June 30, 2024 at the Zdrojowy Theater. There will be a concert at the Henryk Wieniawski University in Szczawno-Zdrój as part of the Summer Encounters with the Baroque series. The Polish Royal Opera invites you to this wonderful musical performance.
Barkowo concerts, photo: Polish Royal Opera
The secret of the sound of the voices of castrati, mutilated in the name of art and subjected to careful education, will remain enchanted in the sonosphere of ancient times, inaccessible to us. However, accounts of extraordinary performers have survived to this day, and above all, the rich baroque works created with them in mind. The astonishing charm of the special timbre of the voices, the power of sound and the technical efficiency of the most outstanding castrati was, among others, Georg Friedrich Haendel, in whose operas they played leading roles. Nicolini, i.e. Nicolò Francesco Leonardo Grimaldi, playing the title role, certainly contributed to the success of Rinaldo, Handel's first opera prepared for the English stage (1711). Admired primarily for his unprecedented acting skills, he delighted the audience once again by playing Amadys of Gaul (Amadigi di Gaula, 1715).
The most famous of the castrati who collaborated with Handel was Senesino, or rather Francesco Bernardi, who in the first half of the 18th century conquered the stages of the most important Italian theaters - including Venice, Bologna, Rome, Ferrara, Florence and Naples. His untamed, difficult character did not prevent him from developing his career abroad. A strong and clear voice, perfect intonation, excellent acting and sublime musical taste delighted the audience in such operas as Giulio Cesare, Rodelinda, Ptomeleus, King of Egypt and Siroe, King of Persia. During the concert, baroque arias full of affects will be interpreted by one of the outstanding countertenors of the young generation - Rafał Tomkiewicz. He will be accompanied by the Early Instruments Ensemble of the Polish Royal Opera, Capella Regia Polona, led by maestro Krzysztof Garstka on the harpsichord.
PROGRAM:
Georg Friedrich Handel
Overture from the opera Giulio Cesare HWV 17
Aria of Julius Caesar Empio, dirò, tu sei from Act I of the opera Giulio Cesare HWV 17
Recitative and aria Amadigi Io ramingo men vado… Sussurrate onde vezzose from the second actopera Amadigi di Gaula HWV 11
Rinaldo Cara's aria from Act I of the opera Rinaldo HWV 7
Overture from the opera Floridante HWV 14
Aria Tolomea Torna sol per un momento from act I of the opera Tolomeo, re d'Egitto HWV 25
Aria Amadigi Vado, corro al mio tesoro from act I of the opera Amadigi di Gaula HWV 11
Julius Caesar's aria Se in fiorito ameno prato from Act II of Giulio Cesare's opera HWV 17
Concerto grosso op. 6 No. 4
Aria and recitative Siroe Son stanco, ingiusti Numi… Deggio morire, o stelle from the third actopera Siroe, re di Persia HWV 24
Aria Bertarida Vivi, tiranno! from Act III of the opera Rodelinda HWV 19
PERFORMERS:
RAFAŁ TOMKIEWICZ COUNTERTENOR
ENSEMBLE OF ANTIQUE INSTRUMENTS OF THE POLISH ROYAL OPERA CAPELLA REGIA POLONA
KRZYSZTOF GARSTKA HARPSISON, CONDUCTOR
source - Polish Royal Opera
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