Adriano in Siria (Pergolesi)

Adriano in Siria is an opera by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi setting Metastasio's libretto of the same name. It was the third of his four opere serie, premiered at Teatro San Bartolomeo in Naples on 25 October 1734. Pergolesi also provided a comic intermezzo La contadina astuta, later better known as Livietta e Tracollo, to a libretto by Tomasso Mariani.

Pergolesi was only 24 years old when he began to work on Metastasio's libretto in 1734. The score is dedicated to the new monarch, but was written expressly to mark the 42nd birthday of the Queen of Spain, Elisabetta Farnese. He made very many changes to Metastasio's original text, largely for the famous mezzo-soprano castrato, Gaetano Majorano, known as Caffarelli. Eventually no more than 10 arias were left to be set among the 27 originally written by Metastasio, the rest having been widely replaced by different texts.

Pergolesi died of tuberculosis only two years after the premiere.

Set in Antioch, in ancient Syria, a celebration is held for the victorious Roman Emperor, Adriano, who has defeated the Parthians. The Parthian King, Osroa, and Prince Farnaspe, mutual friend of Osroa, present themselves to Adriano, and reveal to the Emperor that during the battle, the Romans had captured Osroa's daughter, Emirena, who is betrothed to Farnaspe.

By the time that information is revealed, Adriano is already in-love with Emirena, though he is engaged to Princess Sabina. To make matters more complicated, Aquilio, Adriano's confidant, secretly loves Sabina. Farnaspe requests Emirena to be freed. While making this request, he tries very hard to hide his jealousy, but Osroa cannot hide his rage.

Aquilio who loves Sabrina, tells Emirena to pretend coldness towards Farnaspe in order to save him from the Emperor's jealous anger. Farnaspe is devastated when Adriano declares his feelings to Emirena. When Sabina arrives at the scene, the Emperor feels his heart is conflicted between Sabina and his new love. Emirena, Aquilio and Sabina lament their fates.

At night Osroa and his soldiers set fire to the Emperor's palace. Farnaspe, unjustly accused of setting the fire, throws himself into the flames to rescue Emirena. He is taken into prison and the two lovers are reconciled. To save her relationship with the Emperor, Sabina promises to help them escape.

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