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La clemenza di Tito synopsis

La clemenza di Tito synopsis

 Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Libretto by Pietro Metastasio, adapted by Caterino Mazzolà

First performed: 1791

 The action takes place in Rome, 79AD.

 Act One

 Vitellia, daughter of the murdered Emperor Vitellio, seeks to avenge her father’s death by becoming empress. With the new emperor Tito having chosen as his consort the Judean princess Berenice, Vitellia attempts to convince Sesto, her lover and close friend of Tito, to assassinate him and seize the throne himself. When Tito bows to the will of the people and renounces Berenice, Vitellia sees a new opportunity and instructs Sesto to postpone the rebellion. Annio, who is in love with Sesto’s sister Servilia , urges Sesto to help him gain the emperor’s approval for his and Servilia’s marriage.

 Annio and Sesto learn that Tito has now chosen Servilia as his new bride. Annio, concealing his true feelings, congratulates Tito on his choice.

 A list of insurgents is presented to Tito but he displays his generosity by forgiving them. Servilia approaches the emperor and confesses her love for Annio. He relinquishes all claim to her, praising her honesty.

 In the meantime Vitellia, still believing that Tito is to marry Servilia, orders Sesto to go ahead with the planned rebellion. When news arrives that Tito now wishes to marry Vitellia, it is too late to stop Sesto. The Capitol is in flames and Rome is in turmoil. Sesto believes he has succeeded in killing Tito and full of remorse begins to confess his guilt before he is silenced by Vitellia.

 Act Two

 The rebellion has been suppressed and Tito has survived unharmed. Sesto is tormented by what he has done, but Annio advises him to confess and perhaps earn the emperor’s forgiveness. Vitellia implores Sesto to flee for both their sakes, but Sesto is apprehended and brought for interrogation.

 Thanks are given for Tito’s survival. Tito finds it hard to believe that Sesto has attempted to assassinate him. When they are alone, the remorseful Sesto tells Tito that the reason for his treason was not to seize the throne for himself; he does not,

however, implicate Vitellia. Tito is dissatisfied with Sesto’s explanation and signs the death warrant. But Tito agonizes over his decision and declares that he will make Sesto’s fate known in front of the people. When Tito is about to announce his judgement, Vitellia, full of remorse for what she has done, admits her guilt. The betrayed emperor decides to pardon the conspirators, valuing their repentance more than their fidelity.