from Act I of the German opera
Rienzi by Richard Wagner
Libretto: Richard Wagner
Role: Cola Rienzi, Roman tribune, brother of Irene
Voice Part: tenor Fach: dramatic tenor/heldentenor
Setting: a street in Rome, Italy, middle of the 14th century
Synopsis: Rome is in chaos because of battles between the houses of Colonna and Orsini. Rienzi is able to stop the riot and sends the fighting parties out of Rome to continue their dispute. Afterwards, he encourages the Roman citizens to reinstitute Rome's freedom from tyranny by passionately reminding them of the old tradition of Roman freedom.