Work of | Sofocle
Artistic director | Ettore Romagnoli
Translation | Ettore Romagnoli
Scene and costumes | Duilio Cambellotti
Music | Giuseppe Mulè

A group of Phoenician women, destined for the sanctuary of Apollo in Delphi, arrive in Thebes and witness the story that takes place here. The brothers Eteocles and Polinice have agreed to alternate, one year each, at the command of Thebes. After his own year, however, Eteocles does not intend to hand over power to his brother, so Polinice presents himself with an army from Argos to claim his rights. Jocasta summons the two sons to try to reach an agreement, but without results.

Tiresias, a blind soothsayer, says that to save Thebes the only way is to sacrifice Creon’s son, Meneceus, who accepts the response and kills himself. Eteocles and Polynice face off in a duel, giving each other death. On their corpses, the mother Jocasta commits suicide.