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Following the exceptional success of Faramondo and Farnace, Parnassus Arts Productions is delighted to present Vinci’s Artaserse. One of the principal works of this almost forgotten composer, Artaserse represents a major discovery for the world of baroque opera.

Vinci’s was the first of many 18^th century settings of a libretto by Metastasio, inspired by the story of the Persian emperor Artaxerxes; other composers who followed suit included such celebrated names as Hasse, Johann Christian Bach, Galuppi and Scarlatti. A great success at its premiere at Rome’s Teatro delle Dame on 4^th February 1730, Artaserse proved to be Vinci’s last work for the lyric stage – he died later in the year. Since a Papal edict forbade women from appearing on stage in Rome, all the female roles were played by castrati. In recognition of this, Parnassus Arts Productions has cast both male and female roles with countertenors, among them Max Emanuel Cencic et Philippe Jaroussky, always a guarantee for vocal virtuosity.