Benjamin Britten: THE RAPE OF LUCRETIA - New Production
Feb. 3, 7:30 p.m. | Feb. 5, 2 p.m. | Feb. 7, 7:30
p.m. | Feb. 9, 7:30 p.m. | Feb. 11, 7:30 p.m.
Brown Theater | Sung in English with projected translations
The performance lasts approximately 2 hours, 20 minutes, including one intermission.
Performances beginning at 7:30 p.m. end at approximately 9:50 p.m., with two intermissions.
Performances beginning at 2:00 p.m. end at approximately 4:20 p.m., with two intermissions.
The story of Lucretia has inspired writers from Ovid in ancient Rome
and Shakespeare to Thornton Wilder; painters like like Titian,
Botticelli and Raphael immortalized the tragedy on vivid canvasses. The
cruel tale is familiar in any century.
Benjamin Britten and Ronald Duncan wrote this opera in 1946 as an
allegorical exploration of the Second World War’s devastation; the
intimate and supremely moving result is a plea, perhaps a prayer, for
our redemption.
“Ms. DeYoung is a powerful singer…” - The New York Times
“Imbrailo emits a glowing, rich sound…” - Bloomberg
Premiere Guarantor
Houston Grand Opera Endowment, Inc.
Grand Underwriters
Edward and Frances Bing Fund
The Britten Series is supported in part through the Britten-Pears Foundation
Artwork: Tarquinius and Lucretia by Tizian (1570-1576) © Gemäldegalerie der Akademie der bildenen Künste Wien
Act One
The Male Chorus and the Female Chorus tell the story of how Etruscan
upstart Tarquinius Superbus has become the ruler of Rome by using
intrigue and murder to acquire power. His son, Prince Tarquinius Sextus,
is the commander of a Roman army which is at war with the Greeks.
In the army's camp, two Roman commanders, Collatinus and Junius, are
drinking with Prince Tarquinius and discussing the outcome of a bet they
made the night before. In order to see how faithful their wives were in
their absence, they and several other commanders had returned to Rome
unannounced, but the only one who was at home, uncompromised, was
Lucretia, the wife of Collatinus. The general praise lavished on
Lucretia for her chastity makes Junius, who is very ambitious, jealous
of Collatinus' good fortune. He keeps on insisting to Tarquinius that
women can never be faithful until the prince decides to prove Lucretia
chaste and sets off for Rome.
The Male Chorus describes Tarquinius' ride through the night.
Lucretia is sitting at home in the company of her two servants Bianca
and Lucia. Tarquinius knocks at the door and asks Lucretia to give him
lodging for the night. As the rules of etiquette require of her,
Lucretia complies with his request and offers him her hospitality.
Act Two
The Female and Male Chorus tell about the violent rule of the much-hated Etruscan kings in Rome. There is rebellion in the air.
In the night, Tarquinius wakens Lucretia from sleep and tries to
seduce her. When she resists him, he rapes her and then returns to the
camp.
The Female and Male Chorus offer a Christian commentary on "virtue assailed by sin".
The next morning, Bianca and Lucia are arranging flowers. Lucretia,
in distress, orders Lucia to send for Collatinus, but Collatinus,
alerted by Junius to Tarquinius' departure for Rome, anticipates the
messenger. When he arrives, accompanied by Junius, Lucretia tells all
who are present what happened during the night. Although Collatinus
exonerates her from all blame, Lucretia kills herself. This is the
moment Junius has been waiting for. He puts Lucretia's corpse on public
display to incite the people to rebel against the Etruscans in order to
seize power himself.
The Female and Male Chorus search for a meaning to the tragedy.
Houston Grand Opera indemnifies the Bavarian State Opera in this regard
from any and all claims, including any legal expenses. First published
by Bavarian State Opera.
