Solomon (Boyce) - Massy Opera house (2024) - Solomon (Boyce) - Opéra-Théâtre de Massy (2024)

Description

"An English composer whose writing was directly inspired by that of his contemporary Handel, William Boyce enjoyed great success until deafness forced him to discontinue his activities around 1758. Although his name has been largely forgotten since his death, he was recognized during his lifetime by composers such as Handel, Bach, and Mozart.

His Serenata Salomon, composed in 1742, is one of the most frequently performed works of his lifetime. Written as a lively love affair between a shepherd boy and a shepherdess, the libretto is based on Solomon's Song of Songs. The two characters, played by a soprano and a tenor, are referred to simply as "he" and "she" and are joined by a chorus.
Unlike Handel's Solomon, Boyce's version ignores the biblical story of the monarch and refers only to the sensual quality of the erotic poem. At the time of this Serenata's composition, the opera Italian is losing favour with London audiences. Solomon is not an opera and it avoids religious context, but it is in English and imbued with a sensuality uncommon for the time."

More information is available on the official website of the opera house.