What is the title of the opera?
Q: What is the title of the opera?
A: The opera is titled "L'incoronazione di Poppea" (The Coronation of Poppea).
Q: Who wrote the libretto for this opera?
A: The libretto was written by Giovanni Francesco Busenello.
Q: When was the first performance of this opera?
A: The first performance took place in 1643 at the Teatro Santi Giovanni e Paolo in Venice.
Q: What type of story does this opera tell?
A: This story is based on a historical event from ancient Rome, specifically about Emperor Nero and his marriage to Poppea.
Q: What instruments are used in this opera's orchestra?
A: The orchestra consists of strings, recorders, cornetts, percussion, harp, lutes and gambas.
Q: How did 17th century operas handle gender roles when it came to casting singers?
A: In 17th century operas men often sang women’s parts and women sang men’s parts. A part such as Nero would have been sung by a castrato. Nowadays it can either be sung by a countertenor (a man) or a mezzo-soprano (a woman). There are scenes where actors disguise themselves as the opposite sex which was not seen as unusual in that time period.
Q: Is there any evidence that another composer may have written some music for this opera?
A: Yes, there is evidence that suggests that another composer may have written the duet between Nero and Poppea at the end of the opera.
