A scholarly study of the presence of ancient Rome in lyric theater, especially opera. The work examines how Roman history, myth, politics, and social life have been adapted into operatic stories and dramatic plots, and how composers and librettists have shaped the image of Rome for the stage. Rather than treating antiquity as a fixed historical backdrop, the book considers the ways operatic works reinterpret Roman civilization through music, drama, character, spectacle, and theatrical convention. It is useful for readers interested in the relationship between classical heritage and performing arts, as well as the continuing influence of Rome on European cultural imagination.

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