ABSTRACT
Baldassare Galuppi's serious operas, like Haydn's symphonies, spanned a vast period of changing musical styles and aesthetics. By commenting on the nature of the Giusto Ferdinando Tenducci /Galuppi music, much can be said about how their collaboration played an important role in the creation of the music. The basic design of Jommelli's arias for Tenducci is identical to that of Galuppi's outline. The embellishment of the second solo in the first part is only slightly more adventuresome than Tenducci's Demofoonte style. Galuppi's aria for Tenducci obviously has more than just stylistic similarities to Paisiello. The most likely reason for this was inferred earlier: Tenducci's portrayal of Motezuma for Paisiello in Rome was during carnival, and his portrayal of the same character for Galuppi in Venice was in May. The opera ends as Cortez restores Erismena to Motezuma, who is surprised, having suspected only treachery, and Motezuma is gratified to see this display of honor and virtue.
