Our inaugural production, in August/September 2008, was Monteverdi’s masterpiece The Coronation of Poppea, presented at Le Poisson Rouge.

Poppea (1642), written within a half-century of the birth of opera, is still universally acknowledged as one of the great exemplars of the genre. The opera tells the tale of Emperor Nero’s affair with Poppea, Nero’s de facto execution of his tutor Seneca after the latter’s attempt to sway him from his course, Poppea’s ascension to the throne in place of the exiled Empress Ottavia, and Nero and Poppea’s abandonment of their respective spouses and eventual wedding.

The inventors of opera, of whom Monteverdi was a leading example, created a musical style with text set over a bass line. This allowed the singer—often accompanied by a single instrument—to be easily understood while delivering text at a pace closer to that in a spoken play than in later opera.

The style was a hit. The new works were filled with beautiful music performed by young singers dressed in the high fashion of the day. Their passionate, dramatic performances attracted nobility and commoners alike, and throughout the century, operas were commercial ventures in public opera houses, selling out long runs and making celebrities of composers and singers.

Opera Omnia seeks to update this aesthetic. Our production sought to bring the tale of Nero and Poppea’s lurid romance to life in a fashion more akin to what audiences today expect from a play (or perhaps a musical) than most opera. Meanwhile, our historically-informed approach using period instruments will present Monteverdi’s timeless score in service of and partnership with the action on stage.

Our company found a perfect home at Le Poisson Rouge, a multi-genre performance space, gallery, and lounge being opened at the historic site of the famed Village Gate club. With its flexible seating and bar in the theater, our audiences were able to enjoy opera in an informal and fun setting.