"Catone in Utica" and "Alessandro nell'Indie"

Abstract

Between 1761 and 1762 Johann Christian Bach composed two operas for the San Carlo theater in Naples, “Catone in Utica” and “Alessandro nell’Indie”. By examining already known and newly discovered sources, the article reconstructs in detail the two productions and their impact on the local audience. The analysis of the scores takes into consideration the characteristics of the singers (the three principal roles in each title were covered by Tommaso Guarducci, Clementina Spagnoli and Anton Raaff). A final paragraph is dedicated to the subsequent attempts by the Neapolitan theatrical authorities to engage Bach again, none of which succeeded.