Action-packed Vivaldi opera gets Irish premiere in Galway
Arts Week with Judy Murphy
Vivaldi's Griselda, an opera of passion, intrigue, and betrayal that premiered in Venice in 1735, will receive its Irish debut at the city’s Town Hall Theatre this Saturday night, October 12. The production, by Irish National Opera, has a cast of six singers and will feature live music on period instruments performed by the 12-strong Irish Baroque Orchestra.
It’s directed by Tom Creed, who describes it as “an intriguing, sexy political thriller with extraordinary music”.
With a libretto by Carlo Goldoni – based on a traditional story from the 14th century Decameron written by Giovanni Boccaccio – Griselda is set in Thessaly in North East Greece.
Thessaly served as an imaginary location “just far enough away to allow them to say things about their own society,” says Tom with a laugh.
Gualtiero, played by tenor Jorge Navarro Colorado, is king of this imaginary place and Griselda, played by mezzo-soprano Katie Bray, is his queen. However, their subjects are not happy. That may be due to the King’s misrule but he decides that it’s because Griselda is from a lower social class and he’ll solve his problems by setting her aside.
He divorces her and marries someone he deems more suitable. That sets in train a series of events that unfold throughout the opera – and which involve a lot of suffering for Griselda. Ultimately, by putting her through these torments which she bears with fortitude, Gualtiero demonstrates to his subjects that Griselda is worthy of being queen, Tom explains.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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