Spain Francesco Corselli, Achille in Sciro: Teatro Real Chorus, Orquesta Barroca de Sevilla / Ivor Bolton (conductor). Teatro Real, Madrid, 17.2.2023. (JMI)
Production:
Director – Mariame Clément
Sets and Costumes – Julia Hansen
Lighting – Ulrik Gad
Choreography – Mathieu Guilhaumon
Cast:
Achille – Gabriel Díaz
Deidamia – Francesca Aspromonte
Teagene – Sabina Puértolas
Ulisse – Tim Mead
Licomede – Mirco Palazzi
Nearco – Juan Sancho
Arcade – Krystian Adam
This operatic rarity had been programmed three years in the past by Teatro Real, nevertheless it was delayed by the Covid pandemic. Written by Italian composer Francesco Corselli, on the time Master of the Royal Chapel of Madrid, it was first carried out right here in 1744. The restoration of this forgotten work is because of Madrid’s Complutense Institute of Musical Sciences.
The opera is predicated on a textual content by Pietro Metastasio, which offers with the lifetime of the younger Achilles on an island the place he has been despatched by his mom to keep away from the Trojan War. It just isn’t, nonetheless, the one opera with this title, since there have been a number of that adopted the Metastasio textual content. The first of them was put to music by Antonio Caldara and was placed on in 1736 on the Vienna Imperial Court Theater. More operas adopted with the identical topic and title, such because the composition by Domenico Sarro for Naples in 1737.
Dressed as a girl named Pirra, Achilles enters the circle of Deidamia, the daughter of King Licomede. They fall in love, though Achilles continues to go as a girl with different individuals. The arrival of Ulysses on the island, in search of Achilles for the Trojan War, signifies that Achilles finally ends up betting on glory greater than love and follows his warlike future.
Teatro Real has staged a brand new manufacturing (in affiliation with Theater an der Wien) with route by Mariame Clément. There is mainly one set with a rocky area by way of which the characters and the refrain transfer. Some steel statues are added on the finish of Act I, and in Act II there are interiors created with curtains that cowl the rocks. The inhabitants of the island are all the time wearing white, whereas Ulysses and the Greeks are in black; Achilles modifications his costume in Act II when he decides to observe Ulysses. The stage route narrates the plot properly however isn’t exceptional – it’s a manufacturing that neither excites nor bothers you.
Ivor Bolton, the musical director of Teatro Real, supplied a strong studying and took care of the singers. This is an opera that may get boring with no good conductor, and we had one right here, as on a number of earlier events when Bolton has carried out Baroque operas. The Baroque Orchestra of Seville did properly, as did the Chorus of the Teatro Real.
Countertenor Franco Fagioli had been scheduled to sing Achilles however, sadly, needed to cancel attributable to sickness. The opera was already in rehearsal, which may have been an enormous downside, and Gabriel Díaz took over the position. This was my first time seeing him, and he made a really constructive impression. His voice is wider than is common for countertenors and lacks delicacy at occasions, however he is a wonderful performer each vocally and on stage. He was an excellent substitute and solved a problematic cancellation which may have ruined the efficiency.
His beloved Deidamia was sung by soprano Francesca Aspromonte, who gave a wonderful efficiency. She has a lovely voice, properly managed and straightforward on the high, though her coloratura just isn’t sensational and that is extremely important in these operas.
Sabina Puértolas as Teagene, Deidamia’s suitor, was excellent, with an interesting voice and distinctive vocal agility, which is tremendously demanded by her arias. The greatest ovations have been for her, particularly after her aria in Act I.
Ulisse was sung by countertenor Tim Mead, who has a well-managed voice and is an effective actor. Bass Mirco Palazzi made a satisfying King Licomede although his voice is considerably restricted in quantity and falls brief at each ends of the vary. Juan Sancho did properly as Nearco, and the identical might be mentioned of Arcade, Ulisse’s accomplice, performed by tenor Krystian Adam.
José M. Irurzun