Description

A fierce, other‑worldly romance erupts when the daughter of Jupiter and Ceres is swept away by Pluto, the ruler of the hidden realm beneath the earth. Their dramatic escape rides on a coal‑black chariot drawn by ruby‑maned steeds, its reins ignited with flame as they plunge through a lake that parts at the god’s command. Proserpine, bewildered and frightened, clings to her dark suitor while the landscape transforms into a shadowy city of gnomes and looming basalt arches.

As they descend deeper, Pluto tries to reassure his captive bride, promising a domestic life among the strange inhabitants of the underworld. Their journey introduces the fearsome yet loyal Cerberus, a three‑headed guardian whose fierce presence both terrifies and fascinates. The opening act balances vivid, mythic spectacle with a witty, uneasy dialogue, inviting listeners to follow Proserpine’s reluctant plunge into a realm where love and terror coexist.