La Clemenza di Tito, Quarantined
Need to Know
La Clemenza di Tito is the last opera Mozart worked on. Yes, The Magic Flute technically was his last opera to premiere, but Tito, written quickly in the summer of 1791, was composed after most of Flute had already been written. The opera was commissioned for the coronation of Leopold II as king of Bohemia in Prague, Mozart paused work on both The Magic Flute and his Requiem Mass to quickly write Tito in 18 days.
La Clemenza di Tito is an opera seria, considering Mozart’s inventive and innovative composing style of the opera genre, it seems a bit old fashioned. However, in 1791, with the French revolution having already begun, composing a very familiar story (Metastasio’s Tito had already been set over 40 times) about a compassionate ruler for a coronation ceremony seems like no accident. Read more about how Mozart uses an old style and story like Tito to sow enlightenment ideas.
La Clemenza di Tito is historical fiction based on the great emperor Titus, who ruled Rome from 79 AD- 81 AD. Titus was handsome, talented, and skilled at warfare, but was also kind hearted and attempted to help his people. During his short reign, he oversaw the completion of the Colosseum, as well as two tragic natural disasters, the eruption of Vesuvius that devastated the city of Pompeii and the fire of Rome in 80 AD. Read more about Titus here.
It isn’t the opera’s title character, but rather the role Sesto that the plot revolves around. Read how this character will do “Anything for love” from NPR.
La Clemenza di Tito is not necessarily Mozart’s most acclaimed work, after it’s premiere Empress Maria Louisa reportedly described it “una porcheria tedsca” (a German swinishness). Early Music World explores whether Tito was an operatic failure or simply misunderstood. Plot issues aside, the opera is still masterfully composed and showcases Mozart at his most mature.
Want more Mozart? Check out our other Mozart Quarantined pages: Cosí fan tutte, The Magic Flute, Don Giovanni
We all deserve a little compassion
This week’s pre-opera drink “Compassion Cocktail” (actual name Passion Cocktail, see what we did there!) is a twist on the Cosmo using tequila. Forgiveness never tasted so sweet! Watch John build the cocktail.
Ingredients: 1 1/2 oz Tequila, 1 oz Cranberry Juice, 3/4 oz lime juice, 1/2 oz Cointreau, Lime Wheel to Garnish Directions: Place all the ingredients into a shaker with ice, shake vigorously and double strain into a chilled coupe glass, garnish with a lime wheel. Enjoy!
Synopsis
Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito has it all, political and power struggles, fire, foiled murder plots, love triangles, and ultimately, forgiveness.
Plots
No time to read all the details? No problem, Opera-Online has a super condensed version of the plot. If you are looking for a little more content, here is the plot from the Met.
Stream the Opera
Vienna Philharmonic’s 1980 production.
Here is a 2003 production from the Salzburg Festival
Here is a 2011 production recorded from the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence
Here is a more recent production by famous stage director Peter Sellers starring Russell Thomas in the title role.
Additional Listening
Arias
Tito’s aria: Del più sublime soglio/ Ah, se fosse intorno al trono/ Se all’impero/Ma che giorno è mai questo?
Sesto’s aria: Parto, parto, ma tu, ben mio/ Deh, per questo istante solo/
Vitellia’s aria: Deh, se piacer mi vuoi/ Non più di fiori
Annio’s aria: Torna, di Tito a lato/ Tu fosti tradito
Publio’s aria: Tardi s’avvede d’un tradimento
Sevillia’s aria: S’altro che lagrime
Duets
Sesto and Vitellio: Come ti piace, imponi
Annio and Sevillia: Ah, perdona al primo affetto
Ensembles
Trio: Se al volto mai ti senti