Organization

Conductor

Oliver John Ruthven

Richard Hetherington

Singer

Soprano

Paul Bork

Xerxes

Bass

Chris Webb

Elviro

James Schouten

Jean-Max Lattemann

Cathy Bell

Arsamene

Oskar McCarthy

Corinne Hart

Romilda

Rosie Rowell

Atalanta

Orchestra

Musica Poetica London

Xerxes Händel

Public

Approved

Accordionist

Instrumentalist

Archlutenist

Baroque Flutist

Baroque Oboist

Baroque Trumpetist

Bassist

Bassoonist

Cellist

Clarinetist

Contrabassist

Cornettist

Flutist

Guitarist

Harper

Harpsichordist

Hornist

Lutenist

Mandoline Player

Musette de cour Player

Oboist

Organist

Percussionist

Pianist

Recorder Player

Saxophonist

Tenor Violinist

Timpani

Trombonist

Trumpeter

Tuba Player

Vibraphonist

Viola Pomposa Player

Viola da gamba

Viola d’amore Player

Violinist

Violino Piccolo Player

Violist

Actor

Broadcasting

Chefdirigent Musiktheater

Choir

Choreographer

Chorus Director

Chorus master

Composer

Costume designer

Dancer

Dramaturge

Executive producer

Extra

Hairstylist

Illustrator

Librettist

Lighting designer

Makeup artist

Orchestra Operations

Other

Photographer

Poet

Repetiteur

Set designer

Sound designer

Stage Manager

Stage director

Teacher

Translator

Video designer

Vocal coach

Wig & Makeup Designer

Writer

Writing and performance

Tenor

Countertenor

Contralto

Baritone

Mezzo-soprano

Bass-baritone

Alto

Child vocalist

Continuo

Silent

Spoken

A new production of Handel’s Xerxes in the English version of Nicholas Hytner. The Music Director will be Richard Hetherington who this season will conduct La Traviata at the Royal Opera House.

Composed and first performed at the King’s Theatre, London, in 1738, Handel’s comic masterpiece Xerxes was one of his last operas, and very different to previous works. Anxious to provide a new style of entertainment, he discarded many of the rigid rules and long-winded nature of the Italian Opera to create a more fluid and dramatic form of entertainment. Though notionally about Xerxes, the Persian King who invaded Greece in 580 BE, it is not so much a historical work, but a love story and a comedy, focusing on the rivalry between Xerxes and his brother Arsamenes for the love of Romilda, daughter of the Persian Army Commander. HGO’s Principal Music Director, Oliver-John Ruthven, describes Handel’s Xerxes as “a superb example of music theatre, in which we find a wealth of beauty, profundity, and comedy.” Within the opera we hear one of Handel’s best-loved tunes (often known as Handel’s Largo) and an abundance of other beautiful music. We will be using the Nicholas Hytner translation from his highly acclaimed ENO Production.

 

This will be the first time that Richard Hetherington has conducted a production at HGO, and he will be conducting period ensemble Musica Poetica London from the harpsichord. Richard is currently a member of the music staff at the ROH, and will be conducting The Royal Opera’s La traviata in June. This will also be the first HGO production to be staged by Australian director, Andrew Davidson.

 

Andrew Davidson observes, “the libretto of Xerxes in the form adopted by Handel is a lesson in love, loyalty, and justice from one of the world’s great operatic wordsmiths. It celebrates the human capacity for the sensual, the scientific, the silly, and the sublime.”

 

Andrew sees the King’s brother Arsamenes as the key character: “It can be tough living in the shadow of a big brother. It’s even tougher when your big brother is a king who acts like a kid. Spending a fortune on insane building projects, or cultivating a bizarre infatuation with a plant, you can deal with. But when he steals your beloved on your wedding day, it’s time to take action. Thus the true hero Arsamenes embarks on a battle of hearts in the corridors of power. Little does Xerxes know that his own fiancée is headed into town to tame this whiz kid run wild. Will she pull rank; reshuffle the cards and claim Xerxes for herself? Or will the dark clouds of tyranny extinguish the light?   The resolution is not obvious.”

English

Xerxes by Händel, -tól (2015/2015), Karmester Oliver John Ruthven, Richard Hetherington

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