Orfeo by Monteverdi, From (2020/2020), Directed by Monique Wagemakers, Conductor Hernán Schvartzman, Wilminktheater, Enschede, Netherlands

In the 2019-2020 season OPERA2DAY teamed up with the Nederlandse Reisopera and Studio Drift to produce Claudio Monteverdi's l’Orfeo. Hernán Schvartzman, OPERA2DAY's musical leader, conducted the performance and, together with Mike Fentross, he assembled the orchestra of La Sfera Armoniosa. The musicians used period instruments. Monique Wagemakers was responsible for the direction of this opera about Orpheus, who descends into the underworld to bring his beloved Euridice back to the living world. The motif is familiar to OPERA2DAY; fseveral years ago we used the story of Orpheus and Euridice for our opera La troupe d’Orphée. Design and installation are by Lonneke Gordijn (Studio Drift) and the choreography is by Nanine Linning. The opera is about human mortality and the eternal life of art. The work opens with a prologue in which La Musica lauds the exceptional power of her form of art. Monteverdi emphasises this with the appearance of Apollo in the final act. The opera shows that music is the pre-eminent art form to touch our hearts and is capable of giving mortals like us joy or comfort in times of distress. Press quotes: "Stunning in every aspect" l'Orfeo received rave reviews. In our quotes, we mainly cite those about the musical contribution, the role of musical director Hernán Schvartzman (OPERA2DAY) and La Sfera Armoniosa, the baroque ensemble he assembled. The gist of the reviews was nicely described by Theaterkrant: 'In the direction of Monique Wagemakers, Monteverdi's opera from 1607 became a 'total work of art' [...] It is as if the orchestra in the pit and the dancing canvas Ego high above the stage are one breathing organism, just splendid.' NRC newspaper: 'Conductor Hernán Schvartzman leads La Sfera Armoniosa with a sense of subtlety. […] In this way the musical approach connects with the theatrical approach.' Volkskrant newspaper wrote: 'The velvety sound of La Sfera Armoniosa conducted by Hernán Schvartzman coloured the entire opera beautifully.' Newspaper Trouw: 'The singers are great, as are the dancers and the musicians. In the pit, the 40 musicians of La Sfera Armoniosa led by Hernán Schvartzman provide the ultimate accompaniment.' Opus Klassiek wrote: 'this opera is a perfect collaboration of all involved.' And the Cultuurpers statet that 'this magnificent performance deserves to go on an international tour'. The international platform Bachtrack was lyrical: ‘The instrumentalists of La Sfera Armoniosa added magic from the pit, displaying a wide array of colours. […] Period strings emitted a warm glow, clarions and cornetts snorted audaciously, theorbos throbbed under the precise baton of Hernán Schvartzman.' As was Arts Talk Magazine: 'The orchestra pit was a veritable cabinet de curiosités full of magic and wondrous instruments including antique brass trumpets and trombones, four ancient keyboards including organs, violas da gamba and three citterns which hovered like hungry cranes (the bird) waiting to swoop onto the choice notes as they swam past.'