Mother Plots

• Handel Giulio Cesare  Cornelia is the step-mother of Sesto who has just lost his father Pompey.

• Handel Agrippina   Agrippina is the mother of Nero*

• Mozart Die Zauberflöte  The Queen of the Night is the mother of Pamina.*

• Verdi Il trovatore  Azucena is the mother of Manrico (or not).  She also has mother issues of her own.  Her mother haunts the story.*
  

• Smetana The Bartered Bride Both of the main characters have mothers in the cast.

• Mascagni Cavalleria rusticana Turiddu's mother is prominent.

• Strauss Elektra  Elektra's mother Klytemnestra has killed her father.*

• Humperdinck Hänsel und Gretel The mother sends the children out alone into the woods. *

• Janáček Jenůfa Jenůfa's step-mother kills Jenůfa's child.*

• Strauss Salome Salome's mother starts this whole mess.*

• Puccini Madama Butterfly  The main character becomes a mother during the opera.*

• Wagner The Ring This features Erda, mother of the Earth.  Her children include the Valkyries and the Norms.*

• Massenet Werther.  Charlotte's dead mother haunts the story and persuades Charlotte to marry Albert.*