CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI L’ INCORONAZIONE DI POPPEA

Sonya Yoncheva • Kate Lindsey • Stéphanie d’Oustrac • Carlo Vistoli Les Arts Florissants conducted by William Christie Staged and choreographed by Jan Lauwers CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI L’ INCORONAZIONE DI POPPEA Conductor William Christie Orchestra Les Arts Florissants Stage Director, Set Designer & Choreographer Jan Lauwers In his very first opera staging, renowned choreographer Jan Lauwers shines Poppea Sonya Yoncheva new light on Claudio Monteverdi’s innovative opera L’incoronazione di Poppea Nerone Kate Lindsey (The Coronation of Poppea) at the Salzburg Festival: With striking imagery created by the dance virtuosos of SEAD Salzburg Experimental Academy Ottavia Stéphanie d’Oustrac of Dance and the BODHI PROJECT, his ‘Gesamtkunstwerk’ captures the Ottone Carlo Vistoli dizzying power games between Poppea and Nerone, superbly performed by Seneca Renato Dolcini Sonya Yoncheva and Kate Lindsey. At the helm of the excellent ensemble Les Virtù / Drusilla Ana Quintans Arts Florissants, William Christie proves once again that he is “the noblest, Nutrice / Famigliare I Marcel Beekman most subtle, most delicate of all experts of early music” (Merkur). Arnalta Dominique Visse Monteverdi’s tale of Poppea’s incoronation is a tale of power, lust and cruelty. Amore / Valletto Lea Desandre Poppea stops at nothing to ascend to the throne and become the wife of Fortuna / Damigella Tamara Banjesevic Emperor Nerone. Sonya Yoncheva portrays her with the utmost sensuality. Kate Pallade / Venere Claire Debono Lindsey gives her debut as Nerone not as a breeches role; instead her Nerone is Lucano / Soldato I / a seduced empress, driven by power. When the fervour of Yoncheva’s soprano Tribuno / Famigliare II Alessandro Fisher mixes with the expressively nuanced mezzo-soprano of Lindsey in the final love duet, the two superb singers demonstrate that it is “one of the most tender Liberto / Soldato II / Tribuno David Webb duets in opera history and of infinite magic” Süddeutsche( Zeitung). William Littore / Console I / Famigliare III Padraic Rowan Christie and the musicians of Les Arts Florissants, who are placed elevated on Mercurio / Console II Virgile Ancely either side of the catwalk dominating the stage and interact with the singers, are Solo Dancer Sarah Lutz (Needcompany) active participants in this visually compelling staging. Lauwers uses live videos Dancers BODHI PROJECT to show close-ups of Poppea and Nerone and scenes happening backstage. SEAD Salzburg Experimental On stage the unusually shaped costumes and creative headpieces, created by Academy of Dance Lemm&Barkey, are real eye-catchers. While the opera’s protagonists enthuse about love or are almost eaten away by jealousy, the dancers of SEAD and the BODHI PROJECT whirl across the stage. Full of ecstasy and emphasis, they symbolize all the emotions of Nero, Poppea and Co. As their doppelgangers they create with their expressive dances gorgeously presented tableaux vivants and human sculptures. The cast is simply “superb” (Financial Times). Stéphanie d’Oustrac impresses Length: approx. 195' as the spurned and raging empress Ottavia. Carlo Vistoli gives with virtuosic Cat. no. A 040 50103 coloraturas an intense performance as Ottone, who is smitten with Poppea and banished after her attempted murder. While Renato Dolcini is a tender Seneca, A co-production of CLC Productions/Tangaro and UNITEL who is forced to commit suicide, Marcel Beekman and Dominique Visse wow with the participation of medici.tv in cooperation the audience in the roles of the nurses as gifted comedians. with Salzburg Festival and with support from CNC “Amazing images” (Der Standard) “Lauwers does not care about interpretation in the conventional sense. That […] makes [his work] great.” (Süddeutsche Zeitung)

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