LUCIO SILLA

DRAMMA PER MUSICA

of Mr. Cavalier Amadeo Wolfgango Mozart, Member of the Academy of Bologna and of Verona.

In the Carneval season 1773,
Milan.
 
 


ROYAL HIGHNESSES,
We have spared no trouble, in the hope, that the present drama may earn the generous approval of Your Royal Highnesses. May you thus deign to regard it with that benevolence of which we have so many proofs. Flattered by this hope, we declare ourselves with deepest deference as Your Royal Highnesses' most devoted servants, and most obliged to highest thanks.

The Associates of the Royal Ducal Theater
 
 


ARGUMENT

The enmity between Lucio Silla and Caio Mario is historically known. Equally well known is the manner in which the former triumphed over his rival. One cannot deny Silla the reputation of a great warrier fortunate in all his military undertakings. But with cruelty, with avarice, with fickleness and with dissoluteness he cast a shadow over the renown of his bravery. His many love affairs made him a man who was as renowned for his gallantry as he was in war; and this proclivity accompanied him, as Plutarch attested, into his old age. Lucio Cinna, who was raised by him to the highest honor, in the intention of having in him an advisor and a supporter, hid under the cover of friendship the most implacable hatred for him. It was the tribune Aufidio, a deceptive flatterer, who urged Silla to the most shameful excesses. Between the inconstancy, the avarice and the cruelty that dominated him, he was later at times subject to those remorses that are not absent from a heart in which the lights of reason and the impulses of virtue are not totally extinguished. The bloodbaths, the usurped dictatorship, the ostracism and the death of so many citizens made ihm hateful to all Rome, but worthy of praise on the other hand was his voluntary abdication, with which he lay down the aegis of dictator, calling back to Rome all those who had been banned, and putting the tranquillity of an obscure private life before the rule of empire and all its glories. We learn also from history that the family of the Cecili was always most affectionately linked to the party of Caio Mario.
Plutarchin Silla.
 
 

     From such historic foundations comes the action in this drama, which in truth is among the greatest, as the always renowned and inimitable Abbot Pietro Metastasiohas rightly observed, who with his uncommon cordiality has deigned to honor the present dramatic composition with his fullest approbation. Since this comes from the profound reflection and from the long and glorious experience of the one and only master of the art, it should be the greatest of any praise to a young author.
     The scene is in Rome in the palace of Lucio Silla and in the places surrounding it.
 
 


ACTORS

Lucio Silla, dictator.

Mr. Bassano Morgnoni.
 
 

Giunia, daughter of Caio Mario and fiancee of Cecilio.

Mrs. Anna De Amicis Buonsollazzi.

Cecilio, banished senator.

Mr. Venanzio Rauzzini.
 
 

Lucio Cinna, Roman patrician, friend of Cecilio and secret enemy of Lucio Silla.

Mrs. Felicita Suardi.

Celia, sister of Lucio Silla.

Mrs. Daniella Mienci.

Aufidio, tribune, friend of Lucio Silla.

Mr. Giuseppe Onofrio.
Guards.
Senators.
Nobles.
Soldiers.
People.
Ladies.
 
 

The poetry is by Mr. De Gamera, poet of the Royal Ducal Theater.
 
 
COMPOSER OF THE MUSIC

Mr. Cavalier Amadeo Wolfango Mozart, Member of the Philharmonic Academy of Bologna and of Verona and Chamber Music Master of his most Reverend Highness the Archbishop and Prince of Salzburg.
DESIGNERS OF THE SCENERY AND PAINTERS

The brothers Messrs Galliari
COSTUME DESIGNERS

Mr. Francesco Mottaand Mr. Giovanni Mazza
 
 

COMPOSERS AND DIRECTORS OF BALLETS

OF THE FIRST AND THIRD

Mr. CARLO LE PICQ, currently in the service of His Majesty the King of Poland.
OF THE SECOND

Mr. GIUSEPPE SALAMONI, colled “from Portugal”.
 
 

Carried out by the following

PRIMI BALLERINI SERI
The above-mentioned Mr. Carlo Le Picq.

Mrs. Anna Binetti, currently in the service of His Majesty the King of Poland.
 
 

PRIMI BALLERINI GROTTESCHI
Mr. Riccardo Blek Mrs. Elisabetta Morelli Mr. Domenico Morelli
 
 

BALLERINI DI MEZZO CARATTERE
Mr. Francesco Clerico Mrs. Regina Cabalati Mr. Luigi Corticelli
 
 

OTHER DANCERS
Men Women
Antonio Braganza Cristina Colombi
Gregorio Santa Maria Anna Borsatini
Giuseppe Radaelli Rosa Petrai
Giovanni Battista Borsatini Angiola Galarini
Vincenzo Bardella Rosa Viganò
Francesco Sedini Rosa Palmieri
Giovanni Battista Aimì Antonia Capellini
Carlo Malacrida Gaetana Monterasi
 
 
Carlo Adoni Maria Antonia Gessati
Luigi Lotti Margarita Valtolina
Marta Scala
Margarita Gattai
 
 

FUORI DE' CONCERTI

The above-mentioned Mr. Giuseppe Salamoni

Mrs. Maria Casacci
 
 


SCENERY CHANGES

FIRST ACT

Solitary enclosed place with many trees and decayed ruins. On the Bank of the Tiber. In the distance, view of the Quirinal Hill with a small temple at the summit.
 
 

Giunia's apartments with statues of the most famous Roman women.

Burial place, very dark, with the monuments of the heroes of Rome.
 
 

SECOND ACT

Archway decorated with military trophies.

Hanging gardens.

The Capitol.
 
 

THIRD ACT

Atrium leading to the prison.

Hall.
 
 

FIRST BALLET
The jealousy of the seraglio

SECOND BALLET
The school of necromancy

THIRD BALLET
Chaconne
 
 
Overture