Griselda's story comes from Boccaccio's Decamerone. It is about the nobleman Gualtiero who marries a woman of humble origin, Griselda. To test her virtue and obedience, Gualtiero subjects his wife to all kinds of atrocities. Only when she passes all the trials can he consider her a worthy wife. Fortunately, Scarlatti's opera libretto is a bit more romantic. Gualtiero, king of Sicily, is already
… convinced of his wife's virtue here. He only has to prove it to his subjects who are indignant at the low origins of their queen. Of course Griselda endures everything and we can link a beautiful enlightenment ideal to the story: the queen who must prove the legitimacy of her status by behavior, not by descent. Griselda is the last opera by Alessandro Scarlatti (1660-1725). The composer was now in his sixties and could no longer keep up with the times: the gallant superficiality bothered him. Perhaps that is why he did his best to deliver a work with Griselda with depth and of undisputed quality, even if the opera was only performed within noble private circles. It has become his will. Griselda can be heard in an excellent performance on three CDs with the Akademie Für Alte Musik Berlin and René Jacobs. Soloists include Dorothea Röschman, Veronica Cangemi and Bernarda Fink. (CP) Perhaps that is why he did his best to deliver a work with Griselda with depth and of undisputed quality, even if the opera was only performed within noble private circles. It has become his will. Griselda can be heard in an excellent performance on three CDs with the Akademie Für Alte Musik Berlin and René Jacobs. Soloists include Dorothea Röschman, Veronica Cangemi and Bernarda Fink. (CP) Perhaps that is why he did his best to deliver a work with Griselda with depth and of undisputed quality, even if the opera was only performed within noble private circles. It has become his will. Griselda can be heard in an excellent performance on three CDs with the Akademie Für Alte Musik Berlin and René Jacobs. Soloists include Dorothea Röschman, Veronica Cangemi and Bernarda Fink. (CP)more