DXVIIIa. MOZART, Wolfgang Amadeus: Lucio Silla, K. 135 (Act I)

DXVIIIa. MOZART, Wolfgang Amadeus (1756-1791)

Lucio Silla, K. 135 (1772)
Act I (1:02:21)
Roberto Sacca, Lucio Silla
Annick Massis, Giunia
Monica Bacelli, Cecilio
Veronica Cangemi, Lucio Cinna
Julia Kleiter, Celia
Stefano Ferrari, Aufidio
Orchestra del Teatro La Fenice
Tomáš Netopil, cond.

Sixteen-year-old Mozart dashed off his eighth opera in six weeks. See Post CCCXCVIII for details about Maria Theresa's interference with Leopold's efforts to get his son a permanent court position.

Overture

The overture consists of three sections: an Allegro, an Andante, and a Molto allegro:

Act I

1. Aria (Cinna): Vieni ov'amor t'invita

Cecilio, a senator exiled from Rome by the dictator Lucio Silla, has secretly returned to find out what has happened to his bride Giunia, the daughter of Gaius Marius, a popular leader. He meets his friend, the patrician Lucio Cinna, who informs him that Silla is putting it about that Cecilio is dead so that he himself may marry Giunia. Cecillio is infuriated at the news. Cinna advises him to go and wait for Giunia at her father's grave, where she goes daily to pray.

2. Aria (Cecilio): Il tenero momento

Eager to meet Giunia, Cecilio imagines their moment of requited love.

3. Aria (Celia): Se lusinghiera speme

Silla begs his sister Ceclia to do her utmost to alter Giunia's dismissive attitude towards him. Celia imagines how Giunia's mood might gradually change.

4. (Giunia): Dalla sponda tenebrosa

Giunia adamantly rejects Silla's advances: even if Cecilio is dead, she will remain faithful to him; not even death can daunt her.

5. (Silla): Il desio di vendette e di morte

Shocked, Silla remains behind alone, his heart torn between love and revenge. His desire for revenge prevails, and he gives vent to his anger.

6. (Chorus and Arioso): Fuor di queste urne dolenti ... O del padre ombra diletta

7. (Giunia, Cecilio): D'Eliso in sen m'attendi

Giunia arrives, followed by friends and companions, and together they invoke the souls of the heroes who fell fighting for the freedom of Rome. They then leave Giuna alone. Cecilio steps forward and the two lovers sing of their happiness at being reunited.

Acts II & III