Organization

Singer

Nathalie Colas

Soloist

Hannah De Priest

Quinn Middleman

Michelle Mariposa

Justin Berkowitz

Michael St Peter

Schyler Vargas

Dorian McCall

Stage director

Sarah Edgar

Set designer

Wendy Waszut-Barrett

Costume designer

Stephanie Cluggish

Lighting designer

Brian Schneider

Conductor

Craig Trompeter

Sophie Michaux

Alcina

Scott Brunscheen

Ruggiero

Lindsay Metzger

Melissa

Haymarket Opera Company

La liberazione di Ruggiero dall'isola d'Alcina -  (The Liberation of Ruggiero from the Island of Alcina)

Chicago

United States

Sasha and Eugene Jarvis Opera Hall (DePaul University)

La liberazione di Ruggiero dall'isola d'Alcina Caccini,F

Public

Private

The Liberation of Ruggiero from the Island of Alcina

Approved

Haymarket champions Francesca Caccini’s only surviving opera, La liberazione di Ruggiero dall’isola d’Alcina, in a spellbinding period production featuring a cast of virtuosi, a colorful orchestra of period instruments, and sets and costumes to conjure up an evil sorceress’s enchanted island. Peer beyond the palms to discover the beautiful, seductive, and evil sorceress Alcina!

Mezzo-soprano Sophie Michaux and tenor Scott Bruncheen portray the deceptive enchantress Alcina and the captive knight Ruggiero who is imprisoned on Alcina’s magical island. Mezzo-soprano Lindsay Metzger joins as Melissa, the good sorceress disguised as a wise old man who awakens Ruggiero from Alcina’s spell. A troupe of eight soloists portray the gods, nymphs, monsters, shepherds, damsels, courtiers, and enchanted plants that populate the bewitched island. The ensemble features Nathalie Colas, Hannah De Priest, Quinn Middleman, Michelle Mariposa, Justin Berkowitz, Michael St. Peter, Schyler Vargas, and Dorian McCall. 

Haymarket and the Newberry Consort will offer a mini-festival of 17th-century music by female composers this fall; Haymarket’s production of Caccini’s La liberazione di Ruggiero dall’isola d’Alcina (Sept. 29-Oct. 1) and the Newberry Consort’s program In the Castle of the Moon (Sept. 22-24), featuring the music of Sophie Elisabeth, Duchess of Brunswick-Lüneburg.

The same team that brought you Haymarket’s acclaimed production of Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea returns, promising another “vivid” (Opera News) production led by director Sarah Edgar, with set designer Wendy Waszut-Barrett, costume designer Stephanie Cluggish, wig and make up designer Megan Pirtle, lighting designer Brian Schneider, and creative producer Chase Hopkins. 

Hear Caccini’s virtuosic score played by an orchestra of 17th-century period instruments led from the keyboard by Haymarket Artistic Director Craig Trompeter, with an expanded basso continuo team including renowned lutenist Lucas Harris. Newberry Consort Artistic Director Liza Malamut joins the ensemble, leading a quartet of sackbuts (early trombones).

English

The Liberation of Ruggiero from the Island of Alcina by Caccini, From (2023/2023), Directed by Sarah Edgar,, Conductor Craig Trompeter, Sasha and Eugene Jarvis Opera Hall (DePaul University), Chicago, United States

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Crew

Program, About & Synopsis

Photos

Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues

Venues