
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
- Music
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Libretto
- Vittorio Amadeo Cigna-Santi
- 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 |
---|---|---|---|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
Lead |
Either Gender |
Countertenor, Contralto |
|
Lead |
Either Gender |
Mezzo-Soprano, Countertenor |
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
Supporting |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Countertenor |
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
Songs
Act One
Scene 1
- Recitative ‘Vieni. Signor’ - Sifare, Arbate
Scene 2
- Recitative ‘Se a me s’unisce Arbate’ - Sifare, Aspasia
- No. 1 Aria ‘Al destin, che la minaccia’ - Aspasia
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
- Recitative ‘Ah giacche son tradito’ - Farnace
- No. 15 Aria ‘Son reo; l’error confesso’ - Farnace
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.
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