Semiramide riconosciuta (Semiramis recognized or revealed) is an opera libretto by Pietro Metastasio (1698–1782), written in 1729. It is for opera seria, and accordingly consists of recitatives and da capo arias. It tells a story of the legendary Semiramis, wife of the Biblical Nimrod.
Characters
The voice types and character descriptions are taken from the text set to music in 1729 by Leonardo Vinci: Semiramide (soprano), Assyrian queen, in masculine dress under the name Nimrod; in love with Scitalce, who had previously known her in Egypt under the name Idreno Mirteo (soprano), Egyptian prince, brother of Semiramis (though he does not know this), in love with Tamiri Ircano (contralto), Scythian prince, in love with Tamiri Scitalce (contralto), Indian prince, in love with Semiramide Tamiri (soprano), Bactrian princess, in love with Scitalce Sibari (tenor), confidante of and secretly in love with Semiramide
Plot
Operas
The libretto has been used as the text for operas by several composers, including: