AT THE OPERA
In exotic places, Part 2
Prepared and presented by Camille Mercep

Vivaldi, A. Motezuma. Opera in three acts. Libretto by Luigi Giusti. First performed Venice, 1733.   

Vivaldi, A. Motezuma, Act I   
[01:11:04]

Vivaldi, A. Motezuma, Act II   
[01:03:43]

Vivaldi, A. Motezuma, Act III   
[54:09]

   FERNANDO: Maite Beaumont, mezz
MOTEZUMA: Vito Priante, bar
TEUTILE: Roberta Invernizzi, sop
RAMIRO: Romina Basso, mezz
MITRENA: Marijana Mijanović, cont
ASPRANO: Inga Kalna, sop
Il Complesso Barocco/Alan Curtis.Total Time: 3:14:53
Archiv 477 5996

   Following a devastating defeat at the hands of the Spanish conquistador, Fernando Cortes, the Mexican ruler, Motezuma, is resolved to resist the Spanish invaders. To complicate matters his daughter, Teutile, is in love with Ramiro, Fernando’s brother.
Motezuma’s wife, Mitrena, calls on the gods to protect Mexico against the Spanish tyrant and urges her fellow countrymen to rise up in revolt. The Mexican general, Asprano, reaffirms their willingness to fight. He announces that the oracle of the gods demands that Teutile and a Spaniard be sacrificed in order to restore peace to the country. Fernando Cortes is the Spaniard who must be sacrificed with Teutile. She gives orders for the tower in which Fernando is imprisoned to be set alight. Ramiro and his soldiers free Fernando from the tower and, when Motezuma discovers the door open and that the guards have been killed, he goes into the tower. Ramiro bolts the door behind him and leaves. Asprano sets the building on fire, when to his horror, he sees his emperor high up in the tower. In her despair, Mitrena resolves to take her own life but, suddenly, Motezuma appears, having escaped from the tower by means of a secret passage.
Fernando Cortes is celebrating his victory and tells the Mexicans that they now have a new emperor and new gods. He has won the throne, not for himself but for Spain, and announces his intention of returning to Spain. He will leave his brother, Ramiro, behind as a hostage after Ramiro and Teutile are married, declaring that this is what the oracle has demanded. Motezuma and Mitrena agree to the marriage and the people celebrate the lovers' union.

23:30 MUSIC OF THE NIGHT
Prepared and presented by James Nightingale

Angulo, G. Sonata no 2.    Anton Baranov, gui.
Naxos 8.573306 [11:02]

Ponce, M. Chapultepec (1929/34).    State of Mexico SO/Enrique Bátiz.
ASV DCA 926 [14:42]