Admin

Organization

International Theater Amsterdam (Stadsschouwburg)

Tenor

Paride Cataldo

Gabriele D'Annunzio

Soprano

Verity Wingate

Luisa Casati

Mezzo-soprano (+4)

Polly Leech

Romaine Brooks

Baritone (+2)

Martin Mkhize

Garbi

Countertenor (+4)

Cameron Shahbazi

Sergei Diaghilev

Tenor (+2)

Lucas van Lierop

Man Ray

Bass-baritone (+3)

Frederik Bergman

Jacob Epstein

Baritone (+3)

Dominic Kraemer

Kees van Dongen

Bass-baritone (+4)

Sam Carl

Filippo Marinetti

Conductor

Geoffrey Paterson

Stage director

Marcel Sijm

Set designer

Marcel Warning

Costume designer

Jan Taminiau

Lighting designer

Lighting designer (+2)

Alex Brok

Dramaturge

Dramaturge (+2)

Klaus Bertisch

Dutch National Opera & Ballet

Orchestra

Amsterdam Sinfonietta

Ritratto

Amsterdam

Netherlands

TEAM
Musical Director: Geoffrey Paterson
Stage Director: Marcel Sijm
Libretto: Frank Siera
Set Designer: Marc Warning
Costume Designer: Jan Taminiau
Lighting Designer: Alex Brok
Dramaturgy: Klaus Bertisch
Choreography: Zino Ainsly Schat

CAST
Luisa C.S. di Soncino: Verity Wingate - De Nationale Opera Studio
Romaine Brooks: Polly Leech - De Nationale Opera Studio
Gabriele D’Annunzio: Paride Cataldo - De Nationale Opera Studio
Garbi: Martin Mkhize - De Nationale Opera Studio
Sergei Diaghilev: Cameron Shahbazi - De Nationale Opera Studio
Man Ray: Lucas van Lierop - De Nationale Opera Studio
Jacob Epstein: Frederik Bergman - De Nationale Opera Studio
Kees van Dongen: Dominic Kraemer
Filippo Marinetti: Sam Carl - De Nationale Opera Studio

choir
Sopraan: Silvia Brizuela Meza, Stephanie Desjardins, Irene Hoogveld
Alt: Cameron Shahbazi, Joël Vuik, Maria Warenberg
Tenor: Lucas van Lierop, Zachery Vandermeulen, Milan de Korte
Bas: Frederik Bergman, Dominic Kraemer, Sam Carl

Orchestra
Amsterdam Sinfonietta

RITRATTO
Ritratto - the Italian word for 'portrait' is the title of a new opera by Willem Jeths, first Nederlandse Componist des Vaderlands (2014-2016), who was fascinated by a painting depicting Luisa Casati.

LUISA CASATI
The young orphaned and married, excessively wealthy Italian Marquesa Casati strove to be seen throughout her life. She was famous for the exuberant parties she organized. She allowed herself to be portrayed or photographed by numerous artists. With her black-rimmed eyes, her flaming red hair and eccentric behaviour she tried to gain a place in the art world.

Against the background of the war, librettist Frank Siera questions the importance of art. At a feast of Casati, Siera brings together all sorts of artists from the time of Casati. At the time, it was the Futurists who paved the way for fascism with their art. Casati does not engage with secular problems and focuses on her passion. In opera she goes even further than in real life; by not seeing, she tries to be seen herself.

Ritratto Jeths

Staged

Opera

Approved

Ritratto, Jeths

Leikarar