Organization

Admin

Conductor

Conductor (+7)

Christophe Rousset

Stage director

Countertenor (+7)

Max Emanuel Cencic

Set designer

Costume designer (+1)

Giorgina Germanou

Costume designer

Assistant Stage Director

Stage director (+1)

Konstantina Psoma

Orchestra

Les Talens Lyriques

Bayreuth Baroque Opera Festival

Soprano

Jasmin Delfs

Ifigenia

Agamennone

Countertenor (+5)

Nicolò Balducci

Ulisse

Mezzo-soprano (+3)

Mary-Ellen Nesi

Clitennestra

Countertenor

Mayaan Licht

Achille

Baritone (+5)

Riccardo Novaro

Calcante

Markgräfliches Opernhaus

Lighting designer

Lighting designer (+3)

Romain de Lagarde

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.

Cast