Roma (opera)

Roma is an opera in five acts by Jules Massenet to a French libretto by Henri Cain, based on the play Rome vaincue by Alexandre Parodi. It premiered at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo on 17 February 1912.

Synopsis

The opera is set in ancient Rome. The plot revolves around the conflict between Lentulus, a Roman general, and Fausta, the daughter of a Gaulish chieftain who has been brought to Rome as a hostage. Fausta and Lentulus are in love, but their relationship is complicated by political intrigue and the clash of cultures. Fausta yearns for freedom and the return of her people, while Lentulus is torn between his love for her and his duty to Rome. The opera culminates in a tragic ending with the lovers caught between their conflicting loyalties.