Mitridate, re di Ponto

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Operas Die Schuldigkeit des ersten Gebots (1767) Apollo et Hyacinthus (1767) Bastien und Bastienne (1768) La finta semplice (1769) Mitridate, re di Ponto (1770) Ascanio in Alba (1771) Il sogno di Scipione (1772) Lucio Silla (1772) La finta giardiniera (1775) Il re pastore (1775) Thamos, King of Egypt (1779) Zaide (1780) Idomeneo (1781) Die Entführung aus dem Serail (1782) L'oca del Cairo (1783) Lo sposo deluso (1784) Der Schauspieldirektor (1786) The Marriage of Figaro (1786) Don Giovanni (1787) Così fan tutte (1790) La clemenza di Tito (1791) The Magic Flute (1791)
Pasticcio The Jewel Box (1991)
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Mitridate, re di Ponto (Mithridates, King of Pontus), K. 87 (74a), is an early opera seria in three acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The libretto is by Vittorio Amadeo Cigna-Santi after Giuseppe Parini's Italian translation of Jean Racine.

Mozart wrote Mitridate while touring Italy in 1770. The musicologist Daniel E. Freeman has recently demonstrated that it was composed with close reference to the opera La Nitteti by Josef Mysliveček.^[1] The latter was the opera being prepared for production in Bologna when Mozart met Mysliveček for the first time with his father in March of 1770. Mysliveček visited the Mozarts frequently in Bologna during the summer of 1770 while Wolfgang was working on Mitridate. Mozart gained expertise in composition from his older friend and also incorporated some of his musical motives into his own operatic setting. The opera was first performed at the Regio Ducal Teatro, Milan, on 26 December 1770 (at the Milan Carnival). It was a success, having been performed twenty-one times despite doubts because of Mozart’s extreme youth — he was 14 at the time. No revival took place until the 20th century. This opera features virtuoso arias for the principal roles, but only two ensemble numbers: the Act II ending duet between Aspasia and Sifare (Se viver non degg’io), and the brief quintet that ends the opera, very characteristic of standard baroque opera seria where the opera ends with a short coro or tutti number.

Roles

Role	Voice type	Premiere Cast, 26 December 1770 (Conductor: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)
Arbate, Governor of Nymphæa	soprano castrato	Pietro Muschietti
Sifare or Xiphares, Mitridate's son	soprano castrato	Pietro Benedetti (Sartorino)
Aspasia, pledged in marriage to Mitridate, the Queen	soprano	Antonia Bernasconi
Farnace or Pharnaces, Mitridate's eldest son	alto castrato	Giuseppe Cicognani
Marzio or Marcius, Roman legionary officer	tenor	Gasparo Bassano
Mitridate, King of Pontus	tenor	Guglielmo d'Ettore
Ismene, Parthian Princess	soprano	Anna Francesca Varese

Synopsis

Place: around the Crimean port of Nymphæum

Time: 63BC during the conflict between Rome and Pontus

Prologue

Mitridate, having suffered a heavy defeat at a battle, is presumed dead. This false news is passed by Arbate, the Governor, to his fiancee Aspasia and his sons, Farnace and Sifare.

Act 1

Scene 1

Arbate, the governor of Nymphæum, welcomes Sifare. We learn that Sifare resents his brother, Farnace, because of his brother’s strong ties with their enemies, the Romans. Arbate pledges his loyalty to Sifare. Aspasia pleas for Sifare to help her against advances by Farnace. He accepts her plea and reveals his love for her.

Scene 2

Farnace makes his advances on Aspasia. Aspasia refuses with support from Sifare who protects her from his forceful brother. News arrives that Mitridate is alive and is approaching the city. Arbate urges brothers to conceal their differences and greet their father. Brothers agree to hide their feelings for Aspasia. Farnace conspires with Marzio, Roman legionary officer, against Mitridate.

Scene 3

Mitridate arrives on the shores of Nymphæaum with princess Ismene, daughter of his ally the King of Parthia. Mitridate wants Farnace to marry Ismene, his promised bride. Ismene is in love with Farnace but senses problems and is worried about her future. Arbate tells Mitridate that Farnace is pursuing Aspasia not mentioning Sifare. Jealous Mitridate swears revenge on Farnace.

Act 2

Scene 1

Farnace scorns and threatens Ismene. She tells Mitridate who suggests that she should marry Sifare. Mitridate asks Aspasia for immediate marriage but she hesitates proving to him she is unfaithful. Aspasia confesses love to Sifare but they both agree to part to save their honour. Sifare plans to leave and Aspasia is troubled with the conflict between love and duty.

Scene 2

Mitridate is aware of Farnaces plot against him with the Romans and plans his revenge despite Marzio’s offer of peace. He arrests Farnace to execute him. Ismene rescues the prince who admits treachery but implicates Sifare. Mitridate tricks Aspasia into admitting her love for Sifare and swears revenge. Aspasia and Sifare wish to die together in fear of Mitridate’s threats.

Act 3

Scene 1

Ismene, still in love with Farnace, tries to convince Mitridate to forgive Aspasia. Romans attack and Mitridate leaves for battle. Aspasia contemplates suicide by poison. Sifare also wants to die and joins his father in the battle.

Scene 2

Marzio liberates Farnace and promises the rule of Nymphæum to him. Farnace changes his mind deciding to side with Mitridate.

Scene 3

Mitridate commits suicide avoiding defeat. Before he dies he gives his blessing to Sifare and Aspasia and forgives Farnace who now agrees to marry Ismene. All four pledge to free the world from Rome.

Noted arias

Act 1 "Nel sen mi palpita" - Aspasia "Parto : nel gran cimento" - Sifare "Quel ribelle" - Mitridate "Se di lauri" - Mitridate "In faccia all'oggetto" - Ismene "L'odio nel cor" - Arbate "Al destin che la minaccia" - Aspasia "Soffre il mio cor" - Sifare "Venga pur, minacci" - Farnace Act 2 "Già di pietà mi spoglio" - Mitridate "Lungi da te" - Sifare

"Nel grave tormento" - Aspasia "So quanto a te" - Ismene "Son reo; l'error confesso" - Farnace "Tu che fedel" - Mitridate "Va, l'error mio palesa" - Farnace Act 3 "Ah ben ne fui presaga…Pallid' ombre" - Aspasia "Già dagli occhi" - Farnace "Se di regnar" - Marzio "Se il rigor d'ingrata sorte" - Sifare "Tu sai per che m'accese" - Ismene "Vado incontro" - Mitridate

Recordings

• M22: Mitridate, re di Ponto (DVD), Salzburg Festival 2006 (Minkowski/R Croft,B Mehta, Persson)
• Mitridate, re di Ponto (DVD) JP Ponnelle film (Harnoncourt/Winbergh, Kenny, Murray)
• Mitridate, re di Ponto (DVD) ROH 1993 (P Daniel/Ford, Kowalski, Murray, Orgonasova)
• Mitridate, re di Ponto (CD), Salzburg Mozart Week 1997 (Norrington/Ford, Kasarova, Sieden, Oelze)
• Mitridate, re di Ponto (CD), 1999 (Rousset/Sabbatini, Asawa, Bartoli, Dessay)

See also

List of Mozart's operas

References

Notes

1. ^ See especially Daniel E. Freeman, Josef Mysliveček, "Il Boemo" (Sterling Heights, Mich.: Harmonie Park Press, 2009), pp. 229-35.

Bibliography

• Alison Latham, ed (2002). "Mitridate, re di Ponto". The Oxford Companion to Music. London: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0198662122. OCLC 59376677. 
• "Mitridate, re di Ponto" The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Opera. John Warrack and Ewan West. Oxford University Press, 1996.
• "Mitridate, re di Ponto" Who's Who in Opera. Joyce Bourne. Oxford University Press, 1998.
• "Mitridate, King" Who's Who in Opera. Joyce Bourne. Oxford University Press, 1998.

External links

• Mitridate, re di Ponto: Score and critical report (German) in the Neue Mozart-Ausgabe
• Opera on DVD: Mitridate Rè di Ponto by Charles T. Downey (Ionarts, 22 August 2006]
• Mozart-Tower mp3 clips from this opera
• Mitridate, re di Ponto: Libretto