L’Olimpiade was first performed in Venice in 1734 at the Teatro Sant’ Angelo, to a libretto by the great poet Metastasius, after Herodotus. It was an immediate and resounding success. The plot is set on the Elysium, near the Greek city of Olympia. Sicione, King of Sicyon, promises his daugh-ter, Aristea, in marriage to the winner of the Olympic Games. The supposed Cretan prince Licida, in love with Aristea, asks his best friend, the athlete Megacle, to compete on his behalf, sure of his victory. Secretly in love with Aristea, Megacle is unaware of the prize ; he accepts and wins the games. Sacrificing his love, the young hero tells Aristea about the subterfuge and decides to leave her forever. After many dramatic twists and turns, Licida is forgiven and Aristea marries Megacle. This is one of Vivaldi’s most beautiful compositions. The musical writing, constantly renewed, knows how to take advantage, with happiness, of the great variety of the dramatic situations. The arias linked to the affetti of the souls of the various characters are superb, marvel-lously set to music in an extremely rich and colourful melodic style.