Name: Polifemo
Start: 2013-02-22T00:00:00.000Z
End: 2013-02-22T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Theater an der Wien

Organization

Countertenor

Franco Fagioli

Xavier Sabata

Ulisse

Bass-baritone

Christian Senn

Polifemo

Soprano

Laura Aikin

Galatea

Netta Or

Nerea

Mezzo-soprano

Hilke Andersen

Calipso

Conductor

Rubén Dubrovsky

MusikTheater an der Wien

Polifemo -  (Polyphemus)

Vienna

Austria

Theater an der Wien

Polyphemus

Approved

Nicola Porpora was the leading Italian singing teacher of the 18th century and the composer of more than 60 operas. He trained the two legendary castrati, Carlo Boschi, called Farinelli, and Gaetano Majorano, called Caffarelli, who are still known today. In 1733 Porpora became artistic director of the Opera of the Nobility in London and thus entered into direct competition with the opera company of George Frideric Handel. Porpora relied entirely on the virtuosity of the singers in his operas and in his second season he managed to bring his former pupil, the famous Farinelli, to London.
Punctually at the beginning of the year on January 1st, 1735, the Pastorale Polifemo becamepremiered at the King's Theater based on the libretto by Paolo Antonio Rolli with the famous castrati Senesino (Francesco Bernardi) and Farinelli as well as the soprano Francesca Cuzzoni. Polifemo links the heroic story of Odysseus with Ovid's metamorphosis of Acis and Galatea . The English royal family also attended the premiere, and the London Daily Post reported that it was "the fullest house of the season". Despite artistic success, mutual competition and courting for expensive singers drove both rival opera companies to ruin after four seasons. Nicola Porpora left London, was not accepted in Vienna and returned to his hometown of Naples.

English

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast