Artaxerxes: An English Opera

Artisan: Ken Blythe
Date: Unknown
Dimensions: 27 x 17 x 5 mm. / 1 ⅛ x ⅝ x ⅛ inches (height x width x depth)
Inventory number: 2022.204
Intended Room: Music Room
Category: Books

Provenance: Purchased from the artist’s daughter and son-in-law, who run The Little Book Company, via eBay, in June 2022.

This was a real find. It just so happens that Artaxerxes (or Artaserse in the original Italian), based on a text by Pietro Metastasio, is my favourite opera, and I couldn’t believe that someone would have gone to the trouble of making a miniature version of the libretto. Naturally I had to buy it!

The opera was first performed in 1730, and became one of the great hits of the 18th century. It was set to music by numerous composers, and this particular libretto relates to one of its later incarnations: an opera first performed in London in 1762, with music composed by Thomas Arne (of Rule Britannia fame) and the lyrics translated into English. Compared to the grandeur of the original Italian, they can sound a little silly at times, but it doesn’t matter. If you fancy finding out more about the opera, take a look here.

The plot goes as follows: The good-hearted courtier Arbace is falsely accused of murdering the Persian king Darius. He tries to protest his innocence, as he is in love with Darius’s feisty daughter, Mandane, and his best friend is the murdered king’s son (and new king) Artaxerxes. Both of them are horrified by his arrest. However, he can’t prove his innocence without implicating the real murderer: his own father, the chamberlain Artabano. To make matters worse, Arbace soon realises that his wicked father has plans to get rid of Artaxerxes as well. How can Arbace square loyalty to his friend and his king with filial piety to his father? There is much angst and melodrama, but you’ll be pleased to know that – being a Baroque opera – it all turns out well in the end.

Yes, I’ve spent far too long thinking about this opera. I’ve even written a graphic novel based on it. So having it in miniature form for Quartermaine Hall is a joy, and I hope the family will be inspired to play it often.