La clemenza di Tito – Mozart’s very human opera

Mozart’s masterful opera La clemenza di Tito, which he wrote shortly before his death, premiered at the Opera House in Copenhagen on 10^th September in a new staging by Dutch director Jetske Mijnssen, who last season created a sensuous and poetic L’Orfeo at the Royal Danish Opera. Jetske Mijnssen is a coveted director at European opera houses due to her unique ability to make the music visible on stage. She states about the music in La clemenza di Tito:

“The many musical highlights are of an almost otherworldly nature. All the arias and ensembles are of the highest quality and are immensely clear and moving; there isn’t a weak moment in any of them. Each and every musical moment offers a very unique psychological portrayal of the characters, which I have not experienced anywhere else.”

Jetske Mijnssen does not perceive La clemenza di Tito as a political opera, but rather as a very human opera with all that life entails in terms of emotions and life choices: “I see it as a coming-of-age story, where the relationships between the characters are initially easy and uncomplicated in youth. But everything changes with betrayal and deception and when the dark sides of life appear between the characters and within themselves. The opera poses the question: Who do you want to be in this life, and aren’t there times when we all wish we could have forgiven, because forgiveness makes the soul grow?”

Mozart’s score for La clemenza di Tito offers the singers ample opportunity to unfold in virtuosic coloraturas and heartfelt moments. The title role is interpreted by Lithuanian tenor Edgaras Montvidas, who has previously performed the part at the Royal Opera House in London. Mojca Erdmann and the Royal Danish Opera’s Elisabeth Jansson will perform the virtuoso roles of Vitellia and Sesto. Emily Pogorelc and Marlene Metzger will alternate as Servilia. Angela Bower will perform as Annio, Magnus Berg will perform as Publio, and Anne-Marie Curry will perform the role of Berenice.

La clemenza di Tito is alternately conducted by the young Iranian conductor Hossein Pishkar and the Royal Danish Theatre’s future Chief Conductor, Marie Jacquot.

La clemenza di Tito is performed in Italian with Danish and English supertitles.

La clemenza di Tito is created in collaboration with the Hamburgische Staatsoper and the Opéra de Monte Carlo.

La clemenza di Tito | New Production | Opera House, Main Stage | 10 Sep – 8 Oct 2023
Read more about La clemenza di Tito HERE

Conductor: Hossein Pishkar/Marie Jacquot
Director: Jetske Mijnssen
Set and costume designer: Ben Baur
Lighting designer: Bernd Purkrabek

Cast:
Tito: Edgaras Montvidas
Vitellia: Mojca Erdmann
Sesto: Elisabeth Jansson
Servilia: Emily Pogorelc / Marlene Metzger
Annio: Angela Bower
Publio: Magnus Berg
Berenice: Anne-Marie Curry

The Royal Danish Opera Chorus
The Royal Danish Orchestra