L'incoronazione di Poppea (The Coronation of Poppea)
Opera
Writers:Overview
Synopsis
The beautiful Poppea has caught the eye of the emperor Nerone (Nero), and he has fallen devotedly in love with her. He believes his wife, Ottavia, is barren, and the coldness she offers him is in such opposition to Poppea’s open warmth and affection. The decision is easy: he intends to make Poppea his wife, making her empress of Rome. Carrying out this task simply means removing any obstacles in his way, like his wife, and the old moralising philosopher, Seneca.
But, Poppea had a lover before Nerone. Ottone (Otho) has been away for several years, and returns to find himself replaced by the emperor. No amount of pleading with his beloved Poppea will make her remember her feelings for him: her ambition to become queen is far too strong. Ottone tries desperately to forget her, even starting a relationship with Drusilla instead. However, when Ottavia gives Ottone the order to kill her husband’s lover, Ottone cannot go through with it. No matter how much it hurts, he still loves her, and for that love he finds himself in exile, by order of the emperor. Ottavia’s crime is also discovered, and she is banished from the kingdom, leaving Poppea to become the new empress of Rome.
L’incoronazione di Poppea continues to delight audiences with its distinct presentations of real human emotions, and its unusual outcome: morality is punished whilst immorality reigns.
Show Information
- Music
- Claudio Monteverdi
- Libretto
- Giovanni Francesco Busenello
- Category
- Opera
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 3
- First Produced
- 1643
- Genres
- Historical/Biographical, Drama
- Settings
- Multiple Settings, Period
- Time & Place
- Rome, 60AD
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Small
- Dancing
- Optional
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- Professional Opera, Large Cast, Ensemble Cast, College/University, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult, Elderly Characters
Context
L’incoronazione di Poppea has been the subject of much scholarly research. For a long time its composition was attributed purely to Monteverdi, despite much of it not adhering to his usual style. More recent analysis considers this opera to be the product of a vast collaboration by a number of Italian composers of the baroque period, including Benedetto Ferrari, Francesco Sacrati, and Francesco Cavalli. Studies suggest that this collaboration represents the students of Monteverdi, and that
to read the context for L'incoronazione di Poppea (The Coronation of Poppea) and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Prologue
Fortuna, Virtu, and Amore are fighting (‘Deh, nasconditi, oh Virtu�). Fortuna believes that Virtue is not worth anything anymore as no one believes in her. Instead, people worship Fortuna. Virtu tells Fortuna to go and drown herself; she is the true leader of the people, and it is only through her that people can ascend to Olympus to be with the gods. Amore argues that they are both wrong, for she is far greater than either of them, and they should both worship her. Fortuna and
to read the plot for L'incoronazione di Poppea (The Coronation of Poppea) and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Either Gender |
Countertenor, Mezzo-Soprano, Contralto |
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|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
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|
Lead |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Countertenor |
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|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Either Gender |
Tenor, Contralto |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Countertenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Either Gender |
Tenor, Contralto |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Countertenor |
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|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
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|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
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|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
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|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
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|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Contralto |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Baritone, Bass |
Songs
Sinfonia
Prologue
- ‘Deh, nasconditi, oh Virtu� - Fortuna, Virtu, Amore
- Act 1
- ‘E pur io torno qui, qual linea al centro� - Ottone
- ‘Chi parla? Chi parla?� - Ottone, Soldati Pretoriani I & II
- ‘Signor, deh, non partire!� - Poppea, Nerone
- ‘Speranza tu mi vai� - Poppea, Arnalta
- ‘Disprezzata Regina� - Ottavia, Nutrice
- ‘Ecco la sconsolata donna� - Seneca, Ottavia, Valletto
- ‘Le porpore regali imperatrici� - Seneca, Pallade
- ‘Son risoluto, insomma� - Nerone, Seneca
- ‘Come dolci, signor, come soavi� - Poppea, Nerone
- ‘Ad altri tocca in sorte� - Ottone, Poppea, Arnalta
- ‘Otton, torna in te stesso!� - Ottone, Drusilla
Act 2
- ‘Solitudine amata� - Seneca, Mercurio
- ‘Il comando tiranno� - Liberto, Seneca
- ‘Amici, e giunta l'ora� - Seneca, Famigliari
- ‘Sento un certo non se che� - Valletto, Damigella
- ‘Or che Seneca e morto� - Nerone, Lucano
- ‘I miei subiti sdegni� - Ottone
- ‘Tu che dagli avi miei� - Ottavia, Ottone
- ‘Felice cor mio, festeggiami in seno!� - Drusilla, Valletto, Nutrice
- ‘Io non so dov'io vada� - Ottone, Drusilla
- ‘Or che Seneca e morto� - Poppea, Arnalta
- ‘Oblivion soave� - Arnalta
- ‘Dorme, l'incauta dorme� - Amore
- ‘Eccomi trasformato� - Ottone, Amore, Poppea, Arnalta
Act III
- ‘O felice Drusilla� - Drusilla
- ‘Ecco la scellerata� - Arnalta, Littore, Drusilla, Nerone
- ‘No, no, questa sentenza� -Ottone, Nerone, Drusilla, Littore
- ‘Signori, hoggi rinasco� - Poppea, Nerone
- ‘Addio Roma!� - Ottavia
- ‘Oggi sara Poppea� - Arnalta
- ‘Ascendi, o mia diletta� - Nerone, Poppea, Consoli, Tribuni, Amore, Venere, Coro di Amori)
- ‘Pur ti miro� - Poppea, Nerone
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
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Videos
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Guide Written By:
Wendy Silvester
Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.