Ifigenia in Aulide

Nicola Antonio Porpora

On the way to fight in the Trojan War the mighty Agamemnon killed a stag belonging to the goddess of the hunt, Diana. The outraged Diana prevents Agamemnon from journeying further unless he offers his daughter Iphigenia as expiatory sacrifice. Under the pretext of a marriage to the hero Achilles, Iphigenia is enticed to Aulis, to the anguish of her mother Clytemnestra. At the moment of sacrifice, Achilles storms in with raised sword, but divine Diana has the last word…

This opera seria premiered in London in 1735 ensured that the celebrated and notorious star composer Nicola Antonio Porpora would hit the scene as a worthy rival of his colleague George Frideric Handel. With stars like Farinelli as Achille and Senesino as Agamennone he succeeded in bringing out a high point in the history of English opera. He was a feared voice teacher, fully aware of the potential of his star singers and of being able to draw on all their skills to the maximum. The vocal demands are correspondingly exorbitant. Only an exclusive ensemble such as that assembling in Bayreuth in autumn 2024 is capable of instilling new life into this festival of singers. Look forward to a breathtaking opera performance, with artistic director Max Emanuel Cencic showing all the unique and scintillating ideas we have become accustomed to in his productions. And more: he is also taking over the role of Agamennone.


Melodrama in three acts by Nicola Antonio Porpora
Libretto by Paolo Antonio Rolli

In Italian with German and English surtitles
Intermissions after Acts 1 and 2

Margravial Opera House Bayreuth

Photos

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