Written in Mozart’s final year of life, this dramatic opera tells the story of Roman Emperor Titus, who after being betrayed by his friend and the woman he has chosen to marry, must struggle with the internal battle between vengeance and mercy. More than a decade later, Deutsche Grammophon filled a conspicuous hole in catalogue with Mackerras' recording of La Clemenza di Tito, Mozart's last Italian opera from the last summer of his life. As those who have heard Mackerras' Mozart recording may already have guessed, this Clemenza is wonderful from top to bottom on stage and off.

• La Clemenza Di Tito Synopsis

Premiere / date of written: 6 September 1791

La clemenza di Tito (English: The Clemency of Titus), K. 621, is an opera seria in two acts composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to an Italian libretto by Caterino Mazzolà, after Metastasio. It was started after the bulk of The Magic Flute, the last opera that Mozart worked on, was already written (Mozart completed The Magic Flute after the Prague premiere of Tito on 6 September 1791).
The premiere took place a few hours after Leopold's coronation. The role of Sesto was taken by castrato soprano, Domenico Bedini. The opera was first performed publicly on 6 September 1791 at the Estates Theatre in Prague.
The opera remained popular for many years after Mozart's death. It was the first Mozart opera to reach London, receiving its première there at His Majesty's Theatre on 27 March 1806.
The opera continues to be popular: Operabase lists 89 performances of 17 productions in 16 different cities for 2011 and 2012.

Libretti

original libretto
line-by-line of the original libretto

Audio recordings

External links

La Clemenza Di Tito Synopsis

• Sheet Music — www.sheetmusicplus.com