49th Season
2004–2005
La clemenza di Tito
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Text by Mazzolà, adapted from Metastasio
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Text by Mazzolà, adapted from Metastasio
|
49th Season 2004–2005 |
La clemenza di Tito Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Text by Mazzolà, adapted from Metastasio |
Rome, 79-81 AD
Act I
Vitellia, daughter of the deposed Emperor Vitellius, is enraged. She has been rejected by Emperor Tito, who proposes to marry his lover, Berenice, instead. Vitellia demands that her admirer, Sesto, lead a conspiracy to kill Tito. Sesto is so bewitched by Vitellia that he agrees to carry out the assassination, even though Tito is his dearest friend.
Annio, another friend of Sesto, arrives with the news that Tito has decided not to marry Berenice after all. Vitellia tells Sesto to delay the plot. Annio wants to marry Sesto’s sister, Servilia, and asks Sesto to seek Tito’s consent.
Before Sesto can plead Annio’s case, Tito announces that he has chosen Servilia to be his own bride. Annio delivers the news to Servilia, and the two affirm their undying love despite the turn of fate which will separate them. But when Servilia confesses her true feelings to Tito, the Emperor is so impressed by her honesty that he grants permission for her to marry Annio after all.
Vitellia, having heard that Servilia is to be the new Empress, orders Sesto to carry out the assassination plot. But just as Sesto leaves, word comes that Tito has now decided to marry Vitellia. She realizes in horror that it is too late to stop what she has set in motion.
As Sesto agonizes over whether he will join the conspirators, anguished cries are heard in the distance as the Capitol is seen in flames. Sesto is overcome with remorse, and everyone mourns the loss of Rome’s beloved Emperor.
Act II
Annio tells Sesto that Tito was not killed in the riot after all, and urges Sesto to confess everything to the Emperor. Publio arrives to bring Sesto to the Senate, where his case is to be tried.
Sesto is found guilty, but Tito refuses to sign the death warrant without speaking to him first. Sesto is brought in, and Tito begs him to explain the reasons for his treachery. Determined to protect Vitellia at all cost, Sesto will say only that he is a traitor and deserves to die. Left alone, Tito hesitates. In a moment of resolve he signs the warrant, and then changes his mind. Let history remember him for mercy, not for severity, he decides, and tears up the order.
Vitellia, learning of Sesto’s refusal to implicate her, decides that she cannot stand by and let him take all the blame. She will confess everything to Tito. By now Tito and the people of the city are assembled at the arena where Sesto is to be thrown to the lions. Tito addresses Sesto, but before the Emperor can reveal his decision, Vitellia throws herself at his feet and confesses that it was she who lead the conspiracy. To everyone’s astonishment, Tito frees the conspirators and pardons them all. “I know everything; I absolve everyone; I forget all,” he declares. He prays that the Gods will end his life if ever the good of Rome ceases to be his first care.
Join the distribution list for everyone involved with or interested in West Bay Opera. You can subscribe and unsubscribe yourself at any time. To subscribe, send a blank email to WestBayOpera-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. If this computer is configured for your email account, click here to send an email subscription.