Opera NEO will present the Coronation of Poppea (L'incoronazione di Poppea) by Monteverdi.

Opera NEO, a Summer Opera Festival based in San Diego, is presenting the Coronation of Poppea, a story of power and passion that tells of the young Nero’s infatuation with the beautiful Poppea as she tries to make him divorce his wife, Ottavia, and take her as his new queen and empress of Rome. Poppea’s ambition corrupts or exposes everyone around her, leading to murder, suicide, deception and political intrigue.

The Coronation of Poppea is a rich, complex and thoroughly modern work with brilliant, relevant social commentary and a thorough exploration of various interpersonal relationships. Its world is populated by ruthless and all-too-human characters where lust and ambition ultimately triumph over virtue. Opera NEO's intimate production is accompanied by the Bach Collegium San Diego, bringing Monteverdi's luscious, sensual music to life.

This summer marks the second Summer Festival in which vocalists from all across the US lend their talents for performances like this one at Crill Performance Hall. The opera in two acts will be sung in Italian with English supertitles and presented in collaboration with the Bach Collegium San Diego.