Opera McGill: La liberazione di Ruggiero

The first opera written by a female composer, or at least the oldest that has survived the ages, Francesca Caccini's "La liberazione di Ruggiero dall'isola d'Alcina" is based on a passage from Ludovico Ariosto's fantasy verse novel titled "Orlando Furioso." Caccini's opera changes the book's original story to expand the importance of women in the tale. In Opera McGill's unique rendition, the story from Alcina's enchanted island has been moved to a grand mansion full of magic and mysteries, complete with former lovers being trapped in picture frames hanging on the walls.

Opera McGill with the McGill Baroque Orchestra (Hank Knox, music director)
Patrick Hansen, Artistic Director, Opera McGill
Stephen Hargreaves, Principal Coach
Jessica Derventzis, Stage Director

Partial Cast:
Alcina - Laura Fishman
Melissa - Jenny Ivanovna
Ruggiero - Yanik Gosselin
Nettuno - Guillaume Beaudoin
Vistola fiume - Peter Koniers
Sirena - Christine Jay
Nunzia - Vidita Kanniks
Pastore - Alexander Cappellazzo

La liberazione di Ruggiero dall’isola d’Alcina is presented by special arrangement with Prima la musica! Works by Barabara Strozzi presented with permission from Cor Donato Editions.

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The Schulich School of Music of McGill University is located in downtown Montreal, one of Canada's most vibrant and international cities. We're home to a diverse community of performers, composers, music theorists, musicologists, educators, scientists and engineers. We offer more than 45 undergraduate, graduate and professional programs and present hundreds of public events each year.

[marcomicheletti]

9:26, Così perfida Alcina
11:41, coro damigelle, Qui si puo dire
12:14, Potente Alcina
18:09, Quando amor, Damigella 2
20:55, Aure volanti
25:58, Coro Sirene
27:20, Chi desia
49:11,
58:42,
59:55, qui lasciai la mia vita
1:23:05, O miseri mortali
1:25:44, Versate, occhi

[sharonkaczorowski]

My grandson, a music major, just told me about her…what a gift he gave me!

[tonielarkinbear]

this is a fantastic opera! I can't believe it isn't performed more. And what a beautiful production!

[magibert]

I'm amazed that such masterpiece isn't more known by music lovers.

[Sarihwaa]

I learned this Opera from LA OPERA class...today

[Svatopluk]

Doesn't look like early seventeenth-century Florence to me.