''Mitridate, re di Ponto'' (''

Mithridates Mithridates or Mithradates (Old Persian 𐎷𐎡𐎰𐎼𐎭𐎠𐎫 ''Miθradāta'') is the Hellenistic period, Hellenistic form of an Iranian languages, Iranian theophoric name, meaning "given by Mithra". Its Modern Persian form is Mehrdad. It ...

, King of

Pontus Pontus or Pontos may refer to: * Short Latin name for the Pontus Euxinus, the Greek name for the Black Sea (aka the Euxine sea) * Pontus (mythology), a sea god in Greek mythology * Pontus (region), on the southern coast of the Black Sea, in modern ...

''), K. 87 (74a), is an

opera seria ''Opera seria'' (; plural: ''opere serie''; usually called ''dramma per musica'' or ''melodramma serio'') is an Italian musical term which refers to the noble and "serious" style of Italian opera that predominated in Europe from the 1710s to abou ...

in three acts by the young

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791) was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition and proficiency from an early age ...

. The

libretto A libretto (From the Italian word , ) is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to th ...

is by , after

Giuseppe Parini Giuseppe Parini (23 May 1729 – 15 August 1799) was an Italian satirist and Neoclassicism, Neoclassical poet. Biography Parini (originally spelled Parino) was born in Bosisio Parini, Bosisio (later renamed Bosisio Parini in his honour) in Brianz ...

's Italian translation of

Jean Racine Jean-Baptiste Racine ( , ; ; 22 December 1639 – 21 April 1699) was a French dramatist, one of the three great playwrights of 17th-century France, along with Molière and Corneille, as well as an important literary figure in the Western tr ...

's play ''

Mithridate Mithridate, also known as mithridatium, mithridatum, or mithridaticum, is a semi-mythical remedy with as many as 65 ingredients, used as an antidote for poisoning, and said to have been created by Mithridates VI Eupator of Pontus in the 1st cen ...

''. Mozart wrote ''Mitridate'' while touring Italy in 1770. The musicologist

Daniel E. Freeman Daniel Evan Freeman (born 27 April 1959) is an American musicologist who specializes in European art music of the eighteenth century, in particular the musical culture of eighteenth-century Prague and the Bohemian lands. He is also active as a ...

has demonstrated that it was composed with close reference to the opera '' La Nitteti'' by

Josef Mysliveček Josef Mysliveček (9 March 1737 – 4 February 1781) was a Czech composer who contributed to the formation of late eighteenth-century classicism in music. Mysliveček provided his younger friend Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with significant com ...

. The latter was the opera being prepared for production in

Bologna Bologna ( , , ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy. It is the List of cities in Italy, seventh most populous city in Italy, with about 400,000 inhabitants and 150 different nationalities. Its M ...

when Mozart met Mysliveček for the first time with his father in March 1770. Mysliveček visited the Mozarts frequently in Bologna during the summer of 1770 while Wolfgang was working on ''Mitridate''. Mozart gained expertise in composition from his older friend and also incorporated some of his musical motifs into his own operatic setting. The opera was first performed at the

Teatro Regio Ducale The Teatro Regio Ducale (Italian, "Royal Ducal Theatre") was the opera house in Milan from 26 December 1717 until 25 February 1776, when it was burned down following a carnival gala. Many famous composers and their operas are associated with it, i ...

, Milan, on 26 December 1770 (at the Milan Carnival). It was a success, performed 21 times despite doubts because of Mozart's extreme youth – he was 14 at the time. No revival took place until the 20th century. The opera features virtuoso arias for the principal roles, but only two ensemble numbers: the act 2 ending duet between Aspasia and Sifare ("Se viver non degg’io"), and the brief

quintet A quintet is a group containing five members. It is commonly associated with musical groups, such as a string quintet, or a group of five singers, but can be applied to any situation where five similar or related objects are considered a single ...

that ends the opera in a manner characteristic of standard baroque

where the opera ends with a short ''coro'' or ''

tutti ''Tutti'' is an Italian word literally meaning ''all'' or ''together'' and is used as a musical term, for the whole orchestra as opposed to the soloist. It is applied similarly to choral music, where the whole section or choir is called to sin ...

'' number.

Roles

Synopsis

:Place: around the

Crimea Crimea ( ) is a peninsula in Eastern Europe, on the northern coast of the Black Sea, almost entirely surrounded by the Black Sea and the smaller Sea of Azov. The Isthmus of Perekop connects the peninsula to Kherson Oblast in mainland Ukrain ...

n port of Nymphæum :Time: 63BC during the conflict between Rome and Pontus

Prologue

Mitridate, having suffered a heavy defeat in battle, is presumed dead. This incorrect news is passed by Arbate, the Governor, to Aspasia (Mitridate's fiancée) and to Farnace and Sifare (Mitridate's sons).

Act 1

''Scene 1'' Arbate, the governor of Nymphæum, welcomes Sifare. We learn that Sifare resents his brother, Farnace, because of his brother’s strong ties with their enemies, the Romans. Arbate pledges his loyalty to Sifare. Aspasia pleads for Sifare to help her against advances by Farnace. He accepts her plea and reveals his love for her. ''Scene 2'' Farnace makes his advances to Aspasia. She refuses, supported by Sifare, who protects her from his forceful brother. News arrives that Mitridate is alive and is approaching the city. Arbate urges the brothers to conceal their differences and greet their father. The brothers agree to hide their feelings for Aspasia. Farnace conspires with Marzio, Roman legionary officer, against Mitridate. ''Scene 3'' Mitridate arrives on the shores of Nymphæum with Princess Ismene, daughter of his ally the King of

Parthia Parthia ( ''Parθava''; ''Parθaw''; ''Pahlaw'') is a historical region located in northeastern Greater Iran. It was conquered and subjugated by the empire of the Medes during the 7th century BC, was incorporated into the subsequent Achaemeni ...

. Mitridate wants Farnace to marry Ismene, his promised bride. Ismene is in love with Farnace but senses problems and is worried about her future. Arbate tells Mitridate that Farnace is pursuing Aspasia, not mentioning Sifare. The jealous Mitridate swears revenge on Farnace.

Act 2

''Scene 1'' Farnace scorns and threatens Ismene. She tells Mitridate, who suggests that she should marry Sifare. Mitridate asks Aspasia for immediate marriage but she hesitates, proving to him that she is unfaithful. Aspasia confesses love to Sifare but they both agree to part to save their honour. Sifare plans to leave and Aspasia is troubled by the conflict between love and duty. ''Scene 2'' Mitridate is aware of Farnace's plot against him with the Romans; he plans his revenge, despite Marzio’s offer of peace, and arrests Farnace to execute him. Ismene rescues the prince, who admits his treachery but implicates Sifare. Mitridate tricks Aspasia into admitting her love for Sifare and swears revenge. Aspasia and Sifare wish to die together, in fear of Mitridate’s threats.

Act 3

''Scene 1'' Ismene, still in love with Farnace, tries to convince Mitridate to forgive Aspasia. The Romans attack and Mitridate leaves for battle. Aspasia contemplates suicide by poison. Sifare also wants to die, and joins his father in the battle. ''Scene 2'' Marzio liberates Farnace and promises him the rule of Nymphæum. Farnace changes his mind, deciding to side with Mitridate. ''Scene 3'' Defeated, Mitridate commits suicide, avoiding captivity. Before he dies he gives his blessing to Sifare and Aspasia and forgives Farnace, who now agrees to marry Ismene. All four pledge to free the world from Rome.

Noted arias

''Act 1'' * "Soffre il mio cor con pace" – Sifare * "Nel sen mi palpita" – Aspasia * "Parto : nel gran cimento" – Sifare * "Quel ribelle" – Mitridate * "Se di lauri" – Mitridate * "In faccia all'oggetto" – Ismene * "L'odio nel cor" – Arbate * "Al destin che la minaccia" – Aspasia * "Soffre il mio cor" – Sifare * "Venga pur, minacci" – Farnace ''Act 2'' * "Già di pietà mi spoglio" – Mitridate * "Lungi da te" – Sifare * "Nel grave tormento" – Aspasia * "So quanto a te" – Ismene * "Son reo; l'error confesso" – Farnace * "Tu che fedel" – Mitridate * "Va, l'error mio palesa" – Farnace ''Act 3'' * "Ah ben ne fui presaga…Pallid' ombre" – Aspasia * "Già dagli occhi" – Farnace * "Se di regnar" – Marzio * "Se il rigor d'ingrata sorte" – Sifare * "Tu sai per che m'accese" – Ismene * "Vado incontro" – Mitridate In 1901,

Charles Malherbe Charles Théodore Malherbe (; 21 April 1853 – 5 October 1911) was a French violinist, musicologist, composer and music editor. Life and career Malherbe was born in Paris, son of Pierre Joseph Malherbe (1819–1890) and Zoé Caroline Mozin (183 ...

located previously uncatalogued works of Mozart, including a soprano aria from the opera ''Mitridate, re di Ponto'', written at age 14. It was performed that year in Paris by Camille Fourrier.

Recordings

*1971:

Mozarteum Mozarteum University Salzburg ( German: ''Universität Mozarteum Salzburg'') is one of three affiliated but separate (it is actually a state university) entities under the "Mozarteum" name in Salzburg municipality; the International Mozarteu ...

, Salzburg;

Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg The Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg is an Austrian orchestra, based in the town and state of Salzburg. The orchestra gives concerts in several Salzburg venues, including the '' Großes Festspielhaus'' and the Great Hall of the Stiftung Mozarteum ...

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Pilar Lorengar Lorenza Pilar García Seta (16 January 1928 – 2 June 1996), known professionally as Pilar Lorengar, was a Spanish ( Aragonese) soprano. She was best known for her interpretations of opera and the Spanish genre Zarzuela, and as a soprano she w ...

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Peter Baillie Peter Baillie (1771 – 1 September 1811) was a British West Indies merchant, and Whig politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1807 to 1811. Baillie was the eldest son of Evan Baillie of Dochfour and his wife Mary Gurley, daughter of Pe ...

, Reingard Didusch (CD) *1977: Mozarteum, Salzburg; Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, Leopold Hager;

Werner Hollweg Werner Hollweg (13 September 1936 in Solingen - 1 January 2007 in Freiburg im Breisgau) was a German operatic tenor. He is best known for his interpretation of Mozart's operas. Hollweg died from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. References

...

, Arleen Auger,

Edita Gruberová Edita Gruberová (; 23 December 1946 – 18 October 2021) was a Slovak coloratura soprano. She made her stage debut in Bratislava in 1968 as Rosina in Rossini's '' Il barbiere di Siviglia'', and successfully auditioned at the Vienna State Oper ...

Agnes Baltsa Agni Baltsa (; also known as Agnes Baltsa; born 19 November 1944) is a leading Greek mezzo-soprano singer. Baltsa was born in Lefkada. She began playing piano at the age of seven, before moving to Athens in 1958 to concentrate on singing. She gr ...

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, David Kübler, Christine Weidinger (CD, 1991) *1986:

Jean-Pierre Ponnelle Jean-Pierre Ponnelle (; 19 February 1932 – 11 August 1988) was a French opera director, set and costume designer. Biography Ponnelle was born in Paris. He studied philosophy, art, and history there and, in 1952, began his career in Germany ...

1986 film,

Nikolaus Harnoncourt Johann Nikolaus Harnoncourt (6 December 1929 – 5 March 2016) was an Austrian conductor, known for his historically informed performances. He specialized in music of the Baroque period, but later extended his repertoire to include Classical ...

/ Gösta Winbergh,

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, Ann Murray (DVD) *1986:

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(Jean-Claude Fall, director),

Theodor Guschlbauer Theodor Guschlbauer (born 1939 in Vienna) is an Austrian conductor. Decorations and awards * 1995: Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, 1st class * 1996: Honour "Victoire" for his work on the ''Opéra du Rhin'' and at the Strasbourg Phil ...

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, Yvonne Kenny, Brenda Boozer (DVD) *1993:

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/ Bruce Ford,

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, Luba Orgonášová (DVD) *1997 Salzburg Mozart Week,

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/Bruce Ford, Vesselina Kasarova, Cyndia Sieden, Christiane Oelze (CD) *1998:

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Giuseppe Sabbatini Giuseppe Sabbatini (born 11 May 1957 in Rome, Italy) is a lyric tenor, conductor, and double-bassist. His opera repertoire includes ''Idomeneo'', ''Mitridate, re di Ponto'', ''Don Giovanni'', ''Linda di Chamounix'', ''La favorita'', ''L'elisir d ...

, Brian Asawa,

Cecilia Bartoli Cecilia Bartoli Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, OMRI (; born 4 June 1966) is an Italian mezzo-soprano widely known in the music of Vincenzo Bellini, Bellini, George Frideric Handel, Handel, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Mozart, Gioachino Ross ...

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(CD) *2001: , /Marcel Reijans, , ,

Johannette Zomer Johannette Zomer (born March 13, 1964) is a Dutch classical concert and opera soprano. Career After having worked as a microbiology technician, Johannette Zomer shifted gears in 1990 and studied voice at the Sweelinck Conservatory Amsterdam i ...

(CD) *2006:

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/ Richard Croft,

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(DVD) *2013: The Orchestra of Classical Opera, Ian Page/ Barry Banks,

Sophie Bevan Sophie Anna Magdalena Bevan (born 1983) is a British lyric soprano appearing in concerts, recitals, and opera. Early life Bevan was born in Somerset in 1983, the first-born of eight siblings. Her father was a singer and all of her siblings are m ...

(CD) *2023: Opera Neo, San Diego, California, live performance video (2 hours, 31 minutes)

References

External links

*
"Opera on DVD: ''Mitridate''"
by Charles T. Downey (Ionarts, 22 August 2006]
''Mitridate, re di Ponto''
at the

Internet Movie Database IMDb, historically known as the Internet Movie Database, is an online database of information related to films, television series, podcasts, home videos, video games, and streaming content online – including cast, production crew and biograp ...

{{Authority control 1770 operas Works set in the 1st century BC Operas by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Italian-language operas Opera seria Operas based on plays Operas based on works by Jean Racine Operas Cultural depictions of Mithridates VI Eupator