ALCINA

In the organizer's words:

Composer George Frideric Handel. Libretto by an unknown arranger after the libretto by Antonio Fanzaglia for the opera L'isola di Alcina by Riccardo Broschi, based on the 6th and 7th cantos from the epic Orlando furioso by Ludovico Ariosto.

Dramma per musica in three acts (1735)

recommended for ages 14 and up

In Italian language. With surtitles in German and English. New production.

Introductions take place in the Gartensaal one hour before the start of each performance(except on the premiere evening). Limited seating available, duration approx. 20 min.

Description

A mysterious kingdom ruled by a legendary queen - Alcina is everything at once: strong, powerful, clever and beguilingly beautiful. Time and again she lures strange men to her island who follow her call, and time and again Alcina hopes to finally find true love. But her dream always ends in disappointment. The traces of past loves pervade the land - former suitors, now magically transformed and trapped in the flora and fauna of the island. But when Ruggiero sets foot on the island, Alcina is convinced: this time it's the one! Meanwhile, another "man" appears: Ruggiero's fiancée Bradamante, disguised as her brother Ricciardo, in search of Ruggiero. When Alcina's spell gradually begins to wear off, everything begins to totter.

"He is the master of us all", was Joseph Haydn's verdict on George Frideric Handel in 1791. And without question, the magic opera Alcina is one of his most masterful scores. After Ariodante, it is his second opera for the newly built Covent Garden Theatre - and is geared towards the sensationalism of the London audience. However, it is not just the stage effects that make this work so special: Handel wrote music that is rich in color and draws differentiated characters that go well beyond the usual framework of baroque opera seria and its character typology. This is precisely where director Johanna Wehner comes in: She sees Alcina not merely as a ruler and sorceress, but also as human, fallible, offended; in a constant compulsion to live up to a reputation. A woman who has to function but longs for true love - and is constantly hurt and disappointed. And so for Wehner, one question in particular takes center stage: How much do I have to be in order to be enough?

Directing team

Johanna Wehner is a graduate of the drama and opera directing course at the Theaterakademie August Everding, winner of the "Faust" prize and has been nominated several times by the magazine Theater heute as best up-and-coming director. Her work is characterized by the creation of atmospherically dark and idiosyncratically bizarre world designs. Alcina is her first production at the Bayerische Staatsoper. At her side are set designer Benjamin Schönecker and costume designer Ellen Hofmann, who have worked closely with Wehner for many years. Stefano Montanari, who was most recently the musical director of La Fille du régiment, will be responsible for the musical direction. As a former successful baroque violinist, whose core repertoire as a conductor is the operas of the 17th and 18th centuries, he is a master of the art.

Production team

Musical direction: Stefano Montanari

Production: Johanna Wehner

Stage: Benjamin Schönecker

Costumes: Ellen Hofmann

Lighting: Matthias Singer

Dramaturgy: Saskia Kruse

Bavarian State Orchestra

Price information:

Price varies depending on seat category: Prices PB , € 132 /104 /76 /42 /32