Agnese (opera)

Agnese is an 1809 semi-serious opera by Ferdinando Paer, to a libretto by Luigi Buonavoglia. It was originally composed for private and amateur performance at the Palazzo Scotti near Parma. The opera became the composer's first major success. In 1814 Agnes ran at La Scala for over 50 nights, more performances than Don Giovanni in the same season, but lost out to Don Giovanni in London in 1817. The composer having moved to Paris he revised Agnes for the Théâtre Italien in 1824 with Giuditta Pasta in the role of Agnese and Marco Bordogni as Ernesto.