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The Making Of Artaserse

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– By Lankin –

Artaserse - Leonardo Vinci - Nancy, 02. Nov. 2012

I’m sure you know that feeling - when you’ve seen a movie, and watch the making-of, the point of view gets tilted. All the actions, the plot, the intensity, can now be watched from an outsider’s point of view. The illusion crumbles; it’s not real, it’s just actors, playing their roles.

Why do we love making-ofs? (Well most of us do.) It must be the change of perspective, and also the promise to see the actors as human beings - to see them differently, and to see more of them than they would actually show if they stayed in character. ...
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A Lovely Mess – “Niobe, Regina di Tebe”

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How do you prefer Mr. Jaroussky - as "an enlightened demi-god," an "enraged, jealous husband," or rather as "a bellicose warrior-king?"

Whatever your preference, Agostino Steffani's "Niobe, Regina di Tebe" is the opera for you. (For me? Yes please, all of the above!)

The livestream is up! You can listen to last year's production of "Niobe, Regina di Tebe" in full length. http://www.wgbh.org/articles/Boston-Early-Music-Festival-Niobe-Regina-di-Tebe-7099 ...
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Lovers, I can tell you …

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"Le Tourbillon des Sentiments" - 24 June 2012, Baden-Baden Festspielhaus – by Lankin – The pieces from the programme “Le Tourbillon des Sentiments” may have been written in the 17th century; however, Marie-Nicole Lemieux & Philippe Jaroussky, supported by the 'Ensemble Artaserse', made them seem brand new. After all, love as a topic has never become out-dated. “Amanti, io vi so dire” - “Lovers, I can tell you … “ could as well have been the title of the programme. In depth, we have been lectured that night on the topic of love by the utter experts, as we came to realize. From the first flame of lovesickness to Hekuba mourning her husband's death, almost every flavour and shade of love was present. (No shades of grey though, as we are happy to report.) ...
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Artaserse, Prince of Persia

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It's only a few months now until the premiere of "Artaserse." I thought I would just collect a few links that could be helpful to skim through, to get into the spirit; of course I'm happy if anyone can amend the collection. – by Lankin –

The Opera

There are many operas called "Artaserse" using the same libretto,  Pietro Metastasio's. Leonardo Vinci's "Artaserse" was the first, composed for the audience in Rome, in 1730. Hasse came shortly after, as well in 1730; he composed his one for the audience of Venice. The story is based on the historic figure of Artaxerses I, who succeeded his father Xerxes on the throne of Persia in 465 BC. ...