Siface, re di Numidia
Libretto by Pietro Metastasio
Siface re di Numidia (also: Siface or Viriate) is a libretto in three acts by Pietro Metastasio. It is a reworking of La forza della virtù by de:Domenico David and was Metastasio's first work as a librettist. it was first performed with a setting to music by Francesco Feo on 13 May 1723 at the Teatro San Bartolomeo, Naples.
Action
The action is set in Rusconia near Cirta in Numidia, around 205 BCE. The characters are:
Siface (Syphax), King of Numidia
Viriate, Princess of Lusitania
Erminio, General in Siface's army, lover of Ismene
Ismene, daughter of Orcanos
Orcano, her father
Libanio, confidant of Siface
Siface (Syphax) is planning a marriage of convenience with Viriate but then falls in love with Ismene. He then tries various intrigues to get rid of Viriate.
The following plot summary is based on the German translation of the libretto by de:Johann Philipp Praetorius, performed in 1727 in Hamburg with arias by Nicola Antonio Porpora and recitative by Georg Philipp Telemann.
Act 1
Outside the city wall of Rusconia: Siface, Erminio and Orcano await the arrival of Viriate. Trumpets sound and Viriate comes ashore, accompanied by Siface's confidant Libanio. They are welcomed by Siface, Orcano and Erminio. Viriate is slightly offended, however, when Siface immediately sends her with Libanio and Orcano to his castle in Cirta.
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