The Coronation of Poppea

…Ulysses to His Country and The Coronation of Poppea—and both are masterpieces. Although they still retain some elements of the Renaissance intermezzo and pastoral, they can be fairly described as the first modern operas. Their interest lies in revealing the development of human beings in realistic situations. There are main…

…L’incoronazione di Poppea (1643; “The Coronation of Poppea”). The latter was the first opera to derive its plot from a historical subject—the Roman emperor Nero’s illicit love for the ambitious courtesan Poppea. Gian Francesco Busenello’s libretto brought a new note of realism into opera, particularly in the subtle portrayal…