La Grotta di Trofonio
- Trofonio, magician and philosopher ( bass)
- Aristone, Kaufmann ( bass)
- Ofelia, daughter of Aristone (mezzo- soprano)
- Dori, twin sister of Ofelia (soprano )
- Artemidoro, Fiancé of Ofelia (Tenor)
- Plistene, Fiancé of Dori (Tenor)
- Choir of the cave spirits
La Grotta di Trofonio (Eng. The Cave of Trofonius ) is an Opera comica. In two acts by Antonio Salieri It is based on a text by Giovanni Battista Casti. The premiere took place on October 12, 1785 at the Burgtheater in Vienna.
After the failure of the first collaboration with Lorenzo Da Ponte Salieri, the composer turned his opponent to Casti, was yet to write three more libretti for Salieri next to the Trofonio:
- Prima la musica e poi le parole (1786 )
- Cublai, gran Kan de ' Tartari (1786-1788)
- Catiline (1790-1792)
In all libretti Castis one encounters satirical elements in La Grotta di Trofonio alluded especially to the particularly rampant rise to time fear of the supernatural. Salieri responds to the linguistically -facing, but somewhat stereotyped acting Castis template with a very subtle, colorful music that makes a significant contribution to the development of musical characterization of the protagonists. In particular, the ingenious use of the woodwinds is remarkable ( for example, a only two English horns and bassoon accompanied Cavatina ). For ironic mockery depiction of the supernatural is Salieri distinctive orchestral colors (for example, in the tritone tuned timpani) and a singing behind the scene men's choir ( Coro di dentro la Grotta spirti ).
The opera enjoyed great popularity immediately after the premiere: the score was published in the year of the first performance by Artaria in print, in numerous translations, the plant in the whole of Europe was replayed ( for a Paris production Luigi Cherubini composed specially some arias ). There are numerous contemporary piano scores and arrangements for string quartet or wind ensembles. About individual arias of the work all of variations were composed, including Giuseppe Sarti and Johann Baptist Vanhal.
After a very sporadic performances in recent times (including 1974 in Naples and in 1975 in Verona) the work in 2005 in Lausanne and Poissy experienced an extremely successful dramatic revival under the direction of Christophe Rousset; at the Vienna Konzerthaus have seen a concert performance in the same year. The Zurich Opera House opened as a co-production with Opera Las Palmas / Gran Canaria his 2009/ 10 with a new production of the opera. The overture to Trofonio was repeatedly recorded on CD and can also be found frequently on concert programs again.
In one version of harmony music of the composer Timo Jouko Herrmann (born 1978 ) was performed the work from armonia - Wind Ensemble of the Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig several times and for the Rundfunk ( MDR ) will be played.