L’Egisto

Opera by Cavalli Italian with surtitles. New edition commissioned by HGO. HGO Baroque Orchestra fully staged.

DATES

4-13 JUN 2021

VENUE

Click image to download the flipbook programme, which can also be printed. If you choose to download, please make a donation to help support HGO. Thank you.

DONATE TO HGO

The lovers Egisto (a descendant of Apollo) and Clori were abducted by pirates in Delos; Clori was sold in Zakynthos, where the pirates also captured Climene, on the day of her wedding to Lidio. A year later, Egisto and Climene escape to Zakynthos, to find Clori in love with Lidio and also courted by Climene’s brother Hipparco.

In the course of 24 hours, dismay, remorse, plans of revenge, madness, and the quarrels and interference of the gods, lead to reconciliation and a happy ending.

Once again HGO brought opera back to London in the time of COVID with a specially-commissioned new edition of Francesco Cavalli’s musical fable L’Egisto, fully-staged with baroque orchestra. The production won glowing reviews and has been nominated for an OFFIE (Off West-End) Award.

CAST

Egisto

Kieran White

4, 6, 10, 12 June

Martins Smaukstelis

5, 9, 11, 13 June

Climene

Helen May

4, 6, 10, 12 June

Astrid Joos

5, 9, 11, 13 June

Lidio

Eric Schlossberg

4, 6, 10, 12 June

Alex Pullinger

5, 9, 11, 13 June

Clori

Shafali Jalota

4, 6, 10, 12 June

Caroline Taylor

5, 9, 11, 13 June

Hipparco

Thomas Kelly

4, 6, 10, 12 June

John Holland-Avery

5, 9, 11, 13 June

Amore

Stephanie Hershaw

4, 6, 10, 12 June

Helen Lacey

5, 9, 11, 13 June

Semele/Bellezza
/Hora Seconda

Rachel Allen

4, 6, 10, 12 June

Charity Mapletoft

5, 9, 11, 13 June

Venere/Fedra
/Hora Quarta

Ana Fernandez

4, 6, 10, 12 June

Olivia Carrell

5, 9, 11, 13 June

Dema

Anna-Luise Wagner

4, 6, 10, 12 June

Emily Kyte

5, 9, 11, 13 June

Volupia/Didone
/Hora Terza

Emily Noon

4, 6, 10, 12 June

Helen Daniels

5, 9, 11, 13 June

La Notte/Apollo
/Hora Prima

Flavio Lauria

4, 6, 10, 12 June

Laurence Gillians

5, 9, 11, 13 June

PRODUCTION

Production and Music Director

Marcio da Silva

Assistant Music Director

Sebastian Gillot

Assistant Production Director

Madeline de Berrie

Stage Designer

Christian Hey

Stage Manager

Ben Riedel

REVIEWS

Superb voices and terrific performances keep the magic simmering

Broadway World UK

The singers excelled, showing considerable stage gifts too. Martins Smaukstelis was first among equals as Egisto, wounded, external heroism and inward anguish expressed by all manner of subtle gradations. Astrid Joos as Climene and Caroline Taylor as Clori offered complement and contrast in their soprano roles, expression lying very much within the precision of their performances. Helen Lacey’s Amore schemed and sulked by turn, vocally and visually……. a small yet colourful band furnished a crucial harmonic backdrop of imagination, against which the human voice could be heard and human gesture seen.

Seen and Heard International

A talented orchestra and some outstanding voices…I encourage you to see this production.

The Spy in the Stalls

**** A compelling production of Cavalli’s opera that brings contemporary style and insight to baroque conventions

The Stage

***** A rare gem polished to a brilliant shine – congratulations to HGO

Plays to See

A triumph on many levels

Planet Hugill