With La Clemenza di Tito, the Vienna State Opera presents Mozart's late opera seria as a fascinating blend of political drama and human reconciliation. This co-production unfolds a work full of intrigue, passionate conflicts, and the extraordinary power of clemency.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's La Clemenza di Tito is one of the composer's last great dramatic operas and combines classical formal rigor with deep emotional expression. The work unfolds in ancient Rome, where Emperor Titus is confronted with the entanglements of power, loyalty, love, and betrayal. The ambitious Vitellia wants to seize the throne and incites the young Sesto to attack Tito, but the attempt fails. The dramatic sequence focuses on betrayal, guilt, and the question of forgiveness, while Tito struggles between his official duties and personal greatness.
Mozart wrote this opera in 1791 for the coronation celebrations of Leopold II, demonstrating his mastery of the Italian opera seria tradition. His music combines artful arias with moving ensembles, bringing character depth, moral questions, and human relationships to life in a rich musical language.
At the Vienna State Opera, an outstanding ensemble interprets this opera with great vocal presence under the musical direction of Pablo Heras-Casado and in a production by Jan Lauwers, which translates the classical material into a lively, multi-layered stage design. The production brings Mozart's view of power, loyalty, and mercy to life in a powerful way, inviting the audience to engage with a human and political drama that remains relevant to this day.
Premiere March 9
Further performances: March 12, 16, 21, 24, and 27, 2026
