Voice

  • Date: 6, 8 and 10 February, 8 p.m.
  • Hall: Main Auditorium

A spellbinding story of power and redemption

This fairy tale that bewitches us with the powers of magic to seduce men, is one of the most beautiful operas by G. F. Händel. Perhaps the reason lies in the composer placing all the vocal potentiality in a compelling love story with fantastical edging and a score that enthrals for the great expressive capacity of its melodic beauty.

Alcina, a powerful sorceress lives on an enchanted island and uses her magic powers of seduction. Once tired of her conquests, they are transformed into wild beasts. However, when Alcina is touched by an unrequited love, amid a confusing web of sentimentality replete with episodes of jealousy, confusion and chaos, the enchantress is set adrift emotionally. This leads us to reflect about the abuse of power, redemption, and the possibility of embracing empathy and love. Today, Alcina is one of Händel’s most beloved and programmed operas and has been sung by important voices such as Renée Fleming, Natalie Dessay or Magdalena Kozená.

The soprano Jone Martínez and the mezzo Maite Beaumont, along with Lucía Martín- Cartón, Daniela Mack, Ruth González, Juan Sancho, and Ricardo Novaro, come together in splendid cast for the return of Baroque opera to the Maestranza. The production is by the well-known Lotte de Beer, with the ever-excellent Orquesta Barroca de Sevilla (Baroque Orchestra of Seville) in the pit, conducted by a veritable specialist, Andrea Marcon.

 

Libretto by Antonio Marchi, based on L’isola d’Alcina by Riccardo Broschi, Cantos VI and VII of the epic poem Orlando furioso (1516) by Ludovico Ariosto.
Premiere at the Royal Opera House of London on April 16, 1735.
  • Musical director: Andrea Marcon
  • Stage Director: Lotte de Beer
  • Set design: Christof Hetzer
  • Costume design: Jorine van Beek
  • Lighting design: Alex Brok
  • Video: fettFilm

Original production created by the Deutsche Oper am Rhein Düsseldorf Duisburg
Orquesta Barroca de Sevilla (Resident Orchestra of Espacio Turina)

  • Alcina: Jone Martínez
  • Morgana: Lucía Martín-Cartón
  • Oberto: Ruth González
  • Ruggiero: Maite Beaumont
  • Bradamante: Daniela Mack
  • Oronte: Juan Sancho
  • Melisso: Ricardo Novaro

Andrea Marcon

His concert activities in early music have taken him to the most prestigious auditoriums and European festivals where he has appeared as a conductor and as a soloist at the organ and harpsichord. In the capacity of Guest conductor, he has led important orchestras He has an exceptional name in music pedagogy across Europe, and is a jury member of different international competitions. 

Lotte de Beer

Born in Holland, her name is linked to a specific interest in introducing opera to young people. She began her musical education in Maastricht and continued studies in directing at the Amsterdam University of the Arts. Among her mentors is the German opera and theatre director Peter Konwitschny, with whom she worked at the beginning of her career in Japan, Sweden, and Austria. Since the 22-23 season, she is Artistic Director of the Volksoper Wien.

Panel discussion

Parallel activities

En torno a... Alcina

 5 February, 2024
7 p.m.

Press Room (access by the reception of the Theater)
Admission free on a first-come basis

Asociación Sevillana de Amigos de la Ópera In collaboration with Teatro de la Maestranza
 

Photo: © Jochen Quast

ASAO

Original production created by