The Cleveland Opera

Mitridate, rè di Ponto

(Mithridates, King of Pontus)

by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Presented in collaboration with Cleveland Ballet Theatre.

Don’t miss this fascinating story
revolving around a king of antiquity.
Its ultimate message of freedom
is as relevant as ever today.
All is brought to life
through a sparkling musical score
composed by fourteen-year-old Mozart:
an ideal masterpiece
for this full production of opera.

Tickets

• $55 Reserved Sponsor Seating
• $25 General Admission
• $10 Student

Tickets are available online here: Buy Tickets
or by calling 216 816 1411.

Tickets will also be available at the door, cash or check.

About

This full production features
soloists, sets, costumes,
staging by Dr. Dorota Sobieska,
supertitles to translate the original Italian into English,
and The Cleveland Opera Orchestra
under the baton
of internationally renowned Maestro Grzegorz Nowak.

Cast

• Mitridate, King of Pontus
  – David Sadlier, tenor
• Aspasia, betrothed to Mitridate and already proclaimed Queen
  – Dorota Sobieska, soprano
• Sifare, younger son of Mitridate, in love with Aspasia
  – Dawna Rae Warren, soprano
• Farnace, eldest son of Mitridate, also in love with Aspasia
  – Amanda Fargo, mezzo-soprano
• Ismene, a Parthian Princess
  – Shira Ziv, soprano
• Arbate, Governor of Nymphæa
  – Caroline Friend, mezzo-soprano
• Marzio, Roman legionary officer, friend of Farnace
  – Sam Gross, tenor

Composition

Mitridate, rè di Ponto was Mozart’s first important opera,
commissioned to open the 1770 season in Milan, Italy.

The premiere was a triumph
and was repeated twenty-one more times.

The Story

The plot revolves around
the ancient Persian King Mitridate of Pontus.

Pontus was an important kingdom of the ancient world:
it was located in Anatolia
(approximately the northern portion present-day Turkey),
enjoyed access to the Mediterranean Sea,
and staunchly resisted invation and oppression
of Ancient Rome.

Read the story