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George Frideric Handel

Agrippina, HWV.6

Opera

HWV 6 Composed 1709 Stage

Agrippina (HWV 6) is an opera seria in three acts by George Frideric Handel with a libretto by Cardinal Vincenzo Grimani. Composed for the 1709–10 Venice Carnevale season, the opera tells the story of Agrippina, the mother of Nero, as she plots the downfall of the Roman emperor Claudius and the installation of her son as emperor. Grimani's libretto, considered one of the best that Handel set, is an "anti-heroic satirical comedy", full of topical political allusions. Some analysts believe that it reflects Grimani's political and diplomatic rivalry with Pope Clement XI.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Synopsis

Atto I

On hearing that her husband, the Emperor Claudius, has died in a storm at sea, Agrippina plots to secure the throne for Nero, her son by a previous marriage. Nero is unenthusiastic about this project, but consents to his mother's wishes ("Con saggio tuo consiglio"). Agrippina obtains the support of her two freedmen, Pallas and Narcissus, who hail Nero as the new Emperor before the Senate.
With the Senate's assent, Agrippina and Nero begin to ascend the throne, but the ceremony is interrupted by the entrance of Claudius's servant Lesbus. He announces that his master is alive ("Allegrezza! Claudio giunge!"), saved from death by Otho, the commander of the army. Otho himself confirms this and reveals that Claudius has promised him the throne as a mark of gratitude. Agrippina is frustrated, until Otho secretly confides to her that he loves the beautiful Poppaea more than he desires the throne. Agrippina, aware that Claudius also loves Poppaea, sees a new opportunity of furthering her ambitions for Nero. She goes to Poppaea and tells her, falsely, that Otho has struck a bargain with Claudius whereby he, Otho, gains the throne but gives Poppaea to Claudius. Agrippina advises Poppaea to turn the tables on Otho by telling the Emperor that Otho has ordered her to refuse Claudius's attentions. This, Agrippina believes, will make Claudius revoke his promise to Otho of the throne.
Poppaea believes Agrippina. When Claudius arrives at Poppaea's house she denounces what she believes is Otho's treachery. Claudius departs in fury, while Agrippina cynically consoles Poppaea by declaring that their friendship will never be broken by deceit ("Non ho cor che per amarti").

  1. Scena I. Aria "Con saggio tuo consiglio" (Nerone)
  2. Scena I. Recitativo "Nerone, amato figlio" (Agrippina, Nerone)
  3. Scena II. Recitativo "Per cosi grande impresa" (Agrippina)
  4. Scena III. Aria "La mia sorte fortunata" (Pallante)
  5. Scena III. Recitativo "A’ cenni tuoi sovrani" (Pallante, Agrippina)
  6. Scena IV. Recitativo "Or che Pallante è vinto" (Agrippana)
  7. Scena IV. Recitativo "Umile alle tue piante" (Narciso, Agrippina)
  8. Scena IX. Recitativo "Ma qual di liete trombe" (Agrippina)
  9. Scena IX. Recitativo "Narciso Il tuo figlio" (Pallante)
  10. Scena IX. Recitativo "Voi che dell'alta Roma" (Agrippina)
  11. Scena V. Aria "Volo pronto e lieto il core" (Narciso)
  12. Scena VI. Aria "L'alma mia fra le tempeste" (Agrippina)
  13. Scena VI. Recitativo ""Quanto fa, quanto puote" (Agrippina)
  14. Scena VII. Arioso "Qual piacere a un cor pietoso" (Nerone)
  15. Scena VII. Recitativo "Amici, al sen vi stringo" (Nerone)
  16. Scena VIII. Recitativo "Ecco qui presto fia" (Pallante, Narciso, Nerone)
  17. Scena X. Recitativo "Allegrezza, allegrezza!" (Lesbo, Pallante, Narciso, Nerone, Agrippina)
  18. Scena XI. Recitativo "Alle tue piante" (Ottone, Agrippina, Narciso, Pallante, Nerone)
  19. Scena XII. Aria "Tu ben degno" (Agrippina)
  20. Scena XII. Recitativo "Augusta, amo Poppea" (Ottone, Agrippina)
  21. Scena XIII. Aria "Lusinghiera mia speranza" (Ottone)
  22. Scena XIII. Recitativo "l'ultima del gioir meta gradita" (Ottone)
  23. Scena XIV. Aria "Vaghe perle, eletti fiori" (Poppea)
  24. Scena XIV. Recitativo "Otton, Claudio, Nerone" (Poppea)
  25. Scena XIX. Aria "Fa quanto vuoi" (Poppea)
  26. Scena XIX. Recitativo "Cieli, quai strani casi" (Poppea)
  27. Scena XV. Recitativo "Signora, o mia Signora!" (Lesbo, Poppea) / Scena XVI. Recitativo "Di lieta nuova" (Lesbo, Agrippina, Poppea)
  28. Scena XVI. Recitativo "Di lieta nuova" (Lesbo, Agrippina, Poppea)
  29. Scena XVII. Aria "E un foco quel d'amore" (Poppea)
  30. Scena XVII. Recitativo "Perché in vece di Claudio" (Poppea)
  31. Scena XVIII. Aria "Ho un non so che nel cor" (Agrippina)
  32. Scena XVIII. Recitativo ""Ma qui Agrippina viene" (Poppea, Agrippina)
  33. Scena XX. Recitativo "Non veggo alcun" (Lesbo)
  34. Scena XXI. Aria "Pur ritorno a rimirarvi" (Claudio)
  35. Scena XXI. Arietta "Vieni, oh cara" (Claudio)
  36. Scena XXI. Recitativo "Che mai farò?" (Poppea, Claudio)
  37. Scena XXI. Recitativo "Ma, oh ciel, mesta e confusa" (Claudio, Poppea)
  38. Scena XXII. Recitativo "Pur al fin se ne andò" (Poppea)
  39. Scena XXII. Recitativo "Signor, Signor, presto fuggiamo!" (Lesbo, Claudio, Poppea)
  40. Scena XXII. Terzetto "E quando mai" (Claudio, Poppea, Lesbo)
  41. Scena XXIII. Aria "Non ho cor che per amarti" (Agrippina)
  42. Scena XXIII. Recitativo "O mia liberatrice" (Poppea, Agrippina)
  43. Scena XXIV. Aria "Se giunge un dispetto" (Poppea)
  44. Scena XXIV. Recitativo "Se Ottone m'ingannò" (Poppea) / Aria "Se giunge un dispetto" (Poppea)
  45. Sinfonia

Atto II

Pallas and Narcissus realize that Agrippina has tricked them into supporting Nero and decide to have no more to do with her. Otho arrives, nervous about his forthcoming coronation ("Coronato il crin d'alloro"), followed by Agrippina, Nero and Poppaea, who have come to greet Claudius. All combine in a triumphal chorus ("Di timpani e trombe") as Claudius enters. Each in turns pays tribute to the Emperor, but Otho is coldly rebuffed as Claudius denounces him as a traitor. Otho is devastated and appeals to Agrippina, Poppaea, and Nero for support, but they all reject him, leaving him in bewilderment and despair ("Otton, qual portentoso fulmine" followed by "Voi che udite il mio lamento").
However, Poppaea is touched by her former beloved's grief, and wonders if he might not be guilty ("Bella pur nel mio diletto"). She devises a plan and when Otho approaches her, she pretends to talk in her sleep recounting what Agrippina has told her earlier. Otho, as she intended, overhears her and fiercely protests his innocence. He convinces Poppaea that Agrippina has deceived her. Poppaea swears revenge ("Ingannata una sol volta", alternate aria "Pur punir chi m'ha ingannata") but is distracted when Nero comes forward and declares his love for her. Meanwhile, Agrippina, having lost the support of Pallas and Narcissus, manages to convince Claudius that Otho is still plotting to take the throne. She advises Claudius that he should end Otho's ambitions once and for all by abdicating in favour of Nero. Claudius agrees, believing that this will enable him to win Poppaea.

  1. Scena I. Recitativo "Dunque noi siam traditi?" (Pallante, Narciso)
  2. Scena II. Aria "Coronato il crin d'alloro" (Ottone)
  3. Scena II. Recitativo "Roma, più ch'il trionfo" (Pallante, Narciso, Ottone)
  4. Scena III. Preludio
  5. Scena III. Recitativo "Ecco il superbo!" (Agrippina, Nerone, Poppea, Ottone, Narciso)
  6. Scena IV. Aria "Cade il mondo soggiogato" (Claudio)
  7. Scena IV. Aria "Nulla sperar da me" (Agrippina)
  8. Scena IV. Aria "Sotto il lauro ch'hai sul crine" (Nerone)
  9. Scena IV. Aria "Tuo ben è 'l trono" (Poppea)
  10. Scena IV. Chorus "Di timpani e trombe"
  11. Scena IV. Recitativo "Deh tu, Agrippina, assisti!" (Ottone)
  12. Scena IV. Recitativo "E tu Poppea, mio bene?" (Ottone)
  13. Scena IV. Recitativo "Nella britannia vinta" (Claudio)
  14. Scena IV. Recitativo "Scherzo son del destin" (Ottone, Narciso, Pallante, Lesbo)
  15. Scena IV. Recitativo "Signor, quanto il mio cuore" (Agrippina, Claudio, Poppea, Nerone, Narciso, Pallante, Ottone)
  16. Scena IV. Recitativo "Soccorri almen Nerone!" (Ottone)
  17. Scena IX. Recitativo "Pur alfin ti ritrovo" (Lesbo, Poppea)
  18. Scena V. Aria "Voi che udite il mio lamento" (Ottone)
  19. Scena V. Recitativo "Otton, qual portentoso" (Ottone)
  20. Scena VI. Aria "Bella pur nel mio diletto" (Poppea)
  21. Scena VI. Cavatina "Vaghe fonti" (Ottone)
  22. Scena VI. Recitativo "Fantasmi della mente" (Poppea, Ottone)
  23. Scena VI. Recitativo "Il tormento d'Ottone" (Poppea)
  24. Scena VI. Recitativo "Ma qui che veggo, oh ciel?" (Ottone)
  25. Scena VI. Recitativo "Voi dormite, oh luci care" (Ottone, Poppea)
  26. Scena VI: Aria: “Spera, alma mia”
  27. Scena VII. Aria "Ti vo' giusta e non pietosa" (Ottone)
  28. Scena VIII. Aria "Ingannata una sol volta" (Poppea)
  29. Scena VIII. Recitativo "Da quali ordite trame" (Poppea)
  30. Scena X. Recitativo "A non pochi perigli" (Poppea)
  31. Scena XI. Aria "Col peso del tuo amor" (Poppea)
  32. Scena XI. Recitativo "Son qui, mia vita" (Nerone, Poppea)
  33. Scena XII. Recitativo "Qual bramato piacere" (Nerone)
  34. Scena XIII: Aria "Pensieri, voi mi tormentate" (Agrippina)
  35. Scena XIII: Recitativo "Quel ch'oprai è soggetto" (Agrippina)
  36. Scena XIV. Aria "Col raggio placido" (Pallante)
  37. Scena XIV. Recitativo "Se ben nemica sorte" (Pallante, Agrippina)
  38. Scena XIX: Aria: “Basta che sol tu chieda”
  39. Scena XV. Recitativo "Di giunger non dispero al mio desire" (Agrippina)
  40. Scena XVI. Recitativo "Or è tempo, oh Narciso" (Agrippina, Narciso)
  41. Scena XVII. Aria "Spererò, poiché mel dice" (Narciso)
  42. Scena XVIII. Arioso "Vagheggiar de' tuoi bei lumi" (Claudio)
  43. Scena XVIII. Recitativo "Vorrei della bellezza" (Agrippina, Claudio)
  44. Scena XX. Aria "Ogni vento ch'al porto la spinga" (Agrippina)
  45. Scena XX: “Favorevol la sorte”
  46. Scene XIX. Recitativo "Signor... Poppea" (Lesbo, Claudio, Agrippina)

Atto III

Poppaea now plans some deceit of her own, in an effort to divert Claudius's wrath from Otho with whom she has now reconciled. She hides Otho in her bedroom with instructions to listen carefully. Soon Nero arrives to press his love on her ("Coll'ardor del tuo bel core"), but she tricks him into hiding as well. Then Claudius enters; Poppaea tells him that he had earlier misunderstood her: it was not Otho but Nero who had ordered her to reject Claudius. To prove her point she asks Claudius to pretend to leave, then she summons Nero who, thinking Claudius has gone, resumes his passionate wooing of Poppaea. Claudius suddenly reappears and angrily dismisses the crestfallen Nero. After Claudius departs, Poppaea brings Otho out of hiding and the two express their everlasting love in separate arias.
At the palace, Nero tells Agrippina of his troubles and decides to renounce love for political ambition ("Come nube che fugge dal vento"). But Pallas and Narcissus have by now revealed Agrippina's original plot to Claudius, so that when Agrippina urges the Emperor to yield the throne to Nero, he accuses her of treachery. She then claims that her efforts to secure the throne for Nero had all along been a ruse to safeguard the throne for Claudius ("Se vuoi pace"). Claudius believes her; nevertheless, when Poppaea, Otho, and Nero arrive, Claudius announces that Nero and Poppaea will marry, and that Otho shall have the throne. No one is satisfied with this arrangement, as their desires have all changed, so Claudius in a spirit of reconciliation reverses his judgement, giving Poppaea to Otho and the throne to Nero. He then summons the goddess Juno, who descends to pronounce a general blessing ("V'accendano le tede i raggi delle stelle").

  1. Balli: Bourrée
  2. Balli: Menuet
  3. Balli: Passacaille
  4. Balli: Sarabande
  5. Scena I. Recitativo "Il caro Otton al precipizio io spinsi" (Poppea)
  6. Scena II. Recitativo "Ah, mia Poppea, ti prego" (Ottone, Poppea)
  7. Scena II: Aria: “Tacerò”
  8. Scena III. Recitativo "Attendo qui Nerone e Claudio ancora" (Poppea)
  9. Scena IV. Recitativo "Anelante ti reco" (Nerone, Poppea, Ottone)
  10. Scena IV: Aria: “Coll’ardor del tuo bel core”
  11. Scena IX. Aria "Esci, o mia vita" (Poppea)
  12. Scena IX. Recitativo "Claudio parti" (Poppea)
  13. Scena V. Aria "Chi ben ama" (Poppea)
  14. Scena VI. Recitativo "Qui non v'è alcun" (Lesbo, Poppea, Claudio, Nerone, Ottone)
  15. Scena VII. Recitativo "Temerario, insolente!" (Claudio, Nerone, Poppea, Ottone)
  16. Scena VIII. Aria "Io di Roma il Giove sono" (Claudio)
  17. Scena VIII. Recitativo "Ora, Claudio, che dici?" (Poppea, Claudio)
  18. Scena X. Recitativo "No, no, ch'io non apprezzo" (Ottone, Poppea)
  19. Scena X. Recitativo "Ora, Ottone, che dici?" (Poppea, Ottone)
  20. Scena X: Aria: “Bel piacere”
  21. Scena X: Aria: “Pur ch’io ti stringa al sen”
  22. Scena X: “Piega pur del mio cor”
  23. Scena XI. Aria "Come nube che fugge dal vento" (Nerone)
  24. Scena XI. Recitativo "Ah, mal cauto Nerone" (Agrippina, Nerone)
  25. Scena XI: “Cotanto osò Poppea?”
  26. Scena XII. Recitativo "Evvi donna più empia?" (Pallante, Narciso)
  27. Scena XIII. Recitativo "Agrippina, Nerone, Otton, Poppea" (Claudio, Pallante, Narciso)
  28. Scena XIV. Aria "Se vuoi pace, oh volto amato" (Agrippina)
  29. Scena XIV. Recitativo "Adorato mio spos" (Agrippina, Claudio, Narciso, Pallante)
  30. Scena XV. Coro "Lieto il Tebro increspi d'onda"
  31. Scena XV. Gigue
  32. Scena XV. Recitativo "Ecco la mia rivale" (Agrippina, Poppea, Nerone, Ottone, Claudio)
  33. Scena ultima: Aria: “V’accendano le tede”
  34. Scena ultima: “D’Ottone e di Poppea”
  35. Scena. V. Recitativo "Amico ciel, seconda il mio disegno" (Poppea)
  36. "No, no chi’io non sprezzo" (Ottone, Poppea)

Synopsis from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Elsewhere

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