L’incoronazione di Poppea

Photographs by Jamie Buschbaum of L’incoronazione di Poppea.

Christine Brandes as Nerone, Emma McNairy as Poppea

McNairy

Tonia D'Amelio as Drucilla, Paul Thompson as Seneca

Erin Neff as Ottavia

McNairy

Ryan Belongie as Ottone

Bryan Thorsett as Arnalta

D'Amelio

Brandes, McNairy

Making the Ancient Modern

by Gilbert Martinez, Artistic Director, MusicSources

Gilbert Martinez

Some months ago, when it was announced that West Edge Opera would be performing Claudio Monteverdi's masterpiece L'Incornazione di Poppea, I received a phone call from an anxious early music aficionado. "Will this be a period staging?" queried the caller. I politely hinted that it would be an updated setting. A cold thud from the unidentified antiquarian ended the conversation.

Twelfth Night with Stephen Fry & Mark Rylance

It's unfortunate, since I would have liked to ask a few questions myself. For example, when I ask most Shakespeare fans if they prefer to see the Bard's plays done with period settings, i.e., using authentic Elizabethan pronunciation and an all male cast performing the women's roles, they consider it an option, but usually a novelty at best. The reason? Most modern audiences would be bewildered at the sound of the English language of Shakespeare's time. It is so utterly foreign to modern English speakers that it would render much important drama incomprehensible.

Period dance

Baroque opera is another beast. It is a form of musical theater that is just now getting its due. There have been notable attempts at giving audiences a taste of this type of theater, in particular the glorious pioneering efforts of Alan Curtis at Innsbruck Early Music Festival, Jean-Claude Malgoire at the English Bach Festival, and latterly Nicholas McGegan at the Gottingen Handel Festival. Many of these trailblazing productions of Handel, Rameau and Gluck have made use of elaborate stage machinery, period dance, and a highly stylized vocabulary of movement from the singers.

Baroque opera at Cesky Krumlov

It should be noted that the label "Baroque opera" encompasses about 200 years of theatrical works, but one size does not fit all. For the operas of Handel and Rameau, there is far more source material giving us good clues about what happened on stage. Physical movement and acting style was documented more thoroughly. Actual late 18th century theaters survive with original sets and machinery, notably in Drottningholm and Cesky Krumlov.

Claudio Monteverdi
1567–1643

Georg Friedrich Händel
1685–1759

Nearly 100 years separate Monteverdi and Cavalli's works from those of Handel or Rameau. Current trends in the "Early Music" world find no contradiction in imposing 18th century French gestique on an Italian work of the 17th century. I would argue that a modernized setting, if done smartly, would serve the drama better in the case of Venetian opera than a feigned attempt at period theater, using irrelevant conventions from the late Baroque.

In the case of L'Incoronazione di Poppea, we can see in the two principal sources of the opera (manuscripts from Venice and Naples) that the work was subject to revision. We don't really know if these two sources stem from actual performances or if they come from Monteverdi's immediate circle. It is generally accepted nowadays that Monteverdi did not write all of it. Rather than spill ink on choosing either the Naples or Venice version, it should be noted that the two sources imply changing tastes. The Venice version has a prologue, and brief appearances of Amore and Mercury. We can see that the presence of the gods and spectacular machinery were not a key element. The Naples version, by contrast, has an amplified scene with Venus, Cupid, and a chorus of cupids after the coronation.

Christine Brandes & Emma McNairy in rehearsal
Photograph by Jamie Buschbaum

In our version, we take the spirit of this respectful type of adaptation, tightening scenes and focusing on the central characters of the drama. Audiences of Monteverdi's time would have been fully aware of Tacitus and the historical Poppea. They also would have been aware of any deviations from the real story. We attempt to provide this context by the way of our setting, making the political and social context of the characters even more accessible.

Our musical presentation conforms to what we know about Venetian theaters in the 17th century. Rather than employing large orchestras, the Venetian theaters relied on rich continuo accompaniments and light accompaniment from bowed instruments of the violin family. The West Edge Baroque Orchestra will utilize two harpsichords, theorbo, archlute and baroque double harp, giving emphasis to singing actors with an entirely conversational approach to singing. Additionally, a small violin band punctuates each scene with short ritornelli, as indicated in the score and with little elaboration.

Our intention is to create a documented piece that can be done economically, not just by West Edge, but also by small companies and schools throughout the country. The concept for the show will illustrate the consequences of a leader gone wrong—Emperor Nero betrayed his people and his country. We will use projections and modern plot devices to create a production that resonates this theme, including video and still imagery designed by Lucas Krech to create an immersive performance environment in which to place this fascinating and hauntingly beautiful work.

We look forward to sharing this with you on Friday, February 1, and hope that you will join us.

Synopsis for the West Edge Opera version of Poppea

by Mark Streshinsky

As published, Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea, composed in 1642, has a very large cast of characters who do not figure into the main plot of the opera. In this version, these extraneous people have been removed and in some cases, their music has been re-assigned to other characters. Normally this three act opera runs over four hours. We have re-worked it into two acts each lasting about an hour with no change in the essential plot.

In creating an updated production of Poppea, I have kept in the back of my head the question: What would have happened if JFK had divorced Jackie to marry Marilyn? We are not forcing these real life people on the drama, just keeping the question for reference. We are, however, setting the drama not in antiquity, but in 1962.

ACT 1:
In the year 68, Ottone, a Roman Noble whose family has been elevated by the Empress Ottavia, returns to Rome to find that his lover, Poppea, has become the consort of Emperor Nero. After a night of love making, Nero explains to Poppea that they cannot be united until he publicly banishes Ottavia, which would be an unthinkable political move. Poppea tempts Nero and he finds it difficult to leave her side. Arnalta, Poppea's nurse and companion, urges her to stay clear of the emperor, but Poppea will have none of it.

Christine Brandes & Emma McNairy in rehearsal
Photograph by Jamie Buschbaum

Ottavia, attended by her lady in waiting Drusilla, seeks the counsel of the wise Seneca, advisor to Nero. Ottavia is despondent over Nero's attention to Poppea. Seneca urges Ottavia to maintain her composure and dignity. Nero arrives to tell Seneca that he has decided he is above the law, and plans to banish Ottavia to marry Poppea. Seneca predicts a dark time for the nation. The visibly shaken Nero is comforted by Poppea, and he is so moved that he declares to her that she will be Empress. Poppea, seeing Seneca as an obstacle, urges Nero to deal with him. As Nero departs to make plans, Ottone confronts Poppea, begging her to return to him. Poppea rebukes him, saying that she now belongs to Nero. Ottone realizes that life as Poppea's former lover could be a dangerous one. Drusilla, secretly in love with Ottone, sees her chance to flirt with him. Ottone realizes the love Drusilla can offer would be the opposite of the one he had with Poppea, and he is soon ready to declare his love for Drusilla.

In his chamber, Seneca reflects on his long and satisfying life. He has been discredited by Nero and feels that his place is now in heaven. He writes his final words and then takes the steps necessary to end his life.

ACT 2:
Alone in his apartment, Ottone pines for Poppea. Ottavia arrives and reminds him of the debt that he owes to her. He pledges his loyalty but is horrified to hear her command him to murder Poppea. Ottavia tells Ottone to dress as a lady and steal into Poppea's quarters while she sleeps. Drusilla finds Ottone despondent and he confides in her his terrible task. Drusilla realizes that this murder will benefit her queen, her country and herself and urges Ottone to wear her own clothes.

Poppea is elated about the death of Seneca and now feels assured that her place as Nero's bride will be secured. Arnalta complains that Poppea thinks about nothing but her wedding. As Poppea begins to fall asleep, Arnalta sings her a lullaby. Ottone, disguised in Drusilla's clothing enters Poppea's chamber. He is about to murder her when Arnalta is alerted and calls the guards. Ottone escapes, but the women have recognized him as Drusilla.

In Ottavia's chamber, Arnalta comes to accuse Drusilla of Poppea's attempted murder. Nero arrives and immediately suspects Ottavia as the mastermind. Drusilla realizes that Ottone's life is in jeopardy and declares herself the guilty one. Ottone arrives having heard that Drusilla has been accused. He admits blame and also admits that the Empress charged him with the task. Nero orders the legal banishment of all three and is relieved to see Poppea alive as she enters the room. He explains what has happened and tells the happy Poppea to ready herself for their wedding and her coronation.

Ready to board transport to her exile, the distraught Ottavia bids farewell to her country.

Poppea is ready to be crowned empress. She and Nero declare their love for each other.

The historical Poppea

Sabina Poppæa    (School of Fontainebleau, ca. 1550)

The historical Poppea Sabina was born in 30 AD in Pompeii. She was first married at age 14 to Rufrius Crispinus, the leader of the Praetorian Guard during the reign of the Emperor Claudius. He was executed after Nero became Emperor. During this marriage, Poppaea gave birth to a son, who, after her death, was drowned by Nero while out on a fishing trip.

Her second husband was Otho, of an ancient and noble line, descended from princes of Etruria. Once Nero's best friend, this friendship ended when Nero fell in love with Poppea and she became Nero's mistress, divorced Otho (who was sent away to the remote province of Lusitania where he remained for 10 years), and focused her attentions solely on becoming empress of Rome and Nero's new wife. The opera calls Otho "Ottone," and describes him as Poppea's discarded lover, not husband. (Interestingly, Otho succeeded Nero briefly as Emperor after Nero's death.)

Poppea bore Nero one daughter, Claudia Augusta, who died at only four months of age. According to one story, while she was awaiting the birth of her second child, she quarreled fiercely with Nero over his spending too much time at the races. In a fit of rage, Nero kicked her in the abdomen, causing her death. Other accounts say she died in childbirth. Whichever story is true, Nero went into deep mourning. She was given a state funeral and Nero praised her during the funeral eulogy and gave her divine honors.

Nero himself died only three years later, committing suicide after he learned that the Senate had declared him a public enemy and it was their intention to execute him by beating him to death.