Coronation of Poppea

libretto by Giovanni Francesco Busenello

Sung in Italian with English surtitles.

Thurs 30 November 7pm | Sat 2 December 2pm | Sun 3 December 5pm | Tues 5 December 7pm | Wed 6 December 7pm 2017

City Recital Hall Sydney

Monteverdi's Coronation of Poppea

Celebrating 450 years since the birth of Monteverdi, Pinchgut Opera performed one of the greatest operas of all time, Coronation of Poppea.

Coronation of Poppea charts the consuming erotic obsession of the Emperor Nero for the beautiful Poppea Sabina. Ruthlessly sweeping aside anyone who stands in the way of their union - including Nero's wife Octavia and the poet and philosopher Seneca - Nero and Poppea triumph over all their opponents and rejoice in one of the most sensuous and exquisitely beautiful duets, "Pur ti miro".

REVIEWS

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ARTIST INFORMATION

Helen Sherman     Poppea
Jake Arditti   Nero
Natalie Christie Peluso   Ottavia, Drusilla
Roberta Diamond Amore
Owen Willetts   Ottone
Kanen Breen     Arnalta
Adam Player       Soldato I, Famigliari II
Jacob Lawrence     Soldato II, Liberto, Console
David Greco   Seneca
Jeremy Kleeman Famigliari III,  Tribuno
Troy Honeysett Actor
Govinda Röser Actor

Orchestra of the Antipodes

Erin Helyard Conductor
Mark Gaal Director
Charles Davis Designer
Ross Graham Lighting Designer
Troy Honeysett Assistant Director

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Monteverdi

Claudio Giovanni Antonio Monteverdi was born in Cremona in 1567. He was the son of a doctor and the eldest of five children. Not much is known about his youth. Claudio and his brother studied music with a Marc Antonio Ingegneri who was the cathedral composer, though there is no evidence that either sang in the choir.

Monteverdi was a prodigy, publishing his first work, Cantiunculae sacrae, a volume of sacred songs, as a 15 year-old. His second book was published the following year and in 1584 his third book was published by the Venetian house which would become his main publisher, Vincenti & Amadino. Three years later, aged 19, he published his First Book of Madrigals.