Indian King (alto castrato)
• Cleofide, Poro's lover (soprano)
• Erissena, Poro's sister (alto)
• Gandarte, Erissena's lover (alto)
• Alessandro, King of Macedonia (tenor)
• Timagene, Alexander's general (bass)

Alexander and Porus by Charles Le Brun, 1673

This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A castrato is a male soprano, mezzo-soprano, or alto voice produced either by castration of the singer before puberty or one who, because of an endocrinological condition, never reaches sexual maturity. ... Look up soprano in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... In music, a tenor is a male singer with a high voice. ... A bass (or basso in Italian) is a male singer who sings in the deepest vocal range of the human voice. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (850x389, 75 KB) Alexander and Porus by Charles Le Brun, painted 1673. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (850x389, 75 KB) Alexander and Porus by Charles Le Brun, painted 1673. ... Alexander the Great (Greek: ,[1] Megas Alexandros; July 356 BC–June 11, 323 BC), also known as Alexander III, king of Macedon (336–323 BC), was one of the most successful military commanders in history. ... Charles Le Brun, contemporary portrait Charles Le Brun (February 24, 1619 - February 22, 1690) was a French painter and art theorist, one of the dominant artists in 17th century France. ...

Sources

Poro by Anthony Hicks, in 'The New Grove Dictionary of Opera', ed. Stanley Sadie (London, 1992) ISBN 0-333-73432-7 The New Grove Dictionary of Opera is an encyclopedia (or encyclopedic dictionary) of opera, considered to be one of the best general reference sources on the subject. ...