Music by Agostino Steffani (1653–1728)
Libretto by Luigi Orlandi,
after Ovid's Metamorphoses
"Jaroussky [sang] with style, conviction, and at its more intimate moments a poignant sweetness of tone"
–The Boston Globe
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this extraordinary production!
Watch a behind-the-scenes preview video
Take an INSIDE LOOK at the production
Join the Boston Early Music Festival
in June for the North American premiere of
Agostino Steffani’s Niobe, Regina di Tebe (Niobe,
Queen of Thebes)—an operatic masterpiece first
performed as the opening spectacle at the 1688
Carnival in Munich. Steffani was a force in shaping
the operatic culture of Germany, and had an
enormous influence on the music of Handel. Steffani’s gorgeous music will immerse the
listener in a magical drama of soaring triumphs and
searing tragedy.
Niobe recounts the story of the Queen of Thebes, one of the most tragic figures in Greek mythology,
who ruled over the city of Thebes with her husband
Anfione. Niobe’s immense pride earns her family the
merciless wrath of the gods. With elegant costumes,
breathtaking sets, and Baroque flying machines, this
heart-wrenching story will come alive in a dazzling
spectacle for both eye and ear.
This stunning production will feature a BEMF
audience favorite, soprano Amanda Forsythe, in the
title role, and the sensational French countertenor,
Philippe Jaroussky, who received Europe’s prestigious
2008 Echo Award for Best Singer of the Year, as King
Anfione. They head a cast of leading international
opera singers, who perform alongside the thirty
virtuosos who comprise our three-time Grammy nominated
BEMF Orchestra, a colorful ensemble of
Baroque dancers, a gifted children’s troupe, and
many others.
Read a synopsis by Gilbert Blin and Ellen Hargis
Download the Niobe, Regina di Tebe libretto |
Paul O’Dette &
Stephen Stubbs,
Musical Directors
Gilbert Blin, Stage Director
Caroline Copeland &
Carlos Fittante, Choreographers
Anna Watkins, Costume Designer
Gilbert Blin, Set Designer
Lenore Doxsee,
Lighting Designer
Kathleen Fay, Executive Producer
Abbie H. Katz, Associate Producer
Ellen Hargis, Assistant Stage Director
Flying effects provided by ZFX, Inc.
CAST
Amanda Forsythe, Niobe
Philippe Jaroussky, Anfione
Yulia Van Doren, Manto
Charles Robert Stephens, Tiresia
Kevin D. Skelton, Clearte
Matthew White, Creonte
Jesse Blumberg, Poliferno
Colin Balzer, Tiberino
Jose Lemos, Nerea
BEMF Orchestra
Cynthia Roberts, Concertmaster
Robert Mealy, Miloš Valent, Peter Spissky,
Dagmar Valentová, Julie Andrijeski,
Cynthia Miller Freivogel, Daniel Elyar
& Johanna Novom, violin
Pat Jordan, Laura Jeppesen & David Douglass, viola
Phoebe Carrai, David Morris, Sarah Freiberg
& Brent Wissick, basse de violon
Robert Nairn, double bass
Gonzalo X. Ruiz & Kathryn Montoya, oboe & recorder
Mathieu Lussier, bassoon
John Thiessen, Alexander Bonus, Brian Shaw
& Kris Kwapis, trumpet
Ben Harms, percussion
Paul O’Dette & Stephen Stubbs,
theorbo & Baroque guitar
Maxine Eilander, Baroque harp
Luca Guglielmi, harpsichord
Erin Headley, viola da gamba
Off-stage Viol Consort, Christel Thielmann, director
Caitlin Cribbs, Rachael Ryan & Beiliang Zhu
BEMF Dance Ensemble
Melinda Sullivan, Ballet Mistress
Caroline Copeland, Carlos Fittante & Karin Modigh,
featured dancers
Olsi Gjeci, Andrew Trego & Scott Weber, dancers
BEMF
Young Artists Training Program
Hernan Berisso
Julia Cavallaro
Abigail Renée Krawson
Sean Lair
Alexander Nishibun
Brendan Quinn
Jay Lloyd Smith
Megan Stapleton
PALS Children's Chorus
Alysoun Kegel, Artistic Director
Jill Carrier, Executive Director
Carolina Bragg
Samuel Greene
Kevin Liao
Jerilyn McLean
Emy Metzger
Frederick Metzger
Max Morganstern
Felicia Rosen
Julia Shneyderman
Elias Sink
Eric Traub
Javier Werner
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Production Credits
Mercedes Roman-Manson, Production Manager
Darren Brannon, Production Stage Manager
Gordon Manson, Technical Director
Arunas Ciuberkis, Company Manager
Justin Paice, Master Electrician
Rebecca Hylton, Costume Shop Supervisor
Seth Bodie, Wig Supervisor
Chelsea Basler, Makeup Supervisor
Ron Demarco, Props Master
James McCartney, Sound Designer
Maria van Kalken, Assistant to the Executive Producer
Laudon Schuett, Assistant to the Musical Directors
and the BEMF Orchestra
Rémy-Michel Trotier, Artistic Assistant to the Set Designer
Camille Tanguy, Research Assistant to the Stage Director
Julie Streeter, Assistant Production Manager
Leslie Chiu, Assistant to the Associate Producer
Leslie Sears, Assistant Stage Manager
Alycia Marucci, Assistant Stage Manager
James Garner, Assistant Technical Director
Jen Bertha, Assistant Master Electrician
Ellen Hargis, Supertitle Creator
Dan McGaha, Supertitle Supervisor
Gina Rhodes, Stitcher
Janet Meyers, Costume Crafts
Mary Lauve, Dresser
Katherine “Kat” Nakaji, Stage Run Crew
Zak Fayssoux, Stage Run Crew
Daniel Alaimo, Stage Run Crew
William Delorm, Stage Run Crew
Ryan Began, Intern, Assistant to the Stage Director
Caitlin Klinger, Intern, Assistant to the Choreographers
Lorraine Fitzmaurice, Intern, Assistant Company Manager
Sarah Hager, Intern, Assistant Company Manager
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