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The spectacular climax depicting the fiery eruption of Mount Vesuvius was accompanied by a simulated earthquake and lightning as nine gauze curtains painted with clouds of ash and fire were raised one after the other to reveal the volcano. According to a contemporary account, when molten lava appeared to flow towards the front of the stage, the effect was so realistic that people in the stalls were terrified. The set designs for the Naples premiere have been lost. However, multiple copies of Alessandro Sanquirico's designs for the La Scala production have been preserved.
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Kenneth Lapitan, a curator at the J. Paul Getty Museum, has proposed that Sanquirico's designs probably followed Nicolini's production quite closely. The day after the premiere, King Francis I of the Two Sicilies sent Pacini a congratulatory letter expressing his great pleasure with the performance.
The reception at La Scala was as enthusiastic as it had been in Naples, and on the strength of the opera's success there, the impresario Domenico Barbaia offered Pacini a nine-year contract as the artistic director of his theatres with a commission to compose two operas a year. Pacini's popularity had declined in the midth century.
The production then transferred to the Teatro Massimo Bellini in Catania for performances in September of that year. Sallustio has been elected First Magistrate of Pompeii.
In the atrium of his house, he receives congratulations from all, including the tribune , Appio Diomede. However, Appio's congratulations are insincere. He is in love with Sallustio's wife Ottavia and is consumed with jealousy at their happiness. He later approaches Ottavia when she is alone and declares his love to her. When she angrily spurns him, he vows revenge and concocts a plot with Pubblio, the custodian of the public baths, to dishonour Ottavia.
Pubblio's young son Clodio is disguised as a girl, and with the help of Fausto, Sallustio's freed slave, he is slipped in amongst Ottavia's handmaidens. The celebration of Sallustio's elevation to the magistracy begins at the Temple of Jupiter where Sallustio swears to uphold the laws of Rome. The procession then moves towards the amphitheatre for more festivities. Along the way, Pubblio, feigning indignation, drags Clodio away from the handmaidens and reveals his disguise.
To the consternation of all, Clodio declares that he has been seduced by Ottavia. Although incredulous, Sallustio must now adhere to the oath he has just sworn and bring his wife to trial. At Ottavia's trial in the basilica of Pompeii, she protests her innocence. Although Appio, Pubblio, and Clodio's testimony is damning, Sallustio is still reluctant to find her guilty. At this point, ominous rumbling is heard from Mount Vesuvius , which is taken by the augurs as a sign that the gods are displeased with Sallustio's hesitation.
Ottavia is thus condemned to be buried alive.
As she is led into the tomb, accompanied by her faithful handmaidens, Ottavia turns to her husband one last time, swears her innocence, and entrusts their young son, Menenio, to his care. At this point, Vesuvius erupts with a tremendous explosion.
Sallustio now takes this as a sign that a terrible injustice is about to be done and halts the execution. Pubblio, believing that his perfidy has brought disaster to Pompeii, confesses all and names Appio as the instigator of the plot. He and Appio are sealed in the tomb instead of Ottavia. As boulders and ash rain down on the city and all flee in panic, Menenio arrives with a chariot and rescues his parents. The eruption becomes ever stronger and the sky is filled with fire and lightning.
The curtain falls on a scene of desolation. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Role descriptions are sourced from Tottola. Retrieved from " https: Articles with Italian-language external links Pages containing links to subscription-only content.