Roles
| Role (in singing order) |
Voice type (1711) |
Notes | Premiere cast, 24 February 1711 Conductor: |
Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goffredo: leader of the First Crusade. 1096–99 | contralto | Tenor after 1731 revision | Francesca Vanini-Boschi | |
| Rinaldo: a nobleman of the House of Este | alto castrato | Now often sung by a mezzo-soprano or countertenor | Nicolo Grimaldi ("Nicolini") | |
| Almirena: daughter of Goffredo | soprano | Isabella Girardeau | ||
| Eustazio: brother to Goffredo | alto castrato | This part was eliminated before the 1717 revival, and is often omitted from modern productions | Valentino Urbani ("Valentini") | |
| A herald | tenor | Bass in 1731 revival | "Lawrence" | |
| Argante: Saracen king of Jerusalem | bass | Contralto in 1731 revival, now usually bass | Giuseppe Boschi | |
| Armida: Queen of Damascus, Argante's mistress | soprano | Contralto in 1731 revival, now usually soprano | Elisabetta Pilotti-Schiavonetti | |
| Two mermaids | sopranos | Not recorded | ||
| A woman | soprano | In some productions the woman's lines are sung by a mermaid | Not recorded | |
| A Christian magician | alto castrato | Bass from 1731 revival | Giuseppe Cassani | |
| Mermaids, spirits, fairies, officers, guards, attendants | Non-singing parts |
Read more about this topic: Rinaldo (opera)
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