Venice 1765. Dramatic Works By Pietro Metastasio. Five Volumes Bound In Four Tomes

Pietro Metastasio (1698-1782) is the most famous Italian opera librettist and poet of the 18th century. Born in Rome into humble origins, he was noticed by a scholar who took him under his wing, even adopting him. Pursuing a legal career, like his patron, he quickly became famous in Naples for his libretti. He became a close friend of Farinelli. His libretti were set to music by the greatest musicians in Italy, such as Leonardo Vinci, Porpora, and Leo, as well as throughout Europe, by composers like Handel and Corselli. All the courts applauded his intrigues. I myself had the immense pleasure of seeing Vinci's L'Artaserse and Il Siroe at the Versailles Opera, with Franco Fagiolli in the title roles. This complete edition, published in Venice in 1765, is presented in five volumes bound in four tomes, with a splendid decorated binding on the covers. The books, still solid, have seen some wear to the headcaps and previous attacks from insects, but the charm of this beacon of 18th-century European musical culture remains intact.