La liberazione di Ruggiero dall’isola d’Alcina
(The Liberation of Ruggiero from the Island of Alcina)
An opera by Francesca Caccini
September 29 - October 1, 2023 | Jarvis Opera Hall
Original artwork by Wendy Waszut-Barrett commissioned by Haymarket Opera Company
An epic showdown between good and evil
Haymarket champions Francesca Caccini’s only surviving opera, La liberazione di Ruggiero dall’isola d’Alcina, in a spellbinding period production featuring a cast of virtuosi, a colorful orchestra of period instruments, and sets and costumes to conjure up an evil sorceress’s enchanted island. Peer beyond the palms to discover the beautiful, seductive, and evil sorceress Alcina!
Performances:
September 29-30 at 7:30pm and October 1 at 3pm
Post-performance talk-back: Presented with members of the orchestra immediately following the performance
Performance runtime: 90 minutes with no intermission
Jarvis Opera Hall
Holtschneider Performance Center at DePaul University
800 W. Belden Ave., Chicago, IL 60614
Mezzo-soprano Sophie Michaux and tenor Scott Bruncheen portray the deceptive enchantress Alcina and the captive knight Ruggiero who is imprisoned on Alcina’s magical island. Mezzo-soprano Lindsay Metzger joins as Melissa, the good sorceress disguised as a wise old man who awakens Ruggiero from Alcina’s spell. A troupe of eight soloists portray the gods, nymphs, monsters, shepherds, damsels, courtiers, and enchanted plants that populate the bewitched island. The ensemble features Nathalie Colas, Hannah De Priest, Quinn Middleman, Michelle Mariposa, Justin Berkowitz, Michael St. Peter, Schyler Vargas, and Dorian McCall.
Haymarket and the Newberry Consort will offer a mini-festival of 17th-century music by female composers this fall; Haymarket’s production of Caccini’s La liberazione di Ruggiero dall’isola d’Alcina (Sept. 29-Oct. 1) and the Newberry Consort’s program In the Castle of the Moon (Sept. 22-24), featuring the music of Sophie Elisabeth, Duchess of Brunswick-Lüneburg.
The same team that brought you Haymarket’s acclaimed production of Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea returns, promising another “vivid” (Opera News) production led by director Sarah Edgar, with set designer Wendy Waszut-Barrett, costume designer Stephanie Cluggish, wig and make up designer Megan Pirtle, lighting designer Brian Schneider, and creative producer Chase Hopkins.
Hear Caccini’s virtuosic score played by an orchestra of 17th-century period instruments led from the keyboard by Haymarket Artistic Director Craig Trompeter, with an expanded basso continuo team including renowned lutenist Lucas Harris. Newberry Consort Artistic Director Liza Malamut joins the ensemble, leading a quartet of sackbuts (early trombones).
Purchase Tickets
If you need ticketing assistance, please contact the Holtschneider Performance Center box office by email (musicboxoffice@depaul.edu) or by phone (773-325-5200). The box office is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10-3pm.
Liberazione di Andromeda by Piero di Cosimo (1510)
About the Cast
Sophie Michaux, mezzo-soprano (Alcina)
Praised for her “warm, colorful mezzo” by Opera News, French mezzo-soprano Sophie Michaux’s current season includes engagements with the symphony orchestras of Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco, The Lorelei Ensemble, and Blue Heron. Michaux was praised by the Boston Musical Intelligencer for her “astonishing range and flexibility” in performances with the Boston Early Music Festival.
Scott J. Brunscheen, tenor (Ruggiero)
Scott J. Brunscheen’s “sweet and substantial lyric tenor” (Chicago Tribune) has been widely praised for performances throughout the U.S. in baroque, classical, and contemporary repertoire. His previous performances of Haydn’s L’isola disabitata, Marais’ Ariane et Bacchus, and Cesti’s L’Orontea with Haymarket received praise from Opera News, the Wall Street Journal, and the Chicago Tribune.
Lindsay Metzger, mezzo-soprano (Melissa)
Noted for her “luxuriously-toned mezzo” (Opera News), Lindsay Metzger returns to Haymarket following a triumphant portrayal of Nero in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea as part of the 2022 season.
The Vocal Ensemble
A troupe of soloists portray the gods, nymphs, monsters, shepherds, damsels, courtiers, and enchanted plants who populate the bewitched island.
Nathalie Colas
Soprano
Hannah De Priest
Soprano
Michelle Mariposa
Mezzo-soprano
Quinn Middleman
Mezzo-soprano
Justin Berkowitz
Tenor
Michael St. Peter
Tenor
Schyler Vargas
Baritone
Dorian McCall
Bass-baritone
About the Creative Team
Sarah Edgar
Stage Director
Craig Trompeter
Conductor
Wendy Waszut-Barrett
Set Designer
Stephanie Cluggish
Costume Designer
Megan Pirtle
Wig and Makeup Designer
Brian Schneider
Lighting Designer
Chase Hopkins
Creative Producer
The Instrumental Ensemble
Frederick the Great plays flute in his summer palace Sanssouci, with Franz Benda playing violin, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach accompanying on keyboard, and unidentified string players; painting by Adolph Menzel (1850)
Craig Trompeter, Leader & Harpsichord
Jeri-Lou Zike, Violin
Martin Davids, Violin
Wendy Benner, Violin
Anna Steinhoff, Bass Violin
Lisette Kielson, Recorder
Patrick O'Malley, Recorder
Sally Jackson, Dulcian
Brandon Acker, Theorbo
Lucas Harris, Theorbo
Jason Moy, Harpsichord and Organ
Liza Malamut, Sackbut
Ben David Aronson, Sackbut
Paul von Hoff, Sackbut
Garrett Lahr, Sackbut
Synopsis
Ruggiero arrives on the Island of Alcina by Hyacinthe Collin de Vermont (1740)
Synopsis: The Saracen warrior Ruggiero, betrothed to the Christian maiden Bradamante, is in the clutches of the evil sorceress Alcina. On her magical island, Alcina turns her former lovers into plants and wild beasts when she tires of them. Will her monsters slay Ruggiero or can the good enchantress Melissa save him from this terrible fate?
About the Composer
Portrait of a woman by Palma Vecchio (1518)
Francesca Caccini’s La liberazione di Ruggiero dall’isola d’Alcina is the earliest known opera by a female composer. Born into a prominent musical family, Caccini was famous throughout Europe as a virtuoso singer, lutenist, and poet. She performed in Jacopo Peri’s Euridice in 1600, considered by scholars to be the first opera to premiere in the Pitti Palace, Florence. La liberazione di Ruggiero dall’isola d’Alcina premiered at the Villa Poggio Imperiale, Florence, during Carnival 1625 to mark the visit of Prince Władysław of Poland.
Production Sponsors & Support
Lead Sponsors: Amata Office Suites, Jamerson and Bauwens Electric, Gregory O'Leary and Patricia Kenney, and Lynne and Ralph Schatz
Supporting Sponsors: M. Scott Anderson, Debra L. Cox, Dr. Axel Kunzmann and Bruce Nelson, David J. Rice, Marjorie Stinespring, Pam and Doug Walter, and Michael and Jessica Young
Foundational support comes from: The Paul M. Angell Foundation, the Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation, the Cliff Dwellers Arts Foundation, Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, The National Endowment for the Arts, The Illinois Arts Council Agency, Helen and Curtis Pinnell Foundation, the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, and the Walder Foundation.
We are grateful for the support of these sponsors alongside the support that has come from Haymarket’s wonderful community of donors. Your gifts and contributions have helped make this production possible. Thank you!
If you are interested in becoming a production sponsor, please contact general director Chase Hopkins, at chase@haymarketopera.org.
The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch (1500)
This event is for everyone! If you require access service to fully participate or have any questions about accessibility, please contact us at info@haymarketopera.org. To ensure the best experience, please try to contact us at your earliest convenience.