Néron (opera)

Néron (Nero), is a grand opera in four acts by Anton Rubinstein to a libretto by Jules Barbier, loosely based on the story of the Roman Emperor

Néron has a complex history. It was originally commissioned from the composer by the director of the Paris Opéra, Émile Perrin, in the 1860s. However the opera was never to be performed there. Rubinstein only got around to composing the score in 1875/6. The opera's premiere, in a German translation, was at the Stadttheater am Dammtor in Hamburg on 1 October 1879. The title role was sung by the Heldentenor Hermann Winkelmann, who later achieved immortality as the creator of the title role in Wagner's Parsifal.

Its premiere in Russia, on 10 February [O.S. 29 January] 1884 at the Mariinsky Theatre, was in Italian. The first performance of the opera in its original French libretto was at Rouen on 14 February 1894.

1 November 1879
Hamburg

Rome, about 60 AD.

The house of the courtesan Epicharis, where a party is taking place. Enter Chrysa, who begs Vindex to give her protection from a pursuing band of low-life, who invade the premises. Their leader turns out to be Nero in disguise. Saccus suggests that, by way of entertainment, a mock-marriage be arranged between Nero and Chrysa - she is forced to consent, but Epicharis rescues her by giving her a drug which makes her appear dead.

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