L'Incoronazione di Poppea - Schedule, Program & Tickets
L'Incoronazione di Poppea
Cast
musical direction
Pablo Heras-Casado
Staging & stage
Jan Lauwers
Costumes
Lemm & Barkey
light
Ken Hioco
choreography
Jan Lauwers
Paul Blackman
dramaturgy
Elke Janssens
Nerone
Virginie Verrez
Poppea
Slávka Zámečníková
Ottone, Poppea's former husband
Xavier Sabata
Ottavia, Nero's wife
Christina Bock
Seneca
Willard White
Virtù / Drusilla
Vera-Lotte Boecker
prolog
Fortuna and Virtù, the goddesses of luck and virtue, quarrel over which of them is the more powerful. Cupid, the god of love, steps in and claims the highest rank for himself.
1st act
Ottone longs for Poppea. When he meets two sleeping soldiers in front of her house, he realizes that his lover is already visiting: Emperor Nerone is with her. The soldiers wake up and complain about Nerone's affairs and his negligent use of power; Nerone says goodbye to Poppea. Before he has disowned Empress Ottavia, their relationship must remain a secret. Poppea does not want to know about Arnalta's warnings that the world of the mighty is dangerous. Empress Ottavia knows informed of Nerone's adultery. When her wet nurse advises her to also take a lover, Ottavia reacts irritably: She sees through the laws of the world ruled by men and does not want to give Nerone an excuse for her repudiation. Even the state philosopher Seneca has no advice, for which a page denounces him as a lying intellectual and vain self-promoter. Pallas Athene, the goddess of wisdom, announces his imminent death to Seneca.
Nerone tells Seneca that he wants to cast Ottavia out in order to make Poppea empress. Seneca appeals to Nerone's statesmanship. Poppea and Nerone love each other. Poppea, who knows that Seneca's influence is blocking her way to the throne, tells Nerone that Nerone prides himself on being the real ruler. Nerone proves his potency by having Seneca bring the order to commit suicide. Ottone reproaches Poppea, but she does not give in: it belongs to Nerone. Drusilla is still loyal to Ottone. But his expressions of love for the former lover are only lip service: his heart beats for Poppea.
2nd act
Seneca takes the death sentence calmly and tells his friends that by committing suicide he will regain his lost dignity. The page and a maid turtle with each other. Nerone celebrates Seneca's death and sings about his love for Poppea with the court poet Lucano. Ottone is terrified of his own thoughts of murder towards Poppea. Ottavia orders Ottone to kill Poppea and advises him to disguise himself as a woman. When Ottone hesitates, she threatens to report him to Nerone for attempted rape. Drusilla, the nurse and the page ponder love, youth and old age.
Ottone seeks help from Drusilla, who does everything for her love: She gives Ottone her veil, under whose cover he should approach Poppea. Poppea asks Cupid to make her empress. She doesn't want to hear Arnalta's warnings, tired she lets herself be singed to sleep. Cupid scoffs at the person who is unable to persist in pursuing his goal. He decides to protect Poppea to ensure his own victory. Ottone approaches Poppea, but Cupid thwarts the attempted murder: Poppea wakes up and believes that Drusilla wants to kill her. Arnalta's cries for help make Ottone flee. Cupid triumphs: he saved Poppea, now he wants to make her empress.
3rd act
Drusilla is waiting for Ottones to return. But instead of him, Arnalta appears with the lictor who arrests her for attempting to murder Poppea. During interrogation, Drusilla protests her innocence. When Nerone threatens her with torture, in order not to endanger Ottone, she takes on the crime and is sentenced to death. Ottone turns himself in and reveals that Ottavia forced him to commit the murder. Nerone banishes Ottone into exile, while he declares Drusilla to be the model of female loyalty. Nothing stands in the way of Ottavia's banishment. Poppea and Nerone can hardly wait for their wedding. Arnalta has mixed feelings about her rise to the new Empress's confidante. Ottavia says goodbye to her homeland. Poppea is crowned empress. Cupid declares himself the winner. Nerone and Poppea sing about their love.
Subject to changes.
musical direction
Pablo Heras-Casado
Staging & stage
Jan Lauwers
Costumes
Lemm & Barkey
light
Ken Hioco
choreography
Jan Lauwers
Paul Blackman
dramaturgy
Elke Janssens
Nerone
Virginie Verrez
Poppea
Slávka Zámečníková
Ottone, Poppea's former husband
Xavier Sabata
Ottavia, Nero's wife
Christina Bock
Seneca
Willard White
Virtù / Drusilla
Vera-Lotte Boecker
prolog
Fortuna and Virtù, the goddesses of luck and virtue, quarrel over which of them is the more powerful. Cupid, the god of love, steps in and claims the highest rank for himself.
1st act
Ottone longs for Poppea. When he meets two sleeping soldiers in front of her house, he realizes that his lover is already visiting: Emperor Nerone is with her. The soldiers wake up and complain about Nerone's affairs and his negligent use of power; Nerone says goodbye to Poppea. Before he has disowned Empress Ottavia, their relationship must remain a secret. Poppea does not want to know about Arnalta's warnings that the world of the mighty is dangerous. Empress Ottavia knows informed of Nerone's adultery. When her wet nurse advises her to also take a lover, Ottavia reacts irritably: She sees through the laws of the world ruled by men and does not want to give Nerone an excuse for her repudiation. Even the state philosopher Seneca has no advice, for which a page denounces him as a lying intellectual and vain self-promoter. Pallas Athene, the goddess of wisdom, announces his imminent death to Seneca.
Nerone tells Seneca that he wants to cast Ottavia out in order to make Poppea empress. Seneca appeals to Nerone's statesmanship. Poppea and Nerone love each other. Poppea, who knows that Seneca's influence is blocking her way to the throne, tells Nerone that Nerone prides himself on being the real ruler. Nerone proves his potency by having Seneca bring the order to commit suicide. Ottone reproaches Poppea, but she does not give in: it belongs to Nerone. Drusilla is still loyal to Ottone. But his expressions of love for the former lover are only lip service: his heart beats for Poppea.
2nd act
Seneca takes the death sentence calmly and tells his friends that by committing suicide he will regain his lost dignity. The page and a maid turtle with each other. Nerone celebrates Seneca's death and sings about his love for Poppea with the court poet Lucano. Ottone is terrified of his own thoughts of murder towards Poppea. Ottavia orders Ottone to kill Poppea and advises him to disguise himself as a woman. When Ottone hesitates, she threatens to report him to Nerone for attempted rape. Drusilla, the nurse and the page ponder love, youth and old age.
Ottone seeks help from Drusilla, who does everything for her love: She gives Ottone her veil, under whose cover he should approach Poppea. Poppea asks Cupid to make her empress. She doesn't want to hear Arnalta's warnings, tired she lets herself be singed to sleep. Cupid scoffs at the person who is unable to persist in pursuing his goal. He decides to protect Poppea to ensure his own victory. Ottone approaches Poppea, but Cupid thwarts the attempted murder: Poppea wakes up and believes that Drusilla wants to kill her. Arnalta's cries for help make Ottone flee. Cupid triumphs: he saved Poppea, now he wants to make her empress.
3rd act
Drusilla is waiting for Ottones to return. But instead of him, Arnalta appears with the lictor who arrests her for attempting to murder Poppea. During interrogation, Drusilla protests her innocence. When Nerone threatens her with torture, in order not to endanger Ottone, she takes on the crime and is sentenced to death. Ottone turns himself in and reveals that Ottavia forced him to commit the murder. Nerone banishes Ottone into exile, while he declares Drusilla to be the model of female loyalty. Nothing stands in the way of Ottavia's banishment. Poppea and Nerone can hardly wait for their wedding. Arnalta has mixed feelings about her rise to the new Empress's confidante. Ottavia says goodbye to her homeland. Poppea is crowned empress. Cupid declares himself the winner. Nerone and Poppea sing about their love.
Subject to changes.
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