La Resurrezione
The Resurrection
An oratorio in two parts by George Frideric Handel
June 14, 2024 | Gannon Concert Hall
La Résurrection by Andrea Mantegna (1457-1459)
“Haymarket Opera triumphed with [an] exciting account of Handel’s “Resurrezione!”
Chicago Classical Review
“This is a great part of what makes Haymarket such a Chicago treasure: Whether it’s one performance or a run, the endeavor is always serious musically, artistically, creatively.”
Chicago On the Aisle
Haymarket’s “Strongest Handelian foray”
Chicago Classical Review
“As the two female followers of Jesus, soprano Hannah De Priest’s Mary Magdalene and mezzo-soprano Quinn Middleman’s Mary Cleophas presented striking vocal contrasts and thus clear identities, the former bright and buoyant and the latter exuding a dusky, voluptuous texture”
Chicago On the Aisle
“Brailey sang with great warmth and displayed the polished agility fundamental to negotiating any major vocal assignment in Handel.”
Chicago On the Aisle
“Artistic director Craig Trompeter and friends brought an exciting, scrupulously musical account of the master’s sacred oratorio La Resurrezione”
Chicago Classical Review
“A top-flight American vocal ensemble was led by the accomplished British early-music specialist Christian Curnyn, in his welcome return to the city.”
Chicago Classical Review
“Sarah Brailey and Jonathan Woody threw themselves fearlessly into their sparring”
Chicago Classical Review
“It was hard to imagine anyone delivering a more deeply affecting account of her taxing role than what De Priest offered on this occasion”
Chicago Classical Review
“Scott Brunsheen was even more impressive here than in previous Haymarket outings as he dispensed the Evangelist’s wisdom and comfort with Handelian authority.”
Chicago Classical Review
“Bass-baritone Jonathan Woody’s dark sound – all char and hot cinder – wreathed Lucifer in a mildly amusing aura of evil.”
Chicago on the Aisle
“In keeping with the quasi-operatic nature of La Resurrezione and the circumstances of the original performances, the ornate projection designs created by Camilla Tassi, based on paintings of the Italian Renaissance, lent authentic flavor to the presentation.”
Chicago Classical Review
“It was a single performance, commonly called a one-off, and also likely once in a lifetime”
Chicago On the Aisle
Photo: Elliot Mandel
Vocal fireworks combine with religious fervor in a heroic showdown between Heaven and Hell
Performance:
June 14, 2024 at 7:30pm
Pre-performance lecture: Presented by Jesse Rosenberg at 6:45pm
Performance runtime: 2 hours and 30 minutes, including one 20-minute intermission
Gannon Concert Hall
Holtschneider Performance Center at DePaul University
2330 N. Halsted Ave., Chicago, IL 60614
Haymarket Opera Company presents George Frideric Handel’s spectacular oratorio La Resurrezione with early music specialist Christian Curnyn conducting the acclaimed Haymarket Opera Orchestra and a star-studded cast of early music specialists. Vocal fireworks combine with religious fervor in a heroic showdown between Heaven and Hell in a score that demands breathtaking vocal and instrumental virtuosity.
Christian Curnyn, conductor
Christian Curnyn, joining Haymarket to conduct its acclaimed orchestra of 18th-century period instruments, is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading conductors specializing in the Baroque and Classical repertoire. Curnyn’s Haymarket engagement follows his Metropolitan Opera debut conducting Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice. The BBC Music Magazine praised his conducting as “a performance that leaves you savoring every note…and then some!”
Chicago’s virtuosa Rachel Barton Pine joins as guest concertmaster to perform the work’s demanding violin solos and Haymarket founder Craig Trompeter plays the ornate viola da gamba solos. A star-studded cast is led by Grammy Award-winning soprano Sarah Brailey portraying Handel’s warrior Angel opposite Jonathan Woody in his Haymarket debut as the fallen angel Lucifer. With “a voice that is theater itself” (Classique News), soprano Hannah De Priest portrays the ever-faithful Mary Magdalene. Scott J. Brunscheen brings his “sweet lyric tenor” (Chicago Tribune) to the eloquent lines of Saint John the Evangelist, and mezzo-soprano Quinn Middleman returns to Haymarket with her “dramatic nuance” (Musical America) as the virtuous Mary Cleophas. Projection designer Camilla Tassi makes her Haymarket debut with lavish projections inspired by eye-witness accounts of the work’s 1708 premiere performances.
The Triumph of the Name of Jesus by Giovanni Battista Gaulli, also known as Baciccio (1676-79)
Chicago’s virtuosa Rachel Barton Pine joins the acclaimed Haymarket Opera Orchestra as guest concertmaster to perform the work’s demanding violin solos, originally performed by baroque music icon Arcangelo Corelli. Haymarket Founder and Artistic Director Craig Trompeter plays the ornate viola da gamba solos.
Synopsis: Heaven’s Angel arrives at the gates of Limbo, proclaiming Christ’s imminent victory. The proud fallen angel Lucifer defiantly summons the infernal powers to rally against Christ’s followers. Mary Magdalene and Mary Cleophas mourn Christ’s crucifixion, but Saint John the Evangelist reminds them of the promised resurrection on the third day. The Angel calls forth the souls of the dead and they break into jubilant song. In a final frantic grab for power, Lucifer causes the earth to quake on Easter morning, but the sun rises, signaling the resurrection. Lucifer falls and Heaven triumphs in a blaze of glory!
The Resurrection by Francesco Buoneri, called Cecco del Caravaggio (1619-20)
Check out this important work at Chicago’s world-renowned Art Institute of Chicago.
Francesco Buoneri was one of the closest followers of Caravaggio, the groundbreaking and influential painter of the Italian Baroque period. Buoneri may have assisted and modeled for Caravaggio during the elder painter’s last years in Rome, a personal connection suggested by his contemporary nickname, Cecco (a diminutive of Francesco) del Carravaggio. The Resurrection exaggerates the bold contrast of light and dark and the realistic treatment of sacred figures that were hallmarks of Caravaggio’s revolutionary style.
The only documented painting by Buoneri, this work was commissioned in 1619 by the Tuscan ambassador to Rome, Piero Guicciardini, for his family’s chapel in Florence. For reasons lost to history, the painting was rejected, a not uncommon event in Rome’s rapidly evolving art scene. It was eventually sold to another important collector, Cardinal Scipione Borghese.
The Cast
AN ANGEL
Sarah Brailey
Soprano
LUCIFER
Jonathan Woody
Bass-baritone
MARY MAGDALENE
Hannah De Priest
Soprano
JOHN THE EVANGELIST
Scott J. Brunscheen
Tenor
MARY OF CLEOPHAS
Quinn Middleman
Mezzo-soprano
The Haymarket Opera Orchestra
Christian Curnyn, Conductor
Rachel Barton Pine, Violin I & Concertmaster
Martin Davids, Violin I
Pauline Kempf, Violin I
Jaime Gorgojo, Violin I
Jeri-Lou Zike, Violin II
Wendy Benner, Violin II
Ann Duggan, Violin II
Elizabeth Hagen, Viola
Kiyoe Matsuura, Viola
Craig Trompeter, Cello & Gamba
Anna Steinhoff, Cello
Jerry Fuller, Bass
Brandon Acker, Lute
Andrew Rosenblum, Harpsichord
Kathryn Montoya, Oboe & Recorder
Stephen Bard, Oboe & Recorder
Leighann Daihl, Traverso
Wlliam Buchman, Bassoon
Ryan Berndt, Trumpet
David Kjar, Trumpet
The Fall of the Rebel Angels by Luca Giordano (1660)
Concert Sponsors & Support
Lead Concert Sponsors: Amata Office Suites, Lynn Donaldson and Cameron Avery, Axel Kunzmann and Bruce Nelson, Gregory O'Leary and Patricia Kenney, Lynne and Ralph Schatz, Douglas and Pam Walter, Michael and Jessica Young
Supporting Concert Sponsors: Debra L. Cox, The Patricia P. and Jerome E. Fuller Charitable Fund, David and Beth Hart, Karen Patricia Smith, and Grant Upson
Foundational support comes from: The Paul M. Angell Foundation, Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, The National Endowment for the Arts, The Illinois Arts Council Agency, Helen and Curtis Pinnell Foundation, and the Walder Foundation.
If you are interested in becoming a concert sponsor, please contact general director Chase Hopkins, at chase@haymarketopera.org.
Resurrezione di Cristo by Domenico Ghirlandaio (1490)
If you require access support 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.