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Quo Vadis?
Opera in 5 acts & 6 tableaux
Music by Jean Nougès
Libretto by Henri Cain
First Performance: Nice, February 9, 1909
Cast:
Lygie Dramatic soprano
Eunice, esclave de Petrone Soprano
Poppé, femme de Néron Contralto
Iras, esclave de Pétrone Soprano
Myriam Mezzo-soprano
Nazaire, fils de Myriam Soprano
Lilith, suivante echéopienne
de Poppé Soprano
Psylia, femme de Sporus Soprano
Vincius Tenor
Pétrone Baritone
Chilon (Chilonidès) Baritone
Rierre (l’Apôtre) Bass
Néron Tenor
Sportus, cabaretier Baritone
Demus, carrier Bass
Un jeune Chrétien Tenor
Lydon, gladiateur Tenor
Tigellon, augustan Baritone
Vitellius, augustan Bass
Vatinius, augustan Bass
Le jeune Nerva, augustan Tenor
Un Centurion Tenor
Un Matelot Tenor
Ursus, serviteur de Lygia Mime
Croton, gladiateur
Théocles, médecin
Pythagore, favori de Néron
Augustans, Exclaves, Joueurs de flûtes et de cithares, Hommes du peuple,
Matelots, Carriers, Belluaires, Gladiateurs et Valets de cirque, Soldats
de la Garde Préorienne, Enfants, Vestales.
Background
Synopsis
Act
I. At the gardens of Petronius. Eunice and Iras, slaves, decorate
statues. Petronius enters with Vinicius, the latter telling of his
infatuation for Lygia. Eunice tells Vinicius of a soothsayer who can
predict the future. He is summoned and say Lygia is daughter of a king,
and is now a Roman hostage. Chilon, the fortune-teller, is sent out to
ascertain the meaning of a symbol - a fish - which Lygia had once traced
in the sand.
Act II. Nero, the emperor, gives a great festival. At Nero's side
is a beautiful strangers, Lygia, and this arouses the jealousy of Nero's
favorite mistress, Poppaea, but Petronius soothes her. Vinicius and
Lygia are left alone together, and he pleads for her love. Lygia answers
that she cannot be his because she is a Christian and he a pagan.
Suddenly a ruddy glare overspreads the sky. It is Rome burning, but Nero
goes on singing and playing the lyre untroubled by the danger. the
populace suddenly rise, accusing Nero of having caused the great fire.
Poppaea begs Petronius to allay the roused passion of the multitude.
Act III. The scene is a wineshop on the banks of the Tiber, filled
with soldiers, gladiators, and sailors. chilon traces the sign of a
fish. Demas, a Christian, tells him that the apostle will be among them
that night. Chilon has ascertained that the fist is a symbol of
Christianity. He also learns that Lygia is with Demas' wife, Myriam, and
that these two will go forth that evening. Chilon bids Croton, the giant
gladiator, come with him. The Christians assemble at a house on the
river, and Lygia and St. Peter, entering this house, are observed, and
many of the Christians taken prisoner.
Act IV. First scene is at the arena of the Colosseum. Christian
martyrs are seen, among them Demas and Myriam. Peters comforts them.
Vinicius enters, telling Lygia to be hopeful, as he has contrived for
her escape. But Petronius shuts off the means of escape, and Vinicius
declares his intention of following Lygia to death. The next scene shows
the imperial box, with Nero and Poppaea. Ursus, a slave of Lygia's from
down in the arena, by his enormous strength saves Lygia from being
killed by a fierce aurochs, and Nero grants her life. Chilon creates a
mob scene in the circus, and Nero is charged with being the incendiary
that set Rome afire, and has to flee from the popular fury.
Act V. Petronius at his rural estate is urged by Lygia and Vinicius
to go with them to Sicily, but he declines, and issues a letter of
parting to Nero. being convinced that this will mean his death, he has
his arteries opened by Theocles, the physician, and dies with Eunice,
who confesses her love for him toward the last. The news of Nero's death
and of the safety of Petronius arrives too late to prevent Petronius'
end.
Libretto
Links
Last updated: January 09, 2008