Semi-staged concert opera
- Date:
4
and 6
February, 8 p.m.
07 February 7 p.m. - Hall: Main Auditorium
Love beyond Death
The tragedy of Orfeo y Eurídice is one of the fundamental myths of our culture. As a result, it continues to captivate us with the passing of time. Although he did not exactly set out to do so, Claudio Monteverdi reinvented opera for his patron Vincenzo Gonzaga by choosing a story where music, love and death come together in a way that was dramatically unending. The composer from Cremona added a sense of spectacle as never before in the genre. Today as in the past, Orfeo is presented to the audience as if it were a world premiere.
All of this is heightened when the music is performed by La Capella Mediterranea. Leonardo García-Alarcón and his musicians bring an Orfeo to the Teatro de la Maestranza that is chairoscuro, teeming with nuances and colour, and with the right dose of intensity for each of the affetti which the composer was seeking. And of course, splendidly sung. A semi-staged performance where nothing gets in the way of the powerful dramaturgy in these beginnings of Italian Baroque style. Recreated by specialists in a repertory which, so many centuries later, continues to astonish and deeply move the listener of today. Even for those who think they have seen it all.
FAVOLA IN MUSICA (A Legend in Music) WITH A PROLOGUE AND FIVE ACTS BY CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI
LIBRETTO BY ALESSANDRO STRIGGIO, “EL JOVEN”
PREMIERE ON 25 FEBRUARY, 1607 AT THE DUCAL PALACE OF MANTUA
PREMIERE AT THE TEATRO DE LA MAESTRANZA
- Musical director: Leonardo García-Alarcón
- Stage concept: Leonardo García-Alarcón
- Costumes: Sylvain Wavrant
- Lights: Léo Petrequin
La Cappella Mediterranea
Chœur de Chambre de Namur
© François de Maleissye-Cappella Mediterranea
- Orfeo: Valerio Contaldo
- Music / Eurydice: Mariana Flores
- The Messenger: Coline Dutilleul
- Hope / Proserpina: Anna Reinhold
- Pluto: Edward Grint
- Caronte: Salvo Vitale
- Shepherd / Apollo: Alessandro Giangrande
- Shepherd: Matteo Bellotto
- Shepherd / Spirit / Echo: Nicholas Scott
- Shepherd: Leandro Marziotte
- Nymph: Estelle Lefort
- Spirit: Philippe Favette
:image-format(webp)/teatro-maestranza/shows/mikel-ponce/lorfeo-mikel_ponce-1.JPG "© Mikel Ponce")
:image-format(webp)/teatro-maestranza/shows/mikel-ponce/lorfeo-mikel_ponce-2.JPG "© Mikel Ponce")
:image-format(webp)/teatro-maestranza/shows/francois-de-maleissye-cappella-mediterranea/lorfeo-francois-de-maleissye-cappella-mediterr.jpg "© François de Maleissye-Cappella Mediterranea")
About Leonardo García-Alarcón
Is a harpsichordist, conductor, chorus leader and composer who has a wide experience in the field of opera. He distinguishes himself for an insightful understanding of the repertory, intent on recouping the power of music to convey emotion. Among his numerous important awards is the French title of Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters.
About La Cappella Mediterranea and Chœur de Chambre de Namur
La Cappella Mediterranea: founded in 2005 by Leonardo García-Alarcón, it rapidly became one of the principal Baroque music ensembles in the world, bent on expanding horizons via a wide and varied repertory.
Chœur de Chambre de Namur: created in 1987, with the artistic direction of Leonardo García-Alarcón since 2010. Its activity combines the recouperation of its musical heritage - from the Renaissance period to contemporary music - with the major works in the choral repertoire.