TheRoman EmperorOttone is in love with Cleonilla, who can't resist flirting with two young Romans, Ostilio and Caio. Ostilio is in reality a woman, Tullia, who disguised herself because she's in love with Caio. She plans to kill Cleonilla out of jealousy, but she first tries to dissuade her from her relation with Caio. Caio sees the meeting and misinterprets it as a romantic encounter. He warns Ottone, who commands him to kill Ostilio. Before he can execute the order, Ostilio reveals himself to be Tullia. Cleonilla claims to have always known it, to conciliate Ottone. He believes her and the opera closes with the marriage of Tullia and Caio.
Vivaldi:Ottone in Villa – Patrizia Pace (Cleonilla, soprano), Anna Maria Ferrante (Tullia, soprano),Aris Christofellis (Caio,male soprano), Jean Nirouët (Ottone,countertenor), Luigi Petroni (Decio, tenor); Ensemble Seicentonovecento;Flavio Colusso [it] (conductor). Recorded September 1993. Label: Bongiovanni 10016/18.
Vivaldi:Ottone in Villa – Maria Laura Martorana (Cleonilla, soprano),Tuva Semmingsen (Ottone, mezzo-soprano),Florin Cezar Ouatu (Caio Silio, countertenor), Luca Dordolo (Decio, tenor), Marina Bartoli (Tullia, soprano); L'Arte dell'Arco;Federico Guglielmo (conductor). Performing edition by Federico Guglielmo (2008 revision) from the manuscript by Vittorio Bolcato. Label:Brilliant Classics 94105.
Vivaldi:Ottone in Villa – Veronica Cangemi (Cleonilla, soprano),Roberta Invernizzi (Tullia, soprano),Julia Lezhneva (Caio, soprano),Sonia Prina (Ottone, contralto),Topi Lehtipuu (Decio, tenor); Il Giardino Armonico;Giovanni Antonini (conductor). Performing edition by Eric Cross. Label: Naïve B004215TO0. (2010)
^Casaglia 2005. Note that while most sources give the premiere venue as the Teatro delle Grazie,Strohm 1985, p. 141 gives it as the Teatro Nuovo di Piazza. There is considerable confusion in the names of the theatres in Vicenza. Initially, the Teatro delle Grazie was called the Nuovo Teatro delle Grazie and co-existed with the Teatro di Piazza. According toFolena & Arnaldi 1985, p. 295, the Teatro delle Grazie was built on the site of the Teatro delle Garzerie which burnt down in 1683.
