BEMF Opera | 1985 Centerpiece Opera
Handel’s Teseo
May 30, 31, June 1, 3, and 4, 1985
Boston College Theatre Arts Center, Chestnut Hill, MA
The revival of Teseo, one of Handel’s five “magic” operas, shows Baroque opera at its finest. The music is splendid, designed to follow up the success of Rinaldo. The tone is heroic and the visual effects spectacular. This exciting production, the first modern performance of the entire opera, brings into play all the intricacies of Baroque stage-craft. The plot revolves around Medea’s jealous love for Theseus, who in turn is in love with the princess Agilea. As Medea grows increasingly violent, she uses her magic powers to distract Theseus, conjuring up flying clouds, enchanted islands, ghosts, and monsters. The extraordinarily elaborate sets, all carefully based on historical originals, were designed by Scott Blake and built at the Edison Theater, Washington University, St. Louis.
Directors
Nicholas McGegan, Musical and Stage Director
Scott W. Blake, Scenic Designer
Kevin J. Flynn, Lighting Designer
Bonnie J. Cutter, Costume Designer
Carol Pharo, Choreographer
Artists
Judith Nelson, Agilea
Christine Armistead, Clizia
Drew Minter, Arcane
Steven Rickards, Egeo
Nancy Armstrong, Medea
Sharon Baker, Fedra
Randall Wong, Teseo
Gale Ormiston, Horrid Monster
Nicholas Solomon, A Priest of Minerva
William Hite, William Cotton, John Clarke & Donald Wilkinson, Chorus of Athenians
Dancers
Carol Pharo, S. C. Liu & Susanna Lembeck, Spirits and Furies; Alyssa Calorio, Page
Boston Early Music Festival Orchestra
Daniel Stepner, concertmaster; John Gibbons, harpsichord; Myron Lutzke, continuo violoncello; Stephen Hammer, principal oboist