La clemenza di Tito 2002
A king’s wisdom and mercy…
…are put to the supreme test with an attempted assassination.
Synopsis
Act I
Vitellia, angered by Tito’s decision to marry Berenice, her rival, has launched a conspiracy to have him murdered. Sesto, torn between love for Vitellia and duty towards his friend Tito, is convinced to kill the Emperor. Annio announces that Tito has changed his mind, sending Berenice away. Vitellia postpones the murder but urges Sesto to be resolute.
Assembled in the Forum, the Roman senators and citizens praise Tito’s wisdom and justice. Tito orders that the golden tributes offered to him be used instead to aid the victims suffering from a recent eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Tito decides to marry Servilia, but she refuses, citing her love for Annius. Tito praises her honesty.
Vitellia, believing that Servilia will accept Tito’s offer, orders Sesto to burn the Capitol and murder the Emperor. Sesto agrees. Annio and Publio inform Vitellia that Tito has decided to marry her. Horrified, Vitellia realizes that she cannot stop the murder; Annio and Publio interpret her confusion as a sign of her love for Tito.
As the Capitol burns, Sesto returns to confess Tito’s murder, but Vitellia orders him to be silent; they join in the chorus of lament.
Act II
Sesto learns from Annio that he attacked someone other than Tito. Publio arrests Sesto, and Vitellia worries that her role in the plot will be discovered.
The Senate finds Sesto guilty and orders his execution; before signing the warrant, Tito orders Sesto to appear before him. Sesto confesses his treachery but does not betray Vitellia. He leaves, ready to be executed but regretting his role in the conspiracy. Angered by this betrayal, Tito signs the death warrant. On further reflection, he realizes that mercy would be a wiser choice and vows to announce his decision.
Unaware of her role in the murder plot, Tito reiterates his decision to marry Vitellia. She is moved by the realization that Sesto did not betray her and resolves to confess her guilt to Tito.
As the public assembles in the amphitheater to see the sentence carried out, Tito is about to announce his decision when Vitellia confesses. He is at first shocked but decides to order a pardon for Vitellia. He proclaims that the good of Rome is his foremost consideration and is hailed by the citizens.
Artists
Richard Croft
Tenor
Tito
Richard Croft
Hometown: Cooperstown, NY
SFO Debut:
Belmonte, Abduction from the Seraglio, 1994
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1978
Past Seasons:
Tito, La clemenza di Tito, 2002
Tom Rakewell, The Rake’s Progress, 1996
Jester, The Duchess of Mali, 1978
Alex Penda
Soprano
Vitellia
Alex Penda
Hometown: Sofia, Bulgaria
SFO Debut:
Ermione, Ermione, 2000
Past Seasons:
Salome, Salome, 2015
Leonore, Fidelio, 2014
Vitelia, La clemenza di Tito, 2002
Kristine Jepson
Mezzo-soprano
Sesto
Kristine Jepson
Hometown: Onawa, Iowa
SFO Debut:
Composer, Ariadne auf Naxos, 1999
Past Seasons:
Nerone, Agrippina, 2004
Sesto, La clemenza di Tito, 2002
Joyce DiDonato
Mezzo-soprano
Annio
Joyce DiDonato
Hometown: Kansas City, MO
SFO Debut:
Cherubino, The Marriage of Figaro, 2000
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1995
Past Seasons:
Elena, La donna del lago, 2013
Cinderella, Cendrillon, 2006
Annio, La clemenza di Tito, 2002
Peasant Girl, The Marriage of Figaro, 1995
Stephen Morscheck
Bass
Publio
Stephen Morscheck
Hometown: Marshfield, WI
SFO Debut:
Publio, La clemenza di Tito, 2002
Isabel Bayrakdarian
Soprano
Servilia
Isabel Bayrakdarian
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
SFO Debut:
Servilia, La clemenza di Tito, 2002
Kenneth Montgomery
Conductor
Kenneth Montgomery
Hometown: Belfast, United Kingdom
SFO Debut:
Mignon, 1982
Past Seasons:
The Impresario & Le Rossignol, 2014
Susan Graham and Friends Gala Concert, 2012
Alceste, 2009
The Marriage of Figaro, 2008
Daphne, 2007
Cendrillon, 2006
Anniversary Arias Gala Concert, 2006
The Barber of Seville, 2005
Beatrice and Benedict, 2004
La belle Hélène, 2003
Intermezzo, 2003
La clemenza di Tito, 2002
Mitridate, 2001
The Marriage of Figaro, 2000
Idomoneo, 1999
Così fan tutte, 1997
The Rake’s Progress, 1996
Abduction from the Seraglio, 1994
Xerxes, 1993
L’incoronazione di Poppea, 1986
Il matrimonio segreto, 1984
Chas Rader-Shieber
Director
Chas Rader-Shieber
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
SFO Debut:
La Clemenza di Tito, 2002
Past Seasons:
Don Giovanni, 2009
Don Giovanni, 2004
David Zinn
Scenic & Costume Designer
David Zinn
Hometown: Bainbridge Island, WA
SFO Debut:
La clemenza di Tito, 2002
Past Seasons:
Don Giovanni, 2009
Don Giovanni, 2004
Rick Fisher
Lighting Designer
Rick Fisher
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
SFO Debut:
The Egyptian Helen, 2001
Past Seasons:
Eugene Onegin, 2021
The Pearl Fishers, 2019
Madame Butterfly, 2018
Daughter of the Regiment, 2015
Rigoletto, 2015
Salome, 2015
The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 2013
The Pearl Fishers, 2012
La bohème, 2011
The Last Savage, 2011
Wozzeck, 2011
Madame Butterfly, 2010
Albert Herring, 2010
Billy Budd, 2008
Radamisto, 2008
La bohème, 2007
Tea: A Mirror of Soul, 2007
Daphne, 2007
Peter Grimes, 2005
La sonnambula, 2004
Intermezzo, 2003
Madame Mao, 2003
La clemenza di Tito, 2002
La Traviata, 2002
Wozzeck, 2001
Robert Wood
Chorus Master
Robert Wood
Hometown: Shaker Heights, OH
SFO Debut:
Simon Boccanegra, 2004
Past Seasons:
Don Giovanni, 2004
Beatrice and Benedict, 2004
La sonnambula, 2004
La clemenza di Tito 2002
- Tours
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