La clemenza di Tito

ABOUT

“My Praguers understand me.” That is probably Mozart’s most famous statement expressing his affection for the Czech lands and their inhabitants. It was for them that he composed his beautiful opera about Roman Emperor Titus on the occasion of the coronation of Leopold II.

Mozart composed his opera about Roman Emperor Titus at the same time as The Magic Flute. It used an old libretto by Pietro Metastasio adapted by Caterino Mazzolà. The opera was commissioned by the Prague opera scene impresario, Domenico Guardasoni, for the celebrations connected with the coronation of Leopold II. It was premiered on 6 September 1791 at the Estates Theatre (Stavovské divadlo), Prague. It is still performed all over the world due to its masterful music, which overshadows the somewhat schematic story set in Rome in 79 AD. Although the Pilsen opera company performs works from Mozart’s oeuvre regularly, La clemenza di Tito cannot be found on the list of his operas performed here since 1865. So, after Idomeneo, the Pilsen opera company repays its debt to the great composer, many of whose operas still have not been performed here. It is sung in the original Italian with Czech and German subtitles.