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FULL ORONTEA (Cesti) Sydney 2022 Anna Dowsley, Jonathan Abernethy, Sofia Troncoso
Information on the Performance
- Work Title: Orontea
- Composer: Cesti Antonio
- Libretto: Giacinto Andrea Cicognini (revised by Giovanni Filippo Apolloni). Libretto Text, Libretto Index
- Venue & Opera Company: City Recital Hall, Sydney City, Australia
- Recorded: May 2022
- Type: Staged Opera Live
- Singers: Anna Dowsley, Jonathan Abernethy, Sofia Troncoso, Douglas Kelly, David Greco, Roberta Diamond, Andrew O'Connor, Louis Hurley, Allie Graham, Ryan Smith, Heath Keating
- Conductor: Erin Helyard
- Orchestra: Orchestra of the Antipodes
- Stage Director: Constantine Costi
- Stage Designer: Jeremy Allen
- Costume Designer: Sabina Myers
- Lighting Designer: Damien Cooper
Information about the Recording
- Published by: Pinchgut Opera
- Date Published: 2021
- Format: Streaming
- Quality Video: 4 Audio:4
- Subtitles: yessubs, ensubs
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE
An opera set in a heightened contemporary world somewhere between Egypt and Las Vegas, Orontea by Cesti is a guaranteed, pleasure-filled romp.
Despite renouncing love, Queen Orontea finds herself falling for a handsome refugee artist, Alidoro, only to discover that she has most of the women in her court as rivals. Add to the mix her moralistic councillor Creonte, the scheming courtesan Silandra, and the maidservant Giacinta, who disguises herself as a boy – only to accidentally inspire the affections of Alidoro’s lascivious mother, Aristea.
Orontea features an artfully assembled cast led by stunning soprano Anna Dowsley – star of the film A Delicate Fire – together with Pinchgut fan-favourites David Greco, Dominica Matthews and Andrew O’Connor. New Zealand tenor Jonathan Abernathy joins American soprano Sofia Troncoso in their Pinchgut opera debuts.
Musical heir to Monteverdi and a younger contemporary of Cavalli, Cesti was one of the most popular composers of the 17th century. When it premiered in 1656, Orontea immediately captured the public’s attention through its brilliant and skilful combination of poetry and music.