About the work
Pastoral drama in three acts by Antonio Vivaldi to a libretto by Domenico Lalli, itself adapted from Francesco Maria Piccioli's text for Carlo Pallavicino's opera "Messalina" (1679). The premiere on 17 May 1713 at the Teatro delle Grazie in Vicenza marked Vivaldi's stage debut as an opera composer at the age of 35.
Plot
The Roman emperor Ottone has withdrawn to his country estate and loves the flirtatious Cleonilla, who toys with two young admirers. One of them is in fact Tullia in male disguise, herself attached to Caio and plotting Cleonilla's death out of jealousy. Mistaken identities and disguises create confusion until Tullia's true identity is revealed and Ottone reconciles the lovers.
Cultural significance
As Vivaldi's first opera, the work launched his double career as composer and theatrical entrepreneur in Venice, and individual arias quickly spread beyond Italy. Unusually for Vivaldi, the opera has no chorus at all and was premiered with a small ensemble outside Venice.