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
- Music
- Claudio Monteverdi
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano, Contralto, Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano, Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano, Contralto |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Mezzo-Soprano, Countertenor, Contralto |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Either Gender |
Mezzo-Soprano, Countertenor, Contralto |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Countertenor |
|
|
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
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Wendy Silvester
Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.