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Overview

Synopsis

Pontus is at war with Rome, and King Mitridate is leading a fierce campaign against them. His immediate concerns, however, are not with the battlefield, but with his domestic life. He suspects that one of his sons might be trying to betray him, and that one of them might be having an affair with Aspasia, his own betrothed. To test them and reveal the extent of the conspiracies against him, he sends a messenger ahead of him to tell Governor Arbate that he has died in battle. A day later, he returns, reveals that the message was false, and asks Arbate which of his sons has betrayed him, and which is worthy of ascending to the throne of Pontus.

In the short time between hearing that their father has died, and finding out that he is still alive, Farnace and Sifare reveal their true characters. Farnace immediately makes advances on Aspasia, despite her rejections of him. Certain that the throne will go to him, he also confirms a relationship with his allies in Rome, putting Pontus in peril of being overthrown by the Roman armies. Sifare, meanwhile, promises to protect Aspasia and give her the freedom she asks for, despite his affections for her. He tries to counsel his brother and stop his poor behavior, and he makes strong decisions for the future of the kingdom.

With this evidence related to him by Arbate, it is up to King Mitridate to make the right decision in who will succeed him. But will he be able to make such a choice from his sons, and can he relinquish his hold over Aspasia, knowing that she loves his son instead of him? Mozart’s Mitridate, rè di Ponto finds an answer to this families’ problems.

Show Information

Based on the Play/Book/Film
Mithridates by Jean Racine
Category
Opera
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
3
First Produced
1770
Genres
Drama, Historical/Biographical
Settings
Period, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
Nymphæum, Crimea, 88 BC
Cast Size
small
Orchestra Size
Small
Dancing
None
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
Professional Opera, Mostly Female Cast, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Mature Adult, Young Adult, Adult Characters, Small Cast

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Mitridate

Lead

Male

Tenor

Aspasia

Lead

Female

Soprano

Farnace

Lead

Either Gender

Countertenor, Contralto

Sifare

Lead

Either Gender

Mezzo-Soprano, Countertenor

Ismene

Supporting

Female

Soprano

Arbate

Supporting

Either Gender

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Countertenor

Marzio

Featured

Male

Tenor

Songs

Act One

Scene 1

  • Recitative ‘Vieni. Signor’ - Sifare, Arbate

Scene 2

Scene 3

  • Recitative ‘Qual tumulto nell’alma’ - Sifare
  • No. 2 Aria ‘Soffre il mio cor’ - Sifare

Scene 4

  • Recitative ‘Sin a quando, o Regina’ - Farnace, Aspasia

Scene 6

  • No. 3 Aria ‘L’odio nel cor frenate’ - Arbate

Scene 7

  • Recitative ‘Principe, che faccemo!’ - Farnace, Aspasia, Sifare
  • No. 4 Aria ‘Nel sen mi palpita’ - Aspasia

Scene 8

  • Recitative ‘Un tale addio’ - Farnace, Sifare’
  • No. 5 Aria ‘Parto: Nel gran cimento’ - Sifare

Scene 9

  • Recitative ‘Eccovi in un momento’ - Farnace, Marzio
  • No. 6 Aria ‘Venga pur’ - Farnace

Scene 10

  • No. 7 Aria ‘Se di lauri il crine adorno’ - Mitridate
  • Recitative ‘Tu mi rivedi, Arbate’ - Mitridate, Ismene, Arbate

Scene 11

  • Recitative ‘Tu la temuta destra’ - Sifare, Farnace, Mitridate, Ismene
  • No. 8 Aria ‘In faccia all’ogetto’ - Ismene

Scene 12

  • Recitative ‘Teme Ismene a ragion’ - Mitridate, Arbate

Scene 13

  • Recitative ‘Respira alfin’ - Mitridate
  • No. 9 Aria ‘Quel ribelle e quell’ingrato’ - Mitridate

Act Two

Scene 1

  • Recitative ‘Quest e l’amor’ - Ismene, Farnace
  • No. 10 Aria ‘Va l’error mio palesa’ - Farnace

Scene 2

  • Recitative ‘Perfido, ascolta’ - Ismene, Mitridate

Scene 3

  • Recitative ‘Eccomi a’ cenni tuoi’ - Aspasia, Mitridate

Scene 4

  • Recitative ‘Respiro, o Dei!’ - Aspasia, Sifare, Mitridate
  • No. 11 Aria ‘Tu, che fedel mi sei’ - Mitridate

Scene 5

  • Recitative ‘Che dirò? Che ascoltai?’ - Sifare, Aspaisa

Scene 6

  • Recitative ‘All tua fede il padre’ - Arbate

Scene 7

  • Recitative ‘Oh giorno di dolore!’ Sifare, Aspasia
  • Recitative ‘Non più Regina’ - Sifare
  • No. 12 Aria ‘Lungi da te’ - Sifare

Scene 8

  • Recitative ‘Grazie ai numi parti’ - Aspasia
  • No. 13 Aria ‘Nel grave tormento’ - Aspasia

Scene 9

  • Recitative ‘Qui, dove la vendetta’ - Mitridate, Ismene, Arbate

Scene 10

  • Recitative ‘Sedete, o Prenci’ - Mitridate, Farnace, Sifare

Scene 11

  • Recitative ‘Signor, son io’ - Marzio, Mitridate, Sifare

Scene 12

  • Recitative ‘Inclita Ismene’ - Mitridate, Ismene
  • No. 14 Aria ‘So quanto a te dispiace’ - Ismene

Scene 13

Scene 14

  • Recitative ‘Sifare, per pieta’ - Aspasia, Sifare
  • Recitative ‘Io sposa di quel mostro’ - Aspasia, Sifare
  • No. 17 Duet ‘Se viver non degg’io’ - Aspasia, Sifare

Act Three

Scene 1

  • Recitative ‘Pera omai che m’oltraggia’ - Mitridate, Aspasia, Ismene
  • No. 18 Aria ‘Tu sai per chi m’accese’ - Ismene

Scene 2

  • Recitative ‘Re crudel, Re spietato’ - Aspasia, Mitridate

Scene 3

  • Recitative ‘Mio Re, t’affretta’ - Arbate, Mitridate
  • No. 19 Aria ‘Vado incontro al fato estremo’ - Mitridate

Scene 4

  • Recitative ‘Lagrime intempestive’ - Aspasia

Scene 5

  • Recitative ‘Che fai ,Regina?’ - Sifare, Aspasia

Scene 6

  • Recitative ‘Che mi val questa vita’ - Sifare
  • No. 20 Aria ‘Se il rigor d’ingrate sorte’ - Sifare

Scene 7

  • Recitative ‘Sorte crudel’ - Farnace

Scene 8

  • Recitative ‘Teco i patti, o Farnace’ - Marzio, Farnace
  • No. 21 Aria ‘Se di regnar sei vago’ - Marzio

Scene 9

  • Recitative ‘Vadassi… Oh ciel’ - Farnace
  • No. 22 Aria ‘Già dagli occhi il velo e tolto’ - Farnace

Scene 10

  • Recitative ‘Figlio, amico, non più’ - Mitridate, Sifare

Scene 11

  • Recitative ‘Ah vieni, o dolce’ - Mitridate, Aspasia, Sifare

Scene 12

  • Recitative ‘Reo non si chiami’ - Ismene, Mitridate
  • No. 23 Quintet ‘Non si ceda al Campidoglio’ - Aspasia, Ismene, Sifare, Arbate, Farnace

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

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

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Guide Written By:

Wendy Silvester

Wendy Silvester

Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.