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Overview

Synopsis

Ulisse has not been home for 20 years, since the day he set out for the Trojan wars. For 20 years he has been forced to wander and kept away from home by Nettuno’s power. Now, he is deposited on the shore of his homeland, Ithaca, and his life is in danger. He cannot return to his homeland as the proud hero he is, but must disguise himself as an old man, and seek safety with the shepherds until the moment is right.

Ulisse’s wife, Penelope has waited patiently for her husband. Even with the pressure of everyone telling her that he must be dead, and the suitors lining up at her door, Penelope is still certain that her husband will return, and refuses any of the proposals and gifts.

With the help of the goddess Minerva, Ulisse’s son Telemaco is brought to him. Ulisse reveals his true identity to his son, and they make a plan to return to the palace and remove all the suitors. In his disguise as the old man, Ulisse will challenge the suitors to a contest and their arrogance will be their downfall.

The only thing now standing between Ulisse and his wife, is getting her to believe that this stranger, this old man, is truly her beloved Ulisse. Nothing can convince her, until Ulisse recalls the tender moments of their marriage night, with details no one else can know, and the two of them are finally reunited.

Adapted from Homer’s Odyssey, the story of Monteverdi’s Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria (The return of Ulysses to his fatherland) is a story of a husband and wife’s commitment and devotion to each other, against all odds, and even against the interference from the gods.

Show Information

Libretto
Giacomo Badoaro
Based on the Play/Book/Film
Homer's Odyssey
Category
Opera
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
3
First Produced
1640
Genres
Drama, Historical/Biographical
Settings
Period, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
Ancient Times, Trojan Wars, Ancient Greece
Cast Size
large
Orchestra Size
Small
Dancing
Some Dance
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
College/University, Ensemble Cast, Large Cast, Professional Opera, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult, Elderly Characters

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Ulisse

Lead

Male

Tenor

Minerva

Lead

Female

Soprano

Penelope

Lead

Female

Mezzo-Soprano, Contralto, Soprano

Giove

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Nettuno

Supporting

Male

Bass

Telemaco

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Melanto

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano, Soprano

Eumete

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Ericlea

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano, Contralto

Anfinomo

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Antinoo

Supporting

Male

Bass

Eurimaco

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Pisandro

Supporting

Male

Mezzo-Soprano, Countertenor, Contralto

Giunone

Featured

Female

Soprano

Iro

Featured

Male

Tenor

L'Humana Fragilita

Featured

Either Gender

Mezzo-Soprano, Countertenor, Contralto

Tempo

Featured

Male

Bass

Fortuna

Featured

Female

Soprano

Amore

Featured

Either Gender

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Countertenor

Chorus

Ensemble

Either Gender

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Contralto

Songs

Scenes in brackets have been lost.

Sinfonia before the Prologue

Prologue

  • Mortal cosa son io - L’Humana Fragilità, Tempo, Fortuna, Amore

Act One

Scene 1

Scene 2

  • Sinfonia ‘Duri, e penosi son gl’amorosi’ - Melanto, Eurimaco

(Scene 3)

Scene 4

  • Sinfonia

Scene 5

  • ‘Superbo è l’huom’ - Nettuno, Giove

Scene 6

  • Sinfonia ‘In questo basso mondo’ - Chorus, Nettuno

Scene 7

Scene 8

  • Sinfonia ‘Cara e lieta gioventù’ - Minerva, Ulisse

Scene 9

  • ‘Tu d’Aretusa al fonte intanto vanne’ - Minerva, Ulisse

Scene 10

  • ‘Donate un giorno, o Dei’ - Penelope, Melanto

Scene 11

  • ‘Come mal si salva un reggio ammanto’ - Eumete

Scene 12

  • ‘Pastor d’armenti può prati e boschi lodar’ - Iro, Eumete

Scene 13

  • ‘Ulisse generoso’ - Eumete, Ulisse

Act Two

Scene 1

  • Sinfonia ‘Lieto cammino, dolce viaggio’ - Telemaco, Minerva

Scene 2

  • ‘O gran figlio d’Ulisse’ - Eumete, Ulisse, Telemaco

Scene 3

  • ‘Che veggio, oime, che miro?’ - Telemaco, Ulisse

Scene 4

  • ‘Eurimaco, la donna insomma’ - Melanto, Eurimaco

Scene 5

  • ‘Sono l’altre Regine coronate’ - Antinoo, Anfinomo, Pisandro, Penelope

(Scene 6)

Scene 7

  • ‘Apportator d’alte novelle vengo’ - Eumete, Penelope

Scene 8

  • ‘Compagni, udiste?’ - Antinoo, Pisandro, Anfinomo, Eurimaco

Scene 9

  • ‘Perir non può chi tien per scorta il Cielo’ - Ulisse, Minerva

Scene 10

  • ‘Io viddi, o peregrin’ - Eumete, Ulisse

Scene 11

  • ‘Del mio lungo viaggio’ - Telemaco, Penelope

Scene 12

  • ‘Sempre, villano Eumete’ - Antinoo, Eumete, Iro, Ulisse, Telemaco, Penelope

Scene 13

  • ‘Generosa Regina’ - Pisandro, Penelope, Anfinomo, Antinoo, Telemaco, Ulisse

Act Three

Scene 1

  • ‘O dolor, o martir che l’alma attrista’ - Iro

(Scene 2)

Scene 3

  • ‘E quai nuovi rumori’ - Melanto, Penelope

Scene 4

  • ‘Forza d’occulto affetto’ - Eumete, Penelope

Scene 5

  • ‘E saggio Eumete’ - Telemaco, Penelope

Scene 6

  • ‘Fiamme e l’ira, o gran Dea’ - Minerva, Giunone

Scene 7

  • ‘Gran Giove, alma de’ Dei’ - Giunone, Giove, Nettuno, Chorus, Minerva

Scene 8

  • ‘Ericlea, che vuoi far?’ - Ericlea

Scene 9

  • ‘Ogni vostra ragio’ - Penelope, Telemaco, Eumete

Scene 10

  • ‘O delle mie fatische’ - Ulisse, Penelope, Ericlea

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.