George Friedrich Handel ARMINIO
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Season 2015/16 + Season 2016/17 George Friedrich Handel ARMINIO Neuerscheinung bei Decca im Frühling 2015 ARMINIO PARNASSUS ARTS PRODUCTIONS George Friedrich Handel ARMINIO unequalled track record in Handelian opera seria, as witnessed by their multiply-award-winning staging and recording of Alessandro (from 2012 to date). The story of Arminio is based on the infamous defeat at the Battle of Teutoburg Forest (AD9), of three Roman legions under their General Publius Quintilius Varus at the hands of the barbarian prince Hermann/Arminius, commanding an alliance of seven Germanic tribes. Called the “Clades Variana” (the Varian disaster) in Roman sources, this catastrophe ended forever the Empire’s dream of dominating any large territory beyond the River Rhine. It is typical of the attitudes of opera seria librettists to history that these events, and Varus’ subsequent death, are only referred to in a few lines of recitative at the opera’s dénouement. Instead, the author of the libretto, Antonio Salvi, takes the main characters’ names and weaves Described by one contemporary around them a powerfully-conflicted plot commentator as “a miracle”, and another of love and jealousy, duty, deception and as “in every respect excellent & vastly attempted suicide, in which Arminio is a pleasing”, Arminio strangely received only long-suffering hero defeated and captured six performances between 12 January by the Romans, whose leader, Varo, lusts and 12 February 1737 at London’s Covent after his wife. The text that Handel set is Garden, and was never staged again for much-revised, reducing especially Salvi’s almost two hundred years. Also unfairly recitative (over 1300 lines, cut to little more neglected in more recent times, it is ripe than 300: this may well have been done for for reappraisal and a new representation the sake of Handel’s London audience, few for today’s audiences. A heroic story, of whom understood Italian). The original based on historical events occurring version was popular with other well- on the Germanic fringes of the Roman known composers, including Caldara and Empire, it is now being revived in a new Galuppi, and was twice set by Handel’s and ravishing production by Parnassus great contemporary, Johann Adolf Hasse. Arts under their artistic director Max Emanuel Cencic: a combination with an 2 ARMINIO PARNASSUS ARTS PRODUCTIONS The greatest stars of Handel’s operas were of Handel throughout the 1730s. She sang castrati, such as the famous contralto thirteen opera premieres for him, as well Senesino, his lead singer for seventeen of as eleven revivals. Though no beauty his earlier stage works. In 1733 he finally (her most common nickname was “the deserted Handel for a rival company, and Pig”), she was a fine artist of considerable so the composer hired other singers as his emotional and vocal range. Handel primi uomini, none of whom stayed with supposedly regarded her as “a singer him for more than a couple of seasons. formed by himself, and modelled on his Considering the notorious rivalries own melodies. She came hither a coarse between singers, castrati especially, and aukward [sic] singer with improvable which were perhaps even more prevalent talents, and he at last polished her into in the eighteenth century than they are reputation and favour “. The typically today, Arminio is rather unusual, in that it smaller role of the Roman commander could be said to have two parts for “first Varo saw the third appearance in a man”: the title role, written for the high Handel opera by the great English tenor alto Domenico Annibali, certainly has John Beard, who didn’t wholly escape the larger amount to sing, but the first a critical mauling, being described by performer of the role of Sigismondo, the Lord Shaftesbury as “absolutely good soprano castrato Domenico Conti, called for nothing.” Handel clearly disagreed: Gizziello, was probably the more famous Beard went on to sing in another seven singer at the time, as well as being the of his operas, and in almost every one of only male soprano (rather than mezzo or his English oratorios. He later, and with contralto) for whom Handel wrote roles in much scandal, married into the English London. Conti, however, was a famously aristocracy, and at length himself became modest person, which probably facilitated proprietor of Covent Garden Theatre, the Handel’s solving of this problem of singer very place where Arminio, and so many of protocol. Annibali, for long in the service Handel’s operas, were first performed. of the Electors of Hannover at Dresden (thus, amongst many other claims to fame, becoming the only castrato modelled in porcelain by the famous Meissen factory), was described by a friend of Handel as having “the best part of Senesino‘s voice and Caristini‘s, [another of Handel’s stars] with a prodigious fine taste and good action.” Conti was a more typically itinerant singer, achieving fame throughout Italy, in Vienna ,and Lisbon. Handel was said to consider him “a rising genius”, but he was self-effacing almost to a fault. Once he fainted on hearing the great Farinelli sing, saying that he could never himself perform thereafter. According to the music historian Charles Burney, after surviving the disastrous Lisbon earthquake of 1755, Conti “was impressed with such a religious turn by the tremendous calamity, that he retreated to a monastery, where he ended his days” (this may be more legendary than factual, but makes for a good story …). The lead soprano role of Tusnelda was taken by a woman of sterner stuff, the famous soprano Anna Maria Strada del Pò, who was a stalwart musical servant Arminio 3 ARMINIO PARNASSUS ARTS PRODUCTIONS ARMINIO Synopsis Catone, a Roman senator, his daughter and demands that Cesare renounce Marzia, and his ally Arbace, King of the his dictatorial power. Cesare refuses: Numidians, bemoan the fate of Rome this means war. Catone, concerned for under the yoke of Cesare. Catone wishes Marzia’s safety, bids her leave the city by Marzia to marry Arbace, but the latter a secret passage to the sea. Arbace enters. knows that Marzia secretly loves Cesare. Knowing that soon he and Catone must Cesare and his ally Fulvio meet Catone go into battle, as a sign of fidelity he offers at the gates of the city and offer him his hand to Marzia again, but she rejects peace and friendship, but Emilia, widow him angrily, and admits that Cesare is her of Pompeo, bids Catone him avenge her true love. Catone calls down curses upon husband’s death. She also enlists the help her. Marzia turns on Arbace and Emilia, of Fulvio, who loves her, against Cesare. asking if they are now satisfied to see her wretched. Emilia can barely believe Cesare next reassures Marzia of his what has happened, and Arbace is left in feelings of esteem and friendship towards despair. her father. Catone returns and wishes to take his daughter to marry Arbace, who, While preparing to leave Utica, Cesare is however, asks to delay the wedding – informed by Fulvio that armed followers Catone departs in dismay. Emilia enters, of Emilia are lying in wait to kill him, but and after much discussion, blames that one faithful to Catone will lead him Cesare for the uncertainty. Marzia is left to safety towards the sea by a secret way. to contemplate her feelings. Marzia is amazed to find Cesare in the city – her feelings towards him are confused. Because of his wavering over the marriage Cesare is now approached by Arbace, to Marzia, Catone doubts Arbace’s fidelity whom he does not know – on recognising to him also. Fulvio arrives, bringing a him, their feelings of rivalry are overcome proposal from the Senate and people by concern for Marzia’s safety. of Rome for reconciliation with Cesare. Catone bids him return to his master, In the underground passage, Marzia whom he spurns utterly. Marzia and seeks to escape, but finds the way shut: Arbace quarrel, and Cesare is amazed at Emilia has had this done in order to trap Catone’s pride. Fulvio now enters with Cesare and murder him. Brought this way the news that Catone, influenced by the by a deceitful follower of Catone, Cesare citizens of Utica, has changed his mind, confronts Emilia, but suddenly Marzia though his assent was bitter. Emilia and reveals herself. Catone enters with his he dissemble with one another – he falsely sword drawn, and seeing Cesare and promises to kill Cesare. Marzia, thinks they wish to flee together; he threatens them. Fulvio arrives with Marzia hopes against hope that her father more soldiers and announces that Utica and her lover can be reconciled, but when is about to fall to Cesare’s forces. they actually meet, Catone is resolute 4 ARMINIO PARNASSUS ARTS PRODUCTIONS In the city Fulvio encounters Arbace and tells him that Cesare only wants his friendship, but Arbace retorts that nothing is left for him but to die by the sword. Emilia arrives and tells them that Catone has stabbed himself. He now enters with Marzia, who, goaded by his spurning of her, asks her father’s pardon, promising to obey his desire that she should marry Arbace and reject Cesare. With a final embrace he bids her farewell. At the last moment Cesare enters but Catone dies cursing him, and Cesare’s triumph is confounded. Julius Caesar Statue of Arminio (Hermannsdenkmal) in Teutoburger Wald 5 ARMINIO PARNASSUS ARTS PRODUCTIONS Cast Max Emanuel Cencic (Arminio) Layla Claire (Tusnelda) Sandrine Piau (Tusnelda) Ruxandra Donose (Ramise) Vince Yi (Sigismondo) Juan Sancho (Varo) Owen Willets (Tullio) Xavier Sabata (Tullio) 6 ARMINIO PARNASSUS ARTS PRODUCTIONS