Organization

Donizetti Opera

Singer

Tenor

Michele Angelini

Egeo

Antonino Siragusa

Giasone

Soprano

Marta Torbidoni

Creusa

Marcello Nardis

Tideo

Carmela Remigio

Medea

Bass

Roberto Lorenzi

Creonte

Caterina Di Tonno

Ismene

Stage director

Francesco Micheli

Conductor

Jonathan Brandani

Lighting designer

Alessandro Andreoli

Costume designer

Giada Masi

Set designer

Edoardo Sanchi

Dramaturge

Davide Pascarella

Chorus master

Fabio Tartari

Assistant Director

Tommaso Franchin

Playwright

Fondazione Teatro Donizetti

Others

Coro Donizetti Opera

Orchestra

Orchestra Donizetti Opera

Assistant Set designer

Chiara Taiocchi

Italian

Medea in Corinto -  (Medea in Corinth)

Bergamo

Italy

Teatro Sociale

ACT I 

The return of the hero Jason is awaited in Corinth, the betrothed of Creusa, daughter of King Creon, already engaged to Aegeus, prince of Athens.  But on the happiness of the woman there is a shadow: the previous bond of Jason with the sorceress Medea, from whom two children were born.  Creon reassures her: Medea will be banished from Corinth.  Jason arrives, celebrated by the people for his military successes.  The agreement with Creon is confirmed: Jason will marry Creusa and Medea will be banished.  In that while, Medea arrives.  Jason first tries to avoid it, but then he cannot escape the confrontation.  Medea accuses him of escaping her as one does an enemy, Jason replies that he does not consider her as such and that he feels sorry for her pain.  But Medea must face her fate and leave Corinth.  Meanwhile, Aegeus also arrives, who learns in dismay that Creusa will not be his wife but decides not to resign himself to fate.  And so, while the marriage of Jason with Creusa is being celebrated in the temple, Medea breaks in, overturning the altar, and at a sign from her the soldiers of Aegean unleash the battle in an attempt to kidnap Creusa.  The curtain falls on the general confusion. 


ACT II 

Creusa has withdrawn from the men of Aegean and thanks those who defended her.  Creon confirms that Jason has conquered Aegean and promises revenge for the Athenian.  As for the fate of Medea, Jason will decide it.  Medea is locked up in a prison: she reveals her unchanged intentions of revenge to her confidante Ismene and then she evokes the fury and the infernal powers.  Creusa exposes to Creon a request from Medea, apparently appeased by her: to be able to see her children for the last time before her exile.  Creon is against it, but then he is convinced by the naive goodness of Creusa, to whom Jason still swears love.  Meanwhile, Aegeus, also imprisoned, sings of his pain and anger at him.  But he hears footsteps.  It is Medea who has come to free him and tell him to leave immediately for Athens: revenge belongs to her alone.  In his apartments in the royal palace, Jason anticipates his next happiness when moans and screams are heard in the distance.  The hero thus becomes aware of the terrible death of Creusa, killed by the poison with which Medea had impregnated her dress.  Jason is so upset that he is contemplating suicide.  Meanwhile Medea entrusts her children to Ismene.  She invites her to escape from her, because Jason is looking for her to take revenge.  The name of the man who abandoned her rekindles Medea's desire for revenge: he will perform it on her children.  While Creon and Jason lament Creusa's death, Aegeus arrives asking for life for Medea.  Then comes herself.  Jason asks her where her children are.  They sleep soundly, she replies showing a bloody dagger.  While a storm breaks out, Egeo sets out towards the sea and Medea disappears on a chariot pulled by two dragons. 


PLOT 

ACT I 

In Corinth people are waiting for Jason, now a hero, to return. He is betrothed to Creusa, daughter of King Creon and already engaged to Aegeus, Prince of Athens. But something overshadows this woman’s happiness: Jason’s previous relationship with the sorceress Medea, from whom he had two children. Creon reassures her: Medea will be banished from Corinth. Jason arrives, hailed by the people for his military achievements. The agreement with Creon will be honoured: Jason will marry Creusa and Medea will be banished. In the meantime, Medea arrives. At first, Jason tries to keep away from her but eventually he is forced to confront her. Medea accuses him of avoiding her as one would an enemy, Jason replies that he does not see her as such and that he feels sorry for her pain. But Medea must face her destiny and leave Corinth. Meanwhile, Aegeus also arrives. He is dismayed to learn that Creusa will not be his wife but decides not to resign himself to his fate. And so, while Jason and Creusa’s wedding is being celebrated in the temple, Medea bursts in, knocking the altar over and, at her signal, Aegeus’ soldiers engage in battle in an attempt to abduct Creusa. The curtain falls on general commotion. 


ACT II 

Creusa has escaped from Aegeus’ men and thanks those who defended her. Creon confirms that Jason has defeated Aegeus and promises he will take revenge on the Athenian Prince. As for the fate of Medea, the decision will be up to Jason. Medea is locked up in a prison: she reveals to her confidante Ismene that her designs of revenge have not changed and then evokes the furies and powers of hell. Creusa presents Creon with a request from Medea, who now seems appeased: to see her children one last time before going into exile. Creon is unwilling to do so, but is persuaded by the naïve goodness of Creusa, to whom Jason swears love again. Meanwhile Aegeus, who was also imprisoned, sings of his grief and anger. But he hears approaching footsteps. It is Medea, who has come to free him and to tell him to leave for Athens at once: vengeance is hers alone. In his apartments in the royal palace, Jason is looking forward to his impending happiness when moans and cries are heard in the distance. The hero thus learns of the terrible death of Creusa, killed by the poison in which Medea had soaked her dress. Jason is so distraught that he thinks about suicide. In the meantime, Medea entrusts her children to Ismene. Ismene invites her to flee because Jason is looking for her to take revenge. The name of the man who abandoned her rekindles Medea’s eagerness for revenge: she will carry it out on her own children. While Creon and Jason lament the death of Creusa, Aegeus arrives and demands for Medea to live. Then she herself arrives. Jason asks her where their children are. They are in a deep sleep, answers she, showing a bloody dagger. As a storm breaks out, Aegeus heads out to sea and Medea vanishes in a chariot pulled by two dragons.

Medea in Corinth by Mayr, From (2021/2021), Directed by Francesco Micheli,, Conductor Jonathan Brandani, Teatro Sociale, Bergamo, Italy

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