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Messalina

A musical drama by Carlo Pallavicino (Salò 1630 – Dresden 1688)

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productions of sacred music

production of secular music

.	chansons d'amour
.	the triumph of bacchus
.	the flower dance
.	bacchus invites us to pleasure and joy
.	sweetest sigh
.	pure white moon
.	thou, my sweet, art my happiness
.	oh bitter sweetness
.	a toast, now pass the flask around!
.	the dream and narcissus
.	serenade
.	messalina
.	the night languishes, moans, sighs
.	if beauty kindles your love
.	liederabend
.	cafe' chantant
.	operatic concert
.	rita

Set in ancient Rome its main character is the most dissolute empress. The librettist Francesco Maria Piccioli, who openly admits to omitting the ‘ most scandalous facts’, creates a lively plot of conjugal unfaithfulness, embarrassing misunderstandings, feigned disdain, ruses and revenge. One breathes the disenchanted atmosphere of the play and the use of marionettes makes up for the scenery of baroque opera, which was always rich in pomp, allegories and wonders.

performers

2 sopranos, 1 contralto, 1 counter-tenor, 3 tenors, 1 bass, 1 actress, 9 musicians, 1 conductor, 1 producer

instruments

copies of original instruments: 2 flutes, 2 violins, 1 viola, 1 cello, 1 violone, 1 lute, 1 baroque guitar, 1 theorbo, 1 harpsichord

duration

c.1 hour

props

copies of historic marionettes with historic costumes wooden scenery, wooden dais

sites

outside an historic villa, small square, small theatre

technical requirements

minimum space c.10m x 5m, lighting service



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