Details

Power corrupts - but love corrupts absolutely. Poppea, scheming mistress of the Emperor Nero, exploits his erotic obsession to commit all forms of crime in her ruthless pursuit of power - and in her lust to be crowned Empress. Love conquers all - even if that love is dark and damaged through and through. Daring to seduce the audience with his dangerously exquisite music, Monteverdi turns morality on its head in a compelling mix of high comedy and dark tragedy. Sir John Eliot Gardiner completes his historic survey of Monteverdi's three surviving operas with one of the composer's grandest, most sensuous and most scandalous works. Performed in Italian with English Surtitles.

Cast/Performers

Petra Hajduchova (harpsichord), Cedric Meyer (archlute / baroque guitare), Carina Drury (cello), Kathleen Nic Dhiarmada (Poppea), Helen May (Nerone), Eric Scholssberg (Ottone), Marcio da Silva (Seneca), Sophie Levi (Ottavia), Kieran White (Arnalta), Joana Gil (Drusilla), Maya Wheeler-Colwell (Valetto / Fortuna), Lucano Celena Bridge (Virtu / Liberto / Pallade)

Creatives/Company

Music: Monteverdi
Producer: Ensemble OrQuesta
Musical Director(s): Marcio da Silva, Stephanie Gurga (harpsichord)