The opera’s subject is the semi-legendary story of Lucretia, whose beauty and fidelity were tainted by the unworthy act of Sextus of the Etruscan Tarquinii. This ancient tale of love, honor, and betrayal inspires a psychological perspective on the act of violence and the fate of the victim, the inequality in the relationship between men and women, and their differing attitudes toward the world. Lucretia’s drama also symbolically reflects the situation of Rome at the time, decaying under the rule of an Etruscan dynasty. Furthermore, Britten’s work attempts to place this story within a Christian context. The work’s multifaceted nature provides a wealth of possibilities for interpreters—both the producers and performers, of whom not only every singer but also every instrumentalist is a soloist. (e-Teatr.pl)