Storified by CanadianOperaCompany · Fri, Dec 07 2012 10:25:55
Posted by Danielle D'Ornellas / in Xstrata Ensemble Studio School Tour / comments (0) / permalink
La clemenza di Tito
What's it all about?
La clemenza di Tito is an opera seria that Mozart loosely based off the life of the benevolent Roman emperor Titus (Tito), an emperor known for his generosity and compassion.
After deposing the previous emperor, Vitellius, Emperor Tito is dismayed to learn that his new political office doesn't allow him to marry his foreign lover, Berenice. Instead, the new ruler must cement his reign by marrying a woman of Rome. Begrudgingly, he decides to marry the beautiful Servilia, sister to his best friend Sesto but unbeknownst to him, Servilia is in love with the young Annio!
Meanwhile, Tito's matrimonial bait-and-switch enrages Vitellia, the daughter of the Emperor Vitellius, who believes she deserves to be his wife. Vitellia convinces Sesto (who is in love with her) to murder Tito and burn the Capitol to avenge her honour!
Throw in the fact that there are not one, but two trouser roles in the two love triangles and you have the complicated web that is La clemenza di Tito.
Why is it special?
La clemenza di Tito was one of the last pieces that Mozart completed before his sudden death in 1791. While the opera was frequently performed after Mozart's passing, it fell out of favour in the early 19th century and it wasn't until the mid-20th century that the opera became popular again. The current consensus is that La clemenza di Tito is one of Mozart's late masterpieces.
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The holiday season approaches! Do you still have some gift shopping to do? Here are a few suggestions of operatically themed gifts for the aficionado in your life.
1. COC Gift Certificate
The most versatile gift of all! COC gift certificates can be purchased from the comfort of your own home and printed from your own computer for any denomination you wish. The recipient can pick their own opera and performance date to attend. Whether they want to use it on Tristan und Isolde or Salome, or even at the opera shop, the choice is theirs. Purchase a gift certificate here.
2. See your favourite Ensemble Studio members in La clemenza di Tito!
On Wednesday, February 6, 2013, the COC's Ensemble Studio will take to the Four Seasons Centre stage to perform La clemenza di Tito. See your favourite Ensemble Studio members in feature roles on the mainstage. Tickets for this performance range from $25 to $55 for this night only. Learn more about this special performance and purchase tickets here.
Posted by Danielle D'Ornellas / in Opera Shop / comments (0) / permalink
Sara Fulgoni in the COC production of Bluebeard's Castle. Photo: Michael Cooper © 2001