from Act I of the Italian opera La Calisto by Francesco Cavalli

Libretto: Giovanni Faustini

Role: Calisto, the daughter of the King of Pelasgia and a follower of Diana

Voice Part: soprano

Setting: a parched forest, Pelsgia, Peloponnese

Synopsis: Surrounded by a dry wasteland created by fire, Calisto has been wandering and looking for some sort of water to quench her thirst. The god Giove sees her and falls in love with her. In order to quench her thirst, Giove causes a spring to flow once more. When Calisto comes across it, she rejoices in the sweet and satisfying water and in her own freedom.

from Act I of the Italian opera La Calisto by Francesco Cavalli

Libretto: Giovanni Faustini

Role: Diana, the Virgin Goddess of the hunt

Voice Part: mezzo-soprano

Setting: a parched forest, Pelsgia, Peloponnese

Synopsis: Diana ardently loves Endimione, but she suffers because of her vow of chastity.

from Act II, Scene 1 of the Italian opera La Calisto by Francesco Cavalli

Libretto: Giovanni Faustini

Role: Diana, the Virgin Goddess of the hunt

Voice Part: mezzo-soprano

Setting: the summit of Mount Latmos, Pelsgia, Peloponnese

Synopsis: Diana enters and finds her love Endimione asleep. Bound by her vow of chastity, she has to be content with merely gazing upon his beautiful form.

from Act I of the Italian opera La Calisto by Francesco Cavalli

Libretto: Giovanni Faustini

Role: Diana, the Virgin Goddess of the hunt

Voice Part: mezzo-soprano

Setting: a parched forest, Pelsgia, Peloponnese

Synopsis: The goddess Diana loves the beautiful young shephard Endimione, but she doesn't want everybody to know this secret feeling, so she suffers and weeps.

from Act II, Scene 2 of the Italian opera La Calisto by Francesco Cavalli

Libretto: Giovanni Faustini

Role: Endimione, a shepherd in love with Diana

Voice Part: countertenor       Fach: countertenor

Setting: the plains of Erymanthus, Pelsgia, Peloponnese

Synopsis: The young shephard Endimione looks for his beloved goddess Diana. He considers himself to be the happiest man alive because he knows that she loves him.

from Act II, Scene 1 of the Italian opera La Calisto by Francesco Cavalli

Libretto: Giovanni Faustini

Role: Endimione, a shepherd in love with Diana

Voice Part: countertenor       Fach: countertenor

Setting: the summit of Mount Latmos, Pelsgia, Peloponnese

Synopsis: Endimione sings to the moon, explaining plaintively his burning love for the goddess Diana.

from Act II, Scene 2 of the Italian opera La Calisto by Francesco Cavalli

Libretto: Giovanni Faustini

Role: Giunone, Juno, the wife of Jove

Voice Part: soprano

Setting: the plains of Erymanthus, Pelsgia, Peloponnese

Synopsis: Giunone rages against the amorous indiscretions of her husband with the nymph Calisto.

from Act II, Scene 3 of the Italian opera La Calisto by Francesco Cavalli

Libretto: Giovanni Faustini

Role: Giunone, Juno, the wife of Jove

Voice Part: soprano

Setting: the source of the Ladon, Pelsgia, Peloponnese

Synopsis: After turning Calisto, her rival for her husband's affections, into a small bear, Giunone prepares to return to the palace of the gods. First, however, she comments that husbands who cheat on their wives always seem to fall asleep the moment they lie down in bed.

from Act I of the Italian opera La Calisto by Francesco Cavalli

Libretto: Giovanni Faustini

Role: Linfea, an old nymph and follower of Diana

Voice Part: tenor

Setting: a parched forest, Pelsgia, Peloponnese

Synopsis: Watching the internal conflict that the goddess Diana is undergoin because of her vow of chastity and her love for a mortal shepherd, Linfea decides that she doesn't want to die a virgin. Instead, she wants to find a loving man, so that she can experience the epitome of all joys.

from Act I of the Italian opera La Calisto by Francesco Cavalli

Libretto: Giovanni Faustini

Role: Mercurio, Mercury, messenger of the gods

Voice Part: baritone

Setting: a parched forest, Pelsgia, Peloponnese

Synopsis: Calisto has gone off with the God Giove, who she thinks is her mistress Diana. Watching the deception, Mercurio comments that trickery is the best way to win a woman.