Poppaea Sabina that it is not a drama that promotes the triumph of virtue. Poppaea is portrayed as cynically plotting to become empress of Rome by manipulating the emperor Nero into marrying her, and her machinations include the execution of Seneca the Younger, who opposes her plans, which are successful at the end of the drama. Poppaea is a principal character also in Handel's opera "Agrippina" of 1709, but as a victim, not a perpetrator, of deceit and manipulation. Here the schemer is Agrippina, Nero's mother, intent on promoting her son's claim to the throne. Poppaea, the ingenue, is portrayed as the
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (soundtrack) Paraphrase" performed by Alexander Balanescu (violin) and Michael Nyman (piano) "Miserere" performed by London Voices, director Terry Edwards The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (soundtrack) The Cook The Thief His Wife & Her Lover is the twelfth album release by Michael Nyman and the ninth to feature the Michael Nyman Band. It is the soundtrack to the eponymous film by Peter Greenaway. The album includes the first commercially released recording of "Memorial" (Greenaway heard a radio recording of the original performance that has not been commercially released), and this is the only piece discussed in the liner