Britten Opera The Rape of Lucretia

Plot Synopsis and Character Description of English Tragic Drama

Oct 13, 2008

The Rape of Lucretia, an English tragedy opera by Benjamin Britten: opera plot summary, character list, and other Britten opera information.

Benjamin Britten (November 22, 1913 – December 4, 1976) composed The Rape of Lucretia, a two-act English tragic drama based on the play "Le Viol de Lucrèce" by André Obey. Libretto was written by R. Duncan.

The opera was premiered at Glyndebourne, Mr. and Mrs. John Christie's Opera House, on July 12, 1946. The setting is in Rome in 500 BC.

Britten's The Rape of Lucretia is read from history with a Christian message traced back from the early Christians to the composer's later church parables. Some of the actions are mimed by the two groups of singers, the Male and Female Choruses.

Characters of The Rape of Lucretia

Plot Summary / Synopses of The Rape of Lucretia

The Male Chorus reads how Tarquinius Superbus came to rule Rome by force. The Female Chorus adds how he involves the Romans in war against the Greeks. The choruses explain how the evil Tarquinius bribes, manipulates and murders his way onto the throne and declares in unison: "They'll view these human passions and these years through eyes which once have wept with Christ's own tears."

In the camp, Prince Tarquinius and two of his generals, Junius and Collatinus, drink and discuss the indifidelity of Roman wives. The generals went home last night to check on their wives, only to discover their infidelities. The only chaste one was Lucretia, the wife of Collatinus. Tarquinius calls Junius a liar and Junius attacks the prince's brashness and his foreign birth, an Etruscan. Junius is furious that his wife's philandering elevates Lucretia and Collatinus. Tarquinius expresses interest in Lucretia. He leaves for Rome.

Lucretia, her nurse Bianca and maid Lucia are at home, spinning and sewing. Lucretia misses her husband Collatinus. Just when the he women are preparing for bed, Prince Tarquinius arrives. Hospitality demands that Lucretia put the prince up for the night, even though his palace is nearby, in fact just across town. Tarquinius and the women bid each other good night.

Tarquinius sneaks into Lucretia's bedroom and makes advances to Lucretia. When she rejects him, he rapes her at sword point.

It is early morning. Lucia and Bianca arrange flowers admiring the beautiful spring morning. Lucretia sends to Collatinus an orchid, his favorite flower, telling him to hurry home. "Say it comes from a Roman harlot," Lucretia says. Realizing something has happened, Bianca tries to prevent the messenger from going, but it is too late, it has been sent. Junius and Collatinus appear.

The broken-hearted Lucretia tells her husband what happened. Collatinus, understanding his beloved wife, consoles her and says that the shame is on Tarquinius. Lucretia still kills herself. While Collatinus mourns, Junius uses the incident to incite the crowd against Tarquinius, hoping that he might be able to rule Rome instead of the Etruscans. The Male and Female Choruses end with the similar reflective words from the beginning, wondering if sin and grief is all there is. "No, for Christ died that we might live," they sing.

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