I've been re-listening to Monteverdi's "Coronation of Poppea," and would
definitely
say that this one fits!  A consummate masterpiece, one that beautifully
sets to music
parallel pursuits of power first, then love/sex, as well as the
consequences to those
around the main characters.

In fact, there have been times that I've wondered whether, despite its
setting in
ancient Rome, Monteverdi might have been making some sort of allegorical
comment on
the politics of the various Italian states over the previous 150 years up
to the 1640s.  Or of Europe in general over the last 2000 or so....

Bill H.