The world has changed radically in the past 300 years, but the pleasure that people feel when they watch others making fools of themselves, tormenting one another, suffering, has probably remained the same. So one could be reminded of a kind of jungle camp setting with George Frideric Handel’s dramma per musica “Flavio, Re de’ Longobardi”, which premiered in London in 1723, was quite a stage hit, but then somehow fell into oblivion over the centuries.
That this satirical intrigue at the court of the Lombard king is now in the fourth edition of “Bayreuth Baroque” comes to the stage of the Margravial Opera House, thanks to festival director Max Emanuel Cenčić. The countertenor will not only direct, but also sing along himself. He also cast character actors in Venice, whom he wants to use parallel to the operatic events.
The Bayreuth pearl fishers and diamond cutters of baroque musical art also have plenty of exquisite and unexpected items in their display for the festival, which takes place from September 7th to 17th. For the first time, two scenic opera productions are being performed at the same time, in addition to “Flavio” by Claudio Monteverdi’s “L’Orfeo”. It is less the casting of the title role with tenor Rolando Villazón that makes one sit up and take notice than the thing with Orfeo’s head.
The 1607 work can be seen in a version by Thanos Papakonstantinou and Markellos Chryssicos, which premiered in Athens in 2017. The two Greeks go back to the origins of the Orpheus story, but at the same time translate it into the 21st century. No happy ending in heaven for Orfeo, here he is torn to pieces by the vengeful maenads at a bacchanalia, and his head lands singing in the Aegean Sea.
In Bayreuth, soloists like countertenor Valer Sabadus have the opportunity to dig through archives for their programs and even surprise musicologists.
(Photo: Schneiderphotography)
In addition to the two operas, “Bayreuth Baroque” once again lures with a series of special soloist concerts, with world firsts from the music archives: countertenor Valer Sabadus, for example, dedicates himself to the largely forgotten stage works of Carl Heinrich Graun, tenor and composer Daniel Behle has also done music arachology for his program and Mozart’s contemporaries unearthed. Anyone who appreciates special voices can also look forward to Bruno de Sá, Reginald Mobley, Véronique Gens or Julia Lezhneva. The resident orchestra this year is the Concerto Köln. Tickets are still available for all performances and the supporting programme.
Bayreuth Baroque, Sep. 7-17, Margravial Opera House Bayreuth and other locations. Info and tickets below www.bayreuthbaroque.de