Roma (opera)

"Roma" is an opera in five acts by Jules Massenet to a French libretto by Henri Cain based on the play "Rome vaincue" by Alexandre Parodi. It was first performed at the Opéra in Monte Carlo on February 17, 1912.

"Roma" was the last opera by Massenet to premiere in his lifetime. (Three operas were subsequently premiered posthumously: Panurge (1913), Cléopâtre (1914) and Amadis (1922).) The piece has not survived into the modern operatic repertoire, but has been revived recently and recorded by the Teatro la Fenice in Venice.

Roles and role creators

*An elderly man, baritone Gasparini
*Fabius Maximus, baritone Jean-François Delmas
*Fausta, soprano Maria Kuznetsova
*Galla, soprano Doussot
*Junia, soprano Julia Guiraudon
*Lentulus, tenor Lucien Muratore
*Lucius Cornélius, bass Pierre Clauzure
*Posthumia, contralto Georgette Wallace "Lucy Arbell"
*The Grand Vestal, soprano Elaine Peltier
*Vestapor, baritone Jean Noté
*Caïus, baritone Kozline/Skano

ynopsis

The story takes place in Ancient Rome, following the Carthaginian triumph at the Battle of Cannae. Fausta, daughter of Fabius, has allowed the sacred fires to burn out at the Temple of Vesta, profaning the sanctuary. After failed attempts to escape her fate, to be buried alive wrapped in a black veil, Fausta returns to Rome to accept her punishment. As she as being led to execution, her blind grandmother, Posthumia, hands her Fabius' dagger. Fausta's hands are bound, however, and Posthumia must kill her granddaughter to spare her from the burial and expiate the sacrilege.

References

* [http://www.amadeusonline.net/almanacco.php?Start=0&Giorno=17&Mese=02&Anno=1912&Giornata=&Testo=&Parola=Stringa Amadeus Almanac, accessed 25 July 2008]
* [http://www.bobsuniverse.com/BWJM/Works/operas/22Roma/Roma.htm "Roma" at Bob's Universe]