The DePaul Opera Theatre will present in English “The Coronation of Poppea” (“L’incoronazione Di Poppea”), a Claudio Monteverdi opera about a fateful love triangle involving the powerful Emperor Nero of ancient Rome. The free, public performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 25 and 2 p.m. Oct. 27 at the DePaul Concert Hall, 800 W. Belden Ave.

DePaul Music Professor Emeritus Thomas Brown, a noted music historian, will discuss the history of the opera at 6:45 p.m. before the Oct. 25 performance.

“The Coronation Of Poppea” premiered in Venice in 1643 and was instrumental in establishing opera as an art form. Based on true events, the opera tells the story of Roman emperor Nero’s infatuation with the beautiful courtier Poppea—an obsession that leads him to repudiate the rightful empress of Rome, his wife, Octavia, and to crown his lover, Poppea, as empress.

Harry Silverstein will direct and Julian Dawson will conduct the DePaul Opera Theatre production. The opera features a libretto by G. F. Busenello in a musical edition by Alan Curtis. Arthur Jacobs provided the English translation.

In its fifteenth year, the DePaul Opera Theatre is a highly successful training organization for talented DePaul School of Music students who aspire to grace the stages of the world’s opera houses and theaters. Graduates of the troupe have appeared at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Metropolitan Opera and in theaters around the globe.

For more information, call 773/325-7664.