from Act I of the Italian opera Agrippina by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Cardinal Vincenzo Grimani

Role: Agrippina, the wife of Emperor Claudio, mother of Nerone

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: lyric coloratura

Setting: Rome, 1st century AD

Synopsis: Agrippina has told Pallante that her husband, Emperor Claudio, has died. Although this is false, Pallante believes it and realizes that this might be his chance to win Agrippina's heart. He sings of his love for her.

from Act I of the Italian opera Agrippina by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Cardinal Vincenzo Grimani

Role: Agrippina, the wife of Emperor Claudio, mother of Nerone

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: lyric coloratura

Setting: Rome, 1st century AD

Synopsis: Agrippina attempts to convince Poppea to help her in her attempt to put her son Nerone on the throne by telling Poppea that her love Ottone will give her up to Claudio in order to win the succession.

from Act II of the Italian opera Agrippina by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Cardinal Vincenzo Grimani

Role: Agrippina, the wife of Emperor Claudio, mother of Nerone

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: lyric coloratura

Setting: Rome, 1st century AD

Synopsis: After she convinces Emperor Claudio to announce that her son Nerone will be the next emperor, Agrippina delights in the success of her goals.

from Act II of the Italian opera Agrippina by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Cardinal Vincenzo Grimani

Role: Agrippina, the wife of Emperor Claudio, mother of Nerone

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: lyric coloratura

Setting: Rome, 1st century AD

Synopsis: Although all of her plans seem to be going well, Agrippina is filled with a sense of foreboding.

from Act III, Scene 2 of the Italian opera Agrippina by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Cardinal Vincenzo Grimani

Role: Agrippina, the wife of Emperor Claudio, mother of Nerone

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: lyric coloratura

Setting: The Imperial Chambers, Rome, 1st century AD

Synopsis: After Agrippina is accused of trying to manipulate Emperor Claudio, she admits it but explains that it was all to help him. After all, she still loves her husband.

from Act I of the Italian opera Agrippina by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Cardinal Vincenzo Grimani

Role: Claudio, the Emperor

Voice Part: bass       Fach: heavy bass

Setting: Rome, 1st century AD

Synopsis: Claudio is in love with Poppea and attempts to draw her away from his two competitors, Ottone and Nerone.

from Act III, Scene 1 of the Italian opera Agrippina by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Cardinal Vincenzo Grimani

Role: Nerone, the son of Agrippina

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: male soprano

Setting: Poppea's room, Rome, 1st century AD

Synopsis: Nerone exclaims his love for Poppea after she tells him that she loves him. Unbeknownst to him, Poppea's other love, Ottone, is hiding in the room.

from Act III, Scene 2 of the Italian opera Agrippina by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Cardinal Vincenzo Grimani

Role: Nerone, the son of Agrippina

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: male soprano

Setting: The Imperial Chambers, Rome, 1st century AD

Synopsis: After Nerone tells his mother that he loves Poppea, she tells him that securing himself as the successor to Emperor Claudio is more important than anything else, Nerone reluctantly agrees.

from Act II of the Italian opera Agrippina by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Cardinal Vincenzo Grimani

Role: Nerone, the son of Agrippina

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: male soprano

Setting: Rome, 1st century AD

Synopsis: With everything going his way, Nerone is in a pretty good mood. His love Poppea seems to favor him over Claudio and Ottone. Plus, his main rival for the succession, Ottone, has just been declared a traitor. In his joy, he speaks of the ways of women.

from Act III, Scene 1 of the Italian opera Agrippina by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Cardinal Vincenzo Grimani

Role: Ottone, Claudio's lieutenant

Voice Part: contralto       Fach: contralto|male contralto

Setting: Poppea's room, Rome, 1st century AD

Synopsis: Ottone once again exclaims his love for Poppea after she tells him that she loves him and no other.

from Act II of the Italian opera Agrippina by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Cardinal Vincenzo Grimani

Role: Ottone, Claudio's lieutenant

Voice Part: contralto       Fach: contralto|male contralto

Setting: Rome, 1st century AD

Synopsis: Saddened by the apparent betrayal of his love Poppea, Ottone extemporizes in a garden on his sadness.

from Act II of the Italian opera Agrippina by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Cardinal Vincenzo Grimani

Role: Ottone, Claudio's lieutenant

Voice Part: contralto       Fach: contralto|male contralto

Setting: Rome, 1st century AD

Synopsis: Ottone tells Pallante and Narciso that he is innocent of the crimes he is accused of by his former love Poppea and Emperor Claudio. He explains his sorrow to them.

from Act III, Scene 1 of the Italian opera Agrippina by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Cardinal Vincenzo Grimani

Role: Poppea, loved by Ottone and Claudio and Nerone

Voice Part: soprano

Setting: Poppea's room, Rome, 1st century AD

Synopsis: Poppea tells Ottone how much she loves him.

from Act I of the Italian opera Agrippina by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Cardinal Vincenzo Grimani

Role: Poppea, loved by Ottone and Claudio and Nerone

Voice Part: soprano

Setting: Rome, 1st century AD

Synopsis: Angry at Ottone for apparently giving her up in order to become emperor, Poppea denounces his treachery.

from Act I of the Italian opera Agrippina by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Cardinal Vincenzo Grimani

Role: Poppea, loved by Ottone and Claudio and Nerone

Voice Part: soprano

Setting: Rome, 1st century AD

Synopsis: Although Poppea is being wooed by both Emperor Claudio and his son Nerone, the man she really wants is Ottone. She tells Agrippina this, explaining her love as she looks in the mirror.