3rd Festival of Baroque Operas. Shows and concerts
Polish premiere of Antonio Vivaldi’s opera "Farnace", a staging of the "Semiramide riconosciuta" opera by Neapolitan composer Leonardo Vinci and concerts featuring music of the most outstanding masters of the European Baroque will be the main attractions of the 3rd Dramma per Musica Festival of Baroque Operas held at the Royal Łazienki between 2 and 17 September 2017.
On 2 September, the Festival will be inaugurated by "Farnace", an opera written by Antonio Vivaldi which has never been showcased in Poland before. Although the instrumental music of the Italian composer is well known around the world and often performed, his operas are rarely presented, while in Poland none has ever been shown. The "Farnace" opera had its world premiere in February 1727, in the Venetian Teatro di Sant’Angelo. Later, it was presented to the European public in six different versions prepared by the composer. Of all musical sheets only those for two versions have been preserved, most likely from 1731 and 1738. These manuscripts are incomplete and require reconstruction – they are currently kept at the Turin National University Library.
The opera, which will be performed during the Festival, includes compositions from both manuscripts – the reconstruction was carried out so as to present the best musical material and dramaturgy. The Libretto by Antonio Maria Luccheni tells the story of Pharnaces – the King of Pontus – and its conflict-torn political family. Four female mezzo-soprano singers will perform in the show: Anna Radziejewska, Urszula Kryger, Elżbieta Wróblewska and Joanna Krasuska-Motulewicz. They will be accompanied by male countertenor singers – Kacper Szelążek and Jan Jakub Monowid as well as one tenor singer – Przemysław Baiński. The Royal Baroque Ensemble Orchestra will play under the direction of Lilianna Stawarz. The direction of the whole show has been entrusted to Natalia Kozłowska, while the scenography and costume design have been prepared by Paulina Czernek.
The "Farnace" opera will be performed on 2 and 3 September at 18.00 and on 5 September at 19.00 at the Royal Theatre. Tickets for the show are available at http://www.bilety24.pl.
"Semiramide riconosciuta"
During the Festival, a staging of Leonardo Vinci’s opera "Semiramide riconosciuta" from last year will be presented again. The Polish premiere of the Italian composer’s work took place at the Royal Theatre. The opera, which has returned on stage after almost 300 years, tells the story of the legendary female Babylonian ruler Semiramis, and as it usually is in Baroque plays – the plot is full of twists and turns, unfulfilled love, betrayal and intrigue.
"Semiramide riconosciuta" will be performed on 9 and 10 September at 18.00 at the Royal Theatre. Tickets for the show are available at http://www.bilety24.pl.
"Sognando la morte" (dance of death)
Once more, the audience will have an opportunity to watch "Sognando la morte", combining contemporary dance with the most beautiful arias by Monteverdi, Vivaldi, Handel and Scarlatti. The key motif of this "choreo-opera" is dance of death, one of the most important themes in Baroque art, which blossomed beautifully with its full, refined potential in the music of the masters of the era. The cast is composed of Anna Radziejewska, an outstanding opera singer, and Jacek Tyski, a dancer and a choreographer associated with Polish National Ballet.
"Sognando la morte" will be performed on 16 and 17 September at 18.00 at the Royal Theatre. Tickets for the show are available at http://www.bilety24.pl.
Concerts
The Festival’s programme, in addition to opera performances, will feature vocal chamber concerts. During the "Corde dell'anima" recital, LuteDuo, i.e. lute players Anna Kowalska and Anton Birula with mezzo-soprano singer Joanna Dolls, will sing the Spanish cantata “No se emenderá jamás” HWV 140 by G. F. Handel, as well as pieces by J. Dowland, H. Purcell, and G. Caccini.
The "Corde dell'anima" concert will be held on 8 September at 19.00 at the Palace on the Isle. Tickets: http://www.bilety24.pl.
The audience will have a chance to listen to Venetian Baroque music during the "Ospedale della Pietà" concert, which will feature a world-renowned, Polish Baroque ensemble, Arte dei Suonatori, as well as soloists – Ingrida Gápová and Artur Janda
The "Ospedale della Pietà" concert will be held on 12 September at 19.00 at the Royal Theatre. Tickets: http://www.bilety24.pl.
The concert "Duello barocco", inspired by popular 18th century vocal duels, will be the juxtaposition of two singers of the younger generation – Elwira Janasik and Ewa Leszczyńska, who, alongside new Baroque Gradus ad Parnassum orchestra, will perform arias and duets by G. B. Bononcini, G. F. Handel, and C. Monteverdi.
Visitor will have the opportunity to attend the "Duello barocco" concert on 13 September at 19.00 at the Palace on the Isle. Tickets: http://www.bilety24.pl.
The "Odio e amore" recital by a prominent Polish tenor singer Karol Kozłowski, accompanied by Italian harpsichord player Marc Vitali and chamber ensemble, will showcase pieces of G. F. Handel and J. A. Hasse.
The "Odio e amore" concert will be held on 14 September at 19.00 at the Royal Theatre. Tickets: http://www.bilety24.pl.
All shows will be performed in the Italian language with Polish subtitles.
