L'incoronazione di Poppea
Template:Monteverdi operas L'incoronazione di Poppea (SV 308, The Coronation of Poppea) is an opera seria in three acts by Claudio Monteverdi to an Italian libretto by Giovanni Francesco Busenello, based on historical incidents described in the Annals of Tacitus. First performance: Teatro Santi Giovanni e Paolo, Venice, 1642.
The opera takes Poppaea Sabina, the second wife of the Roman Emperor Nero, as the heroine of the plot. L'incoronazione di Poppea is Monteverdi's last opera, showing his maturity. The plot by Busenello is a masterwork of irony[citation needed], on the face of it showing the apparent triumph of Amore over Virtu and Fortuna as promised by the prologue. However, the educated audience of the day would have been aware of the pregnant Poppea's subsequent murder by Nero in a fit of rage. Nero is later succeeded by Ottone as emperor: Poppea could have achieved her objective without tragedy simply by having remained faithful to Ottone in the first place.
It is believed that the opera's florid closing duet between Nerone and Poppea was written not by Monteverdi but by another composer (Benedetto Ferrari)[1].
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 1642 (Conductor: – ) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ottone | contralto castrato | ||
| Poppea | soprano | ||
| Emperor Nerone | soprano castrato | ||
| Arnalta, Poppea's nurse | contralto or tenor | ||
| Empress Ottavia | mezzo or soprano | Anna Renzi | |
| Seneca | bass | ||
| Drusilla | soprano | ||
| Fortuna, a goddess | soprano | ||
| Virtù, a goddess | soprano | ||
| Amore, a god | soprano or light mezzo | ||
| Two soldiers | tenors | ||
| Valletto | soprano | ||
| Nurse | contralto | ||
| Pallade | soprano | ||
| Damigella | soprano | ||
| Mercurio | tenor | ||
| Liberto | tenor | ||
| Lucano | tenor | ||
| Lictor | bass | ||
| Friends, consults, tribunes, lictors, servants, soldiers — chorus | |||
Synopsis
- Place: Rome
- Time: The mid-1st century
Prologue
Virtù and Fortuna argue, each claiming to be a more important goddess. Both yield to Amore, who vows to prove his superiority with the story of Nero and Poppea.
Act 1
Act I begins with Ottone's arriving at Poppea's house at daybreak, and retreating in dismay after he sees Nero's guards outside it. In an interesting alba, the guards curse military life and exchange scurrilous gossip about Poppea's scheming. This is a vivid prelude to the first of the opera's several steamy love scenes. Poppea, having left Ottone who still loves her, is now with the Emperor Nero. Nero and Poppea part tenderly. Arnalta warns Poppea to be careful for the empress knows of her husband's strayings. Ottavia becomes upset by the way she is treated and laments her humiliation to her old nurse who tries in vain to comfort her. Seneca, who is ushered in by Ottavia's page, Valetto, consoles her and pleads with Nero on her behalf. Nero promises Poppea that she will be Empress. Seneca tries to show Nero the wrongness of what Nero is doing. Poppea persuades Nero that Seneca is a threat to his authority and to the throne, after which Nero becomes angry and orders Seneca's death. After Ottone sees that Poppea does not love him, but only wants power, he courts Drusilla. Valletto courts Damigella.
Act 2
Seneca carries out his own death order and kills himself. Nerone is elated by the death and by Poppea's beauty. Ottavia orders Ottone to kill Poppea. He disguises himself as Drusilla by wearing Drusilla's cloak, but Amore prevents him from killing his former lover. Drusilla, trying to save Ottone, confesses and is arrested for the plot. Ottone, having heard everything, comes forward and tells Nerone the truth. Nerone decides to spare their lives, although they are banished. The goddess of love is triumphant and proclaims that Poppea will become Empress.
Act 3
Drusilla joyfully anticipates Poppea’s death, but is arrested for the attempted murder and sentenced to death by Nerone. Ottone rushes in to save Drusilla, confessing, against Drusilla’s protestations, that he was responsible for the attempted murder. Nerone banishes Ottone but forgives Drusilla because of her bravery; Drusilla begs to be sent into exile with Ottone, and Nerone grants her wish. With Ottavia imnplicated in the murder plot against Poppea, Nerone announces his plan to divorce Ottavia and send her into exile. Nerone and Poppea rejoice that the way is clear for their marriage. Poppea is crowned Empress. The goddess of Love proclaims her triumph and the opera ends with a beautiful, concluding duet with Poppea and Nerone exulting in the triumph of their love.
Noted arias
- "Solitudine amata" (Seneca)
- "Disprezzata regina" (Ottavia)
- "Oblivion soave" (Arnalta)
- "Felice cor mio" (Drusilla)
- "A dio Roma" (Ottavia)
- "O sciocchi, o frali" (Amore)
External links
- Libretto (in Italian) on Karadar
- Description of the opera on Allmusic
- Libretto (in English) on Early Music Guild
References
- ^ Grove Music Online Ellen Rosand: "Incoronazione di Poppea", Grove Music Online ed. L. Macy (Accessed 6 September 2007), [1]
"Pur ti miro". . . "Although it is generally agreed that the text of this duet is not by Busenello and the music not by Monteverdi – the text is certainly by Benedetto Ferrari, and the music may be too – it was probably introduced soon after the première of the opera."