L´incoronazione di Poppea at Theater an der Wien

In his last opera, premiered in 1643, Monteverdi intervenes for the first time on a historical subject. The story of the scandalous marriage with Emperor Nero Poppea was the audience familiar. However, Monteverdi and his librettist Busenello assume no rating before: The music celebrates with great sensuality, the love of the two protagonists, without a trace of violence to conceal who they trail behind. There is also a colorful comic panopticon types from the commedia dell'arte, apparently due to the public's taste: Since 1637 there have been public in Venice opera houses of paying spectators. Also this episode figures can Monteverdi bestowed all his mastery. Director Claus Guth takes the heterogeneous diversity of the work as an opportunity to let collide different worlds and to open the branches of the spheres of action that also allow theatrical excesses. Against the backdrop of an empire in decline the historic staff gives a clear view of people in which we can recognize ourselves; they are all driven to their passions.