THE RAPE OF
LUCRETIA
OPERA IN 2 ACTS WRITTEN BY BENJAMIN BRITTEN
CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PROJECT FOR THE DONALD GORDON THEATRE AT WMC
“THE RAPE OF LUCRETIA REVOLVES AROUND A BET MADE BETWEEN THREE ROMAN OFFICERS, COLLATINUS, JUNIUS AND PRINCE TARQUINIUS, WHILE THEY ARE AT WAR WITH GREECE. THE THREE MEN BET ON WHICH OF THEIR WIVES WILL BE FAITHFUL. AS IT TURNS OUT, ONLY LUCRETIA, THE WIFE OF COLLATINUS REMAINS TRUE TO HER MAN. IN A JEALOUS RAGE, PRINCE TARQUINIUS RIDES BACK TO ROME TO TEST LUCRETIA’S CHASTITY HIMSELF. THOUGH FEARFUL, LUCRETIA CANNOT REFUSE TO OFFER THE PRINCE HOSPITALITY.”