La Clemenza di Tito facts for kids

La Clemenza di Tito is an opera that tells a story through music. It started as a libretto, which is the text or script of an opera, written by Pietro Metastasio in 1734. Many different composers, almost 40 of them, have used this story to create their own operas. The most well-known version was composed by Mozart.

The Opera's Story

Act 1: Plans and Problems

Vitellia is the daughter of a former emperor. She wants revenge against Titus, the current emperor. Vitellia asks Sextus, a friend of Titus who is in love with her, to help her get revenge.

Vitellia hears that Titus has sent Berenice, a woman she was jealous of, away. Vitellia then hopes Titus will choose her to be his empress. So, she tells Sextus to wait before doing anything.

Titus, however, decides to marry Servilia, who is Sextus's sister. He asks Annius, a friend of Sextus, to tell Servilia the news. But Annius and Servilia are secretly in love. This news makes them both sad.

Servilia decides to be honest with Titus. She tells him that she and Annius are in love. She also says she will marry him if he still insists. Titus is happy she told the truth. He immediately agrees not to separate Servilia and Annius.

Meanwhile, Vitellia hears that Titus wanted to marry Servilia. She becomes very jealous again. She quickly tells Sextus to kill Titus. Sextus agrees and sings a famous song called "Parto, parto."

Soon after Sextus leaves, Annius and Publius (a guard) arrive. They tell Vitellia that Titus has now chosen her to be his empress! Vitellia feels terrible. She is full of guilt and worry about what she just asked Sextus to do.

Sextus and his friends go to the Capitol to burn it down. Sextus is confused and doesn't know what to do. The other characters, except Titus, arrive and are shocked to see the Capitol burning. Sextus comes back and says he saw Titus being killed. Vitellia stops him from saying he was the killer. Everyone is sad, thinking Titus is dead, and Act 1 ends.

Act 2: Forgiveness and Mercy

Act 2 begins with Annius telling Sextus that Emperor Titus is actually alive. Sextus thought he saw Titus die in the smoke, but it was someone else. Soon, Publius arrives to arrest Sextus. He explains that one of Sextus's friends dressed like Titus and was stabbed by Sextus, but he survived.

The Senate holds a trial for Sextus. Titus waits, sure his friend will be found innocent. But the Senate finds Sextus guilty. A very sad Titus must sign the papers for Sextus's death.

Titus decides to speak with Sextus first. He wants to know more about the plot. Sextus takes all the blame and says he deserves to die. Titus tells him he will die and sends him away.

After much painful thought, Titus tears up the execution papers. He decides that if people want to criticize him, they can say he was too merciful. He would rather be known for mercy than for always seeking revenge.

Vitellia feels terrible about everything. She decides to tell Titus the whole truth, even if it means losing her chance to be empress.

At the amphitheater, those sentenced to death, including Sextus, are waiting. Titus is about to show mercy when Vitellia explains that she started Sextus's plot. Titus is shocked, but he includes her in the general forgiveness he offers. The opera ends with everyone praising Titus's kindness. Titus himself asks the gods to end his life if he ever stops caring for the good of Rome.

Mozart's Opera

In July 1791, Mozart was asked to write an opera seria, which is a serious opera. Domenico Guardasoni, who lived in Prague, asked him. Guardasoni needed someone to compose an opera for the celebrations of Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor becoming King of Bohemia. The ceremony was on September 6, so Mozart had to work very quickly.

Guardasoni had first asked Antonio Salieri to write the opera, but Salieri was too busy. So, he then asked Mozart. Mozart was happy to accept because he was paid twice as much as he would be for an opera in Vienna.

Images for kids

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  Libretto title page with dedication (1791)

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  The Estates Theatre in Prague, where the opera first played in 1791

See also

In Spanish: La clemencia de Tito (Mozart) para niños