Synopsis
Music by Benjamin Britten
Libretto by Ronald Duncan, after the play
by André Obey
Premiered July 12, 1946
Time and Place: In or near Rome, 500 B.C.
Act I
Scene I
The Male and Female Chorus describe the historical background
to the story, and reveal their view of events to be that
of a later, Christian era. The action is set in and around
Rome immediately before the end of the reign of the Etruscan
king Tarquinius Superbus in 510 BC. At a military camp outside
the city his son, the prince Tarquinius Sextus, is drinking
with two generals, Collatinus and Junius. They discuss an
earlier, unfortunate bet, in which the constancy of various
Roman wives was tried and found wanting. Of the married men
(Tarquinius goes to brothels) only Collatinus can boast a
wife, Lucretia, who was discovered sleeping alone in her
husband's absence. Urged on by the malicious Junius, Tarquinius
decides to prove Lucretia chaste by attempting her virtue
himself, and rides off to Rome.
Scene II
His arrival at her house produces consternation, but hospitality
forces Lucretia to offer him a room for the night, despite
her misgivings and those of her servants. Tarquinius's
purpose, however, is made clear when he wakes her and forces
himself upon her before leaving her house. The following
morning her late appearance in a distressed, broken state
is only slowly understood by her nurse Bianca and maid
Lucia, and her husband is sent for. Collatinus arrives
with Junius to hear the news, and despite his at least
partial understanding of Lucretia's shame it is too painful
for her to bear, and she stabs herself. Her death provides
the impetus for the Romans to throw out the Tarquinius.
The Male and Female Chorus attempt to come to terms with
these events in a Christian context. |
