Word: poppea
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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Ottone, a Roman nobleman, came home one night to discover his mistress, Poppea, in the arms of the notorious Emperor Nero. The Emperor finds time to dally with his male friend Lucano when Poppea or his Empress Ottavia is not around. Seneca, Nero's wise old mentor, advises him against marriage to Poppea and, for his counsel, is forced to commit suicide. Ottavia, whose crime is wanting to keep her husband and her throne, is exiled-set adrift alone at sea. Meanwhile, Ottone, who has tried to murder Poppea in her sleep, is banished. When Poppea finally marries Nero...
...sequel to I, Claudius? Part 2 of Caligula? No, an opera: Claudio Monteverdi's The Coronation of Poppea, first performed in 1642 in Venice. History's first great opera, Poppea is infrequently performed not because of the plot, which set a high standard of treachery and lubricity, but because of the special demands of Baroque convention, which included the casting of castrati in principal roles. Further, the musical idiom of early 17th century opera sounds strange to audiences accustomed to the ripe lyricism of Bellini, Verdi and Puccini...