The Genius of Young Mozart

Few operas demonstrate the genius of a child prodigy than this early work by Mozart, who composed it at the tender age of 14. Written for the Milan carnival, even the young composer was unsure that he was equal to the task. However, he needn't have worried, as it was immediately received as a phenomenal success upon its premiere in 1770. Emma Griffin directs this Philadelphia premiere of the brilliant work, starring Lawrence Brownlee in the title role, with Anthony Roth Costanzo and Meredith Wohlgemuth as his songs and soprano Lauren Snouffer as Aspasia.

What is the Story?

Set during the Roman invasion of Europe, Mitridate, re di Ponto focuses on a tangled web of unrequited love, lust and politics in the court of Pontus. When the king, Mitridate is wrongly presumed dead in battle with the Romans, the news reaches his two teenage sons, Farnace and Sifare, and his young fiancee Aspasia. The two sons are both in love with Aspasia, but she is in love with only Sifare. As Farnace tries to forcefully seduce Aspasia, she looks to Sifare for protection and offers him her hand. However, when Mitridate turns up alive, the tense situation explodes with recriminations, accusations and a tragic demise of one of the main characters.