La liberazione di ruggiero dall'Isola d'Alcina

This "balletto in musica”, part opera, part ballet, based on the Cantos VI to VIII of Orlando furioso by Ariosto is not only the first opera ever composed by a woman, but it was also one of the first to be performed outside Italy - specifically in Poland – after its premiere at the court of the Medici.  The libretto demands a sumptuous number of theatrical effects –hippogryphs, a boat woven of whale bones, a winged sea monster and a ballet on horseback – which include a wide variety of ritornelli, balletti, choruses and trios of female voices, in the manner of the famous concerti delle donne (consort of ladies) of the damsels of Ferrara.

A key name in the birth of the opera genre, she participated at the age of only thirteen in the premiere of Euridice by Peri, the earliest opera for which the music has been conserved. Caccini also played the part of the sorceress Alcina in the Florence premiere of her opera, a proof of her multiple talents. With this, she initiated the illustrious roster of operas – by Rossi, Lully, Händel, Vivaldi and Haydn, among many others– based on the inspiring work by Ariosto, which defines one of the guiding themes of this season.

Commedia in musica in a prologue and four scenes

Music by Francesca Caccini (1587-ca 1641)

Premiere at Villa Poggia Imperiale in Florencia on 3 February 1625

Premiere at the Teatro Real 

New production of the Teatro Real, in co-production with Teatros del Canal

Artistic team

Musical conductor: Aarón Zapico

Stage direction: Blanca Li

Cast

Melissa: Vivica Genaux

Alcina: Lidia Vinyes-Curtis

Siren/Messenger/A Lady formerly Enchanted: Jone Martínez

Ruggiero: Alberto Robert

Nettuno / Astolfo/ Shepherd in Love: Francisco Fernández-Rueda

Forma Antiqva

Soloists of the Orchestra of the Teatro Real