Mitridate, Re di Ponto

Opera seria by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, first performed on 26 December 1770 in Milan.

Antiquity, about 100 B.C. Mitridate is king of the island of Ponto and he is still at war with the Romans. He has two sons, Farnace and Sifare. Farnace has forged a secret alliance with the Romans against his father, while Sifare is the good, loyal son. But both have betrayed their father's trust: both are in love with Aspasia, Mitridate's bride-to-be.

Mitridate has just lost the battle on the military front and he senses that he is also losing control of the domestic front. So he spreads rumours that he has died, in order to rest the reactions of his sons.

His bride, Aspasia, is also struggling. Farnace, whom she abhors, makes advances, and she seeks sanctuary with Sifare, with whom she is secretly in love. On the news of Mitridate's death emotions boil over and Aspasia and Sifare reveal their feelings for one another. Just as this fateful confession has escaped their lips news arrives of Mitridate's home-coming and the pair realize that their love is forbidden at every level: it's a son's betrayal of his father, a wife's infidelity to her husband, and a mother-in-law's indecent infatuation with her son-in-law. How will it all end? You'll have to wait and see until 12 November at the Radio House Concert Hall.

The title of the opera is Mitridate but it is really about Aspasia, a portrait of a woman of the kind only Mozart could paint. The part is sung by Henriette Bonde-Hansen, one of Denmark's loveliest sopranos, whose aristocratic charisma and profound ability for characterization will mould this portrait of Aspasia, the enchanting focus of three men's passion.

The Swedish tenor Mathias Zachariassen will be Mitridate the general, tyrant and man, while his two sons will be sung by Maria Fontosh and Kristina Hammarström. Finally, Adam Fischer conducts this opera, so we can promise you a rare experience, not only for opera fans but for anyone who loves Mozart.