Allesandro nell'Indie is a setting of an opera seria text by the poet and librettist Pietro Metastasio. This libretto was set countless times in the eighteenth century by such composers as Pacini, Vinci, Hasse, Gati, and J. C. Bach. Georg Frederic Handel also composed a setting of the story under the title Poro. This was Cimarosa's first attempt at a Metastasian setting. Metastasio was known for his opera seria dramas, which relied heavily on conventions understood by the audiences of his day. Generally rigid dramatically, they nevertheless reflect the political and social aspirations of an entire society. Cimarosa, with his genial personality and gentler nature, was much more at home with the commedia per musica, which often featured native dialect and humor that transcended social class. However, from time to time he was called upon to compose a serious work. This story, like most opere serie, has its foundations in history. It concerns the confrontation between Alexander the Great and the Indian king Porus. The sources for the story can be found in certain historical accounts of the times, such as Curtius Rufus' Historiarum and Arrian's Anabasis. Much of the tension in the story revolves around a love triangle between Allesandro, Porus, and Porus' fiancée Cleofide. There are disguises, mistaken identities, and a secondary love triangle to add to the drama, but in typical Metastasian fashion, a happy ending resolves all. The premiere of Allesandro nell'Indie took place on January 2, 1781, at the Teatro Argentina of Rome. It did not please the Roman operagoing public, and was immediately removed from the repertoire.

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