BEMF Recordings
Gaupner's Antiochus und Stratonica
BEMF has released the world-premiere recording of Christoph Graupner’s Antiochus und Stratonica! This heart-wrenching 1708 opera recounts the tale of Syrian prince Antiochus, who falls hopelessly in love with his beautiful new stepmother, Stratonica. The modern premiere of this stunning opera was to be the centerpiece of the 2009 Festival before the 2008 global financial crisis necessitated a change of plans. Our recording was completed in January 2020 in Bremen, Germany, mere weeks before coronavirus dramatically changed our lives and our artistic operations, but with the music making and the travelling completed, the global pandemic could not stop us from sharing this gorgeous music with you.
This world-premiere recording stars BEMF favorite baritone Christian Immler as Antiochus and soprano Hana Blazíková as Stratonica, in her BEMF Opera début. A dazzling cast featuring Sunhae Im, Harry van der Kamp, Sherezade Panthaki, Aaron Sheehan, Jesse Blumberg, and Jan Kobow round out the production. GRAMMY-winners Paul O'Dette and Stephen Stubbs lead the company, including the 32-member BEMF Orchestra under the direction of concertmaster Robert Mealy, and members of Bremen's own Capella Ansgarii. BEMF Opera Director Gilbert Blin served as Drama Coach for the recording, with BEMF Executive Director Kathleen Fay as Executive Producer.
Photo: Rolf Schoellkopf
"Even by the BEMF’s own high standards, this is nothing short of revelatory both in terms of its superb musicianship and its advocacy of hitherto neglected yet enormously enjoyable repertoire."
"Antiochus is a role that demands a singer who can engage and create empathy despite the dubious causes of his predicament. In this Christian Immler succeeds triumphantly, consistently not only seducing the listener with the beautiful, velvety timbre of his baritone but touching the heart in a manner not fully deserved by his character,"