Olimpiade, L'

Libretto by Metastasio, probably the most frequently composed work by Metastasio or by any other librettist. The story concerns Megacles, who loves Aristaea, and is to compete in the Olympics under the name of his friend, Lycidas. He then learns that Aristaea is to be the prize for the winner. Torn between duty and love, Megacles chooses duty, but after a few twists all ends happily.

Opera by Caldara, produced in Vienna on 28 August 1733. Other settings of the libretto include those by Vivaldi (Venice, 1734); Pergolesi (Rome, 1735); Galuppi (Milan, 1747); Hasse (Dresden, 1756); Traetta (Verona, 1758); Jommelli (Stuttgart, 1761); Sacchini (Padua, 1763); and Cimarosa (Vicenza, 1784). There are at least 30 other settings of this libretto.