Agrippina (opera) "moments of splendour when Handel applies the full "concerto grosso" treatment." "Agrippina", Handel's second Italian opera, was probably his last composition in Italy. On hearing that her husband, the Emperor Claudius, has died in a storm at sea, Agrippina plots to secure the throne for Nero, her son by a previous marriage. Nero is unenthusiastic about this project, but consents to his mother's wishes ("Con saggio tuo consiglio"). Agrippina obtains the support of her two freedmen, Pallas and Narcissus, who hail Nero as the new Emperor before the Senate. With the Senate's assent, Agrippina and Nero begin to ascend the
Vipsania Marcella Vipsania Marcella Vipsania Marcella Agrippina or Marcellina or Vipsania Tertia (born 27 BC or later) was perhaps the only daughter of Roman statesman Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa by his second wife Claudia Marcella Major. If so, she was the first grandchild to Octavia Minor and first great-niece to Roman Emperor Augustus. If she truly had the name Marcella, there is no way that she was a daughter of Agrippa's first wife, Caecilia Attica. She and her elder sister Vipsania Agrippina were married off to Quintus Haterius (cos. 5 BC), Publius Quinctilius Varus (cos. 13 BC) and Tiberius (also cos. 13 BC)