Sheet music
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Publishernumber:
PR00141100
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Critical Edition
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Tito Manlio, Vivaldi's eighth completed opera, dates from a brief but happy period when the composer's patron was Philip of Hesse-Darmstadt, the Imperial Governor of Mantua – a man who appreciated the arts and who was willing to reach deeply into his pockets to support grand operatic productions. Tito Manlio was a last-minute commission to celebrate Philip's upcoming marriage to the Princess Eleonora di Guastalla early in 1719. Vivaldi managed to complete the opera in five days… and then the wedding was called off! The opera was not completely scrapped – carnival season was coming – but Vivaldi must have been disappointed to have his expectations raised so high only to see them channeled elsewhere. The plot is unimportant except as a framework for Vivaldi's music. The setting is Rome some centuries before the birth of Christ and concerns the conflict between the Romans and the Latins, who, once allies, now are in conflict because the Roman Senate has refused to allow a Latin to share in the city's government. At the start of the opera, Tito Manlio, a Roman consul, is punishing those who will not swear allegiance to Rome – mostly, it turns out, because of romantic entanglements. These "traitors" include Vitellia, Tito Manlio's daughter, and Servilia, the betrothed of his son Manlio. The generations are divided, but after many convolutions, all is reconciled and a happy ending is achieved thanks to the noble actions of Manlio, and also to Tito Manlio's magnanimity. Vivaldi's music shows no signs of having been written hastily. The opera is like a long banquet with many courses, varied seasonings, and contrasting flavors. As is often the case in Baroque opera, everyone gets a least one aria. Some of these are very short, and others are quite long. Da capo form is used prominently, and when the "A" section returns, conductor Dantone embellishes or varies the vocal line in various ways. (I gather from the booklet notes that he, not the singers, was responsible for writing out the variants.) Vivaldi must have had very fine singers in Mantua, because his music requires incredible virtuosity and temperament. He also must have had access to excellent instrumentalists, because the richness of the orchestral writing is remarkable, and there is masterful writing for solo instruments in several of the arias. Tito Manlio is a superb score, and at just over three hours, it makes a perfect evening's entertainment for home listening. If you've never heard any of Vivaldi's operas, Tito Manlio would be a good place to start.
Composer(s):
Publisher(s):
Publishernumber:
PR00141100
Instrument(s):
ISBN:
9790041914114
Number:
911405
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Overige informatie:
Critical Edition
