Il Sant'Alessio
Music by Stefano Landi · libretto by Clement IX · premiered 1632
Il Sant'Alessio (Saint Alexius) is an opera in three acts composed by Stefano Landi in 1631 with a libretto by Giulio Rospigliosi (the future Pope Clement IX). Its first performance was probably in February 1632. Sant'Alessio was the first opera to be written on a historical subject. It describes the inner life of fifth-century Saint Alexis.
The work broke new ground with a psychological characterization of a type that was new to opera.
It also contains interspersed comic scenes that are anachronistically drawn from the contemporary life of Rome in the 17th century.
Text from the Wikipedia article "Il Sant", licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
About the Composer
Stefano Landi is the composer of record for this opera.
Text from the Wikipedia article "Stefano Landi", licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.