Mozart Opera La Clemenza di Tito
Mozart's Opera Seria in Two Acts, K.621, The Clemency of Titus
Apr 28, 2007
La Clemenza di Tito (The Clemency of Titus), K621, an Italian opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was composed in 1791, the year of his death.
- First Performance: September 6, 1791, Prague National Theater, 3 month before Mozart's death
- Libretto: Caterino Tommaso Mazzola, after a drama by Pietro Metastasio.
- Setting: Ancient Rome in the First century AD.
The Main Characters in La Clemenza di Tito (The Clemency of Titus)
- Tito (Titus), Emperor of Rome (tenor)
- Sesto (Sextus), Titus' friend, in love with Vitellia (mezzo-soprano)
- Vitellia, daughter of the previous Emperor Vitellius (soprano)
- Servilia, sister of Sextus, in love with Annio (soprano)
- Annio (Annius), Sextus' frined, in love with Servilia (male soprano)
- Publio (Publius), Guard Commander (bass)
Basic Plot Summary of La Clemenza di Tito (The Clemency of Titus)
Act 1
Vitellia, daughter of the late Emperor of Rome, plans revenge on Emperor Titus. She loves Titus but is angry that her father was overthrown and that he also refuses to marry her. She is jealous of Emperor Tito's love for Berenice, a Barbarian. Sextus loves Vitellia. She takes advantage of this and persuades Sextus to burn down the Capitol and murder Emperor Titus. Sextus is reluctant because Titus is his friend and a good emperor.
Annius is in love with Servilia, sister of Sextus. He announces the departure of Berenice and asks Sextus to petition Emperor Titus to approve his marrying Servilia.
The provinces present their tribute to Emperor Titus on behalf of the victims of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Titus also announces his intention to marry Servilia. While Annius selflessly accepts the match and breaks the news to Servilia, Sextus is surprise to hear about it. Servilia admits her love for Titus who he relinquishes his claim upon knowing that Annius is in love with her. Titus then decides to marry Vitellia.
Vitellia, on hearing of the planned marriage, is even more insulted. It was too late when she learned that Titus in fact plans to marry her now. The news also came late for Sextus who stabs the emperor while his co-conspirators commit arson by burning the Capitol.
Act 2
Emperor Titus did not die to Sextus's relief. Annius advices Sextus to beg Titus' forgiveness, but Vitellia insists he leaves. Sextus is arrested. Titus could not believe the that Sextus is guilty, the latter confirming it himself. He does not reveal Vitellia's part in the conspiracy. Convincing Vitellia that he means to rule with justice, he asks Sextus brought to the amphitheater to be thrown to the wild beasts. Vitellia confesses her part in the conspiracy to Emperor Titus who forgives her and all the others. Everything ends with everyone joyful.
Other operas written by Mozart
- Die Zauberflöte
- Così fan tutte
- Don Giovanni
- Le nozze di Figaro
- Der Schauspieldirektor
- Die Entführung aus dem Serail
- Idomeneo
- Il rè pastore
- La finta Giardiniera
- Lucio Silla
- Il sogno di Scipione
- Ascanio in Alba
- Mitridate, rè di Ponto
- La finta semplice
- Bastien und Bastienne
Sources:
Mozart and His Operas Edited by Stanley Sadie (2000)
Opera, Editor-in-Chief, András Batta (2000 English Edition)
The Da Capo Opera Manual by Nicholas Ivor Martin (1997)
