Credits:

Federico Maria Sardelli

Description:

Farnace, the protagonist of this opera, is a character who also appears in Mozarts *Mitridate, King of Pontus*; Mitridate is his father. He was a real king who reigned from around 185 to 160 B.C., and his days were spent entirely in battle. Farnace succeeded his father as King of Pontus and wished to marry Tamiri, the princess of Cappadocia, but Berenice, Tamiris mother, would not allow it. This was because, at the end of the war against Mithridates, her husbandthe King of Cappadociaand her son had been killed. However, Pharnaces married Tamiri without Berenices permission and has already fathered a child with her. The Kingdom of Pontus is currently under siege by Roman forces, and though Pharnaces launches a final counterattack, he is utterly powerless to make a difference. His wife, Tamiri, hides their child and attempts to take her own life, but her mother, Berenice, appears and s