Venice Preserved: A Tragedy in Five Acts

Set against the glittering splendor of 17th‑century Venice, the drama opens with a vivid tableau of dukes, senators, conspirators, and courtiers, each introduced in richly detailed costume. The city’s opulent palaces and bustling canals become the stage for a tangled web of ambition, love, and betrayal, as a secret plot threatens the very heart of the Republic.

At the centre of the intrigue is Pierre, a hardened corsair whose fortunes have been built on the seas, and Jaffier, a restless provincial drawn into the conspiracy by friendship and the promise of gain. Their entanglements with the beautiful Belvidera and the scheming Priuli add personal stakes to the political turmoil. As whispers of treason stir, loyalties are tested and the characters grapple with the clash between personal desire and civic duty.

The opening act establishes a tense atmosphere where public celebration masks looming disaster, inviting listeners to watch the fragile balance of power tilt toward tragedy.