La Flora

An Opera composed by Antonio Sartorio and Marc’Antonio Ziani in 1681

Filmed at ODC Theater on November 15, 16, and 17, 2024.

The Plot
A work of emotional chiaroscuro that ranges from heroic tragedy to slamming-door farce, set in the late Roman Republic under the rule of the fearsome dictator Sulla (here called Silla). Young Flora and Pompeo are impassioned lovers. But Silla and Pompeo’s dad have other plans: Pompeo is to marry Silla’s daughter, Emilia. The only problem is that Emilia is already married to somebody else. And Pompeo (the future Pompey the Great), though a hero on the battlefield, turns out to be a spineless wuss when it comes to standing up to Dad and defending his girlfriend. Flora exerts her seductive superpowers to get her man. But will she succeed?

Presented by ARS MINERVA

Bringing Forgotten Music Back to Life

Ars Minerva is a San Francisco-based, 501(c)(3) performing arts organization founded in 2013 by Céline Ricci. Its mission is to engage new audiences for classical music through innovative productions of Baroque operas. Ars Minerva is dedicated to reviving forgotten music, collaborating with artists in the San Francisco Bay Area to bring these rare and captivating experiences to the diverse local community.