In the Beginning: Claudio Monteverdi’s The Coronation of Poppea - Page 3

Poppea’s musical structure also set important precedents that were seized upon by later composers. In “Pur ti miro,” Nerone and Poppea’s love duet that concludes the opera, Monteverdi helped fashion the standard for the lyrical form that became modern opera’s staple. The score’s distinction rests on the beauty of such duets, as well as its stunning arias and trios. The composer’s delicate balance of arias and ensembles, complemented by a highly poetic and emotional use of recitative, is revolutionary.

Glover notes that Penelope’s monologue in Monteverdi’s Il ritorno d’Ulisse (Act I, scene one), along with “Ottavia’s self-introductory lament in Poppea (Act I, scene 5) are both recitative soliloquies of a distinction unsurpassed by Monteverdi himself or any of his successors.” Because Monteverdi’s Poppea stands out as the quintessential blend of music and drama, Venice became the heart of opera’s evolution.

Article Author: Cynthia Greenwood

Cynthia Greenwood writes about books and the performing arts. She is the author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Shakespeare's Plays (to be released in April 2008 by Penguin/Alpha Books). She has written for The New York Times, Playbill, Andante, San …

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