Handel's Almira
June 9 to 16, 2013
Cutler Majestic Theatre at Emerson College, Boston, MA
June 21 to 23, 2013
Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington, MA
The Boston Early Music Festival has announced plans for the 2013 Festival fully-staged Operatic Centerpiece Almira, the first opera by the celebrated and beloved Baroque composer, George Frideric Handel (1685–1759), in its first modern-day historically-conceived production. Written when he was only 19, Almira tells a story of intrigue and romance in the court of the Queen of Castile, in a dazzling parade of entertainment and delight which Handel would often borrow from during his later career.
Leading the BEMF Almira production will be: three-time Grammy-nominated Artistic Co-Directors Paul O’Dette and Stephen Stubbs (USA); Stage Director and Set Designer Gilbert Blin (France); Costume Designer Anna Watkins (United Kingdom); Choreographers Caroline Copeland and Carlos Fittante (USA); and Lighting Designer Lenore Doxsee (USA). Past collaborations by members of this artistic team have earned unprecedented critical acclaim, with the 2011 BEMF opera Niobe, Regina di Tebe by Steffani heralded as “the opera production I’ve been waiting for” (The Boston Phoenix) and “breathtakingly beautiful and dramatically compelling” (City Journal), and the 2009 sold-out run of Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea declared “a magnificent, illuminating production” (The New York Times) and “theatrically vibrant and musically superb” (The Boston Globe).
Starring in the title role of Almira and making her BEMF début, will be soprano Veronica Cangemi. The Argentinean singer began her musical career as the principal 'cellist of her hometown symphony before winning Argentina’s National Singing Competition and the Francisco Vinas Contest in Barcelona. Praised for her “meltingly pure and lovely tone” (The Telegraph), Ms. Cangemi has enjoyed a busy career earning acclaim in some of the world’s finest opera houses. Her extensive discography includes two Diapason d’Or of the Year award-winning recordings.
In addition to Ms. Cangemi, BEMF has assembled another extraordinary and international cast of eight vocalists, including two beloved BEMF artists in back-by-popular demand performances. American soprano Amanda Forsythe will perform the role of the princess Edilia. Among her many appearances in BEMF operas, Ms. Forsythe performed the title role in BEMF’s 2011 production of Steffani’s Niobe, Regina di Tebe, and was praised by the New York Times for using “her shapely soprano to superb effect.” Playing the role of the mysterious orphan Fernando will be tenor Colin Balzer of Canada. Mr. Balzer was also most recently featured in Niobe, Regina di Tebe, earning acclaim from Cleveland Classical for his “stellar” performance. Completing the cast, will be: Christian Immler (Germany) as Consalvo; Zachary Wilder (USA) as Osman; Tyler Duncan (Canada) as Raymondo; Ulrike Hofbauer (Germany) as Bellante; and long-time BEMF favorite Jason McStoots (USA) as Tabarco.
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