Libretto: Guiseppe Parini, 'Alceste. Dramma tragico da rappresentarsi nel Regio Ducal Teatro di Milano nel carnovale dell'anno 1769. Dedicato a sua altezza serenissima il duca di Modena' (Milano, Giuseppe Richino Malatesta, 1768). The model for the libretto was Rainieri de Calzabigi's libretto for the Italian version of Gluck's opera Alceste (ID 5912). The directors of the Regio Ducal Teatro failed to persuade Calzabigi to revise the libretto since he refused to compromise his work by adding external characters. Parini substantially revised the libretto to suit Italian taste. The production included ballets.