Monteverdi L'Incoronazione di Poppea
Plot Synopsis and Description of Italian Historical Drama
Oct 20, 2008
L'Incoronazione di Poppea (The Coronation of Poppea) is a three-act historical opera composed by Italian composer Claudio Monteverdi (May 15 (baptized), 1567 – November 29, 1643). Libretto is written in Italian by Giovan Francesco Busenello. It is based on historical incidents in the Annals of Tacitus. It was premiered in Teatro Santi Giovanni e Paolo, Autumn of 1642. The setting is in Rome in the mid-1st century, AD 64.
The Coronation of Poppea is the last opera of Monteverdi. He composed it when he was 75 years old.
Notable Arias: "Solitudine amata" (Seneca), "Oblivion soave" (Arnalta), "Felice cor mio" (Drusilla).
Cast / Characters
- Nerone, Emperor Nero (tenor or mezzo)
- Ottavia, The Empress (mezzo)
- Poppea (mezzo)
- Ottone, Her former lover (baritone)
- Arnalta, Her old nurse (contralto or tenor)
- Drusilla, Her lady-in-waiting (soprano)
- Seneca, The philosopher and Nero's tutor (bass)
- Lucano, Boon-companion of Nero (tenor)
- Liberto, Captain of the Praetorian Guard (baritone)
- Fortuna (mezzo
- Virtu (soprano)
- Amore, Love (Mezzo soprano)
Plot Summary / Synopsis
Prologue. The goddesses of Virtue and Fortune argue their importance but both acknowledge love's preeminence.
Act I
Scene 1. Outside Poppea's House in Rome. Although Poppea has left him for Emperor Nerone, Ottone still loves her. Nerone and Poppea bids each other a tender farewell.
Scene 2. Inside Poppea's House. Poppea's nurse, Arnalta, reminds her that she is playing a dangerous game since the empress Ottavia knows of Nerone's infidelity.
Scene 3. Ottavia's apartment in the Palace. Ottavia resents her Nerone's mistreatment of her. Seneca consoles her.
Scene 4. Inside Poppea's House. Nerone promises Poppea she will be empress. Her slanders convince Nerone to order Seneca's death.
Scene 5. Outside Poppea's House. Realizing Poppea wants only power, Ottone transfers his affections to Drusilla
Act II
Scene 1. Seneca's Garden. Seneca follows Nerone's order and kills himself.
Scene 2. Nerone's apartment in the Palace. Nerone revels in Seneca's death, at the same time, of Poppea's beauty.
Scene 3. Ottavia's Apartment in the Palace. Ottavia orders Ottone to kill Poppea. Ottone confides in Drusilla and borrows her cloak as a disguise.
Scene 4. Poppea's House. Amore, the god of love, prevents Ottone from murdering Poppea.
Act IIIA Street.
Scene 1. Drusilla is arrested for the attempt, but Ottone confesses he's the guilty one. Nerone proclaims his divorce from Ottavia, and orders the banishment of Ottone and Ottavia.
Scene 2. Poppea's old nurse, Arnalta, looks forward to her mistress's fortune. Poppea is crowned Empress.
Sources:
Opera, by Alan Riding and L.D. Downer, Dorling Kindersley (DK), 2006
The Da Capo Opera Manual, by Nicholas Ivor Martin. New York: Da Capo Press, 1997
The Harrap Opera Guide, by Sir Alexander F. Morley. London: Harrap, 1970
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