Ipodamia (Hippodamia), the widow of the Armenian King, begs her daughter Aurinome to choose between her two suitors, Eurimedonte (Eurymedon) and Timocleone (Timoleon), to bring peace to the kingdom. Aurinome puts their love to the test, and they compete using words. Oronte, the general of the army, is secretly in love with Aurinome; Acrone discovers it and tells Ipodamia. The latter is set on stopping him to prevent her daughter from ending up in the hands of an unworthy man, and to spare the kingdom the anger of the princes. During a hunt, Oronte saves Aurinome from the mouth of a lion; he declares his love to her. Aurinome demands that the brave general receive a reward, but Ipodamia and the two suitors downplay his courageous act. Aurinome fell in love with Oronte. She tells the princes to meet her at the altar of the great Jupiter. As she is late, they hesitate over embarking with their respective armies, but Ipodamia convinces them to stay. Aurinome asks Oronte to arrive before her at the temple: he obeys her, and she asks him to choose one of her suitors. Oronte does not know what to answer, and he is interrupted by Acrone. Aurinome promises to choose between her suitors before the entire kingdom. As Eurimedonte and Timocleone, standing by the Avernus, are contemplating suicide, Acrone announces that Oronte will soon be dead. Inside a gorgeous room where royal weddings are celebrated, Aurinome asks the princes to promise that they will respect her choice; at this moment, Oronte arrives, armed: he has been saved by partisans and entrusts his fate to the Princess: she pronounces him husband and King.

String marionette

Not specified

Zanetti Girolamo

Italy

Venice

Printed

Suitors

Decisions

Royals

Jealousy

Haughtiness

Wedding

Lyrical

Eurimedonte e Timocleone, Teatro di San Girolamo (1746)

Italian

ovvero I Rivali delusi

Queen

Widow

Princess

General

Prince

Counselor

Music

Interlude

Chorus

Love story

Thwarted love

Love rivalry

Hunting scene

Board meeting

Boat mounted on wheels

Scene in the dark

Crowd

Public announcement

Fight

Final wedding

Set that comes to life

Transforming scenery

Eurimedonte e Timocleone

Eurymedon and Timoelon

A Unicorn crosses the stage with a forest in the background, saying “Honni soit qui mal y pense." Three men are looking at it and discussing the best way to catch it. One of them brought a sixty-year-old Virgin woman who wears a veil, as the Unicorn is attracted by purity. The Unicorn feels the presence of the Virgin, draws near her, and puts its head on her lap. The Virgin signals to the men to catch the animal, unveils, and uncovers her true identity - she is Britannia. The Unicorn feels betrayed and dies of sorrow. The Royal Coat of Arms is lowered, and the Unicorn is placed opposite to the roaring Lion. A butcher’s shop appears under the coat of arms, and the butcher can be seen chopping meat. A child rings at the shop, and the butcher’s son's voice can be heard alerting his mother.

Craig Edward Gordon

Marina di Pisa

Purity

Virginity

Hunting

Monarchy

Patriotism

Coat of arms

Comical

Satirical

English

Fowler

Virgin

Unicorn

Butcher

Child

Talking animal

Trap

Song

Allegory

The Rape of the Unicorn

Le Viol de la licorne

An elderly woman lives in a cabin near a wood, with a teenager who believes himself to be her grandson. Some bandits steal a case holding documents on the young man’s life. The elderly woman explains to him that he is of royal blood; he decides to go avenge his parents. With the help of a powerful wizard and of other characters he met on his way, the Prince overcomes the tyrant who had taken over the kingdom, and is acknowledged by his mother. The performance ends with a big celebration.