Above: love triumphant as Euridice (Joyce Yin) and Orfeo (Aumna Iqbal) are reunited, to the delight of the nymphs. Photo by Travis Magee from a studio rehearsal of the Cantanti Project's production of Caccini's EURIDICE
~ Author: Oberon
Friday February 16th, 2018 - This evening, photographer Travis Magee and I stopped in at a rehearsal for the Cantanti Project's upcoming performances of Giulio Caccini's EURIDICE.
The earliest opera for which a complete score survives, this work is being presented by the singer-driven ensemble of the Cantanti Project on February
Conducted by Dylan Sauerwald, with musicians from Dorian Baroque, the production is directed by Bea (Brittány) Goodwin, with costumes by Alexandria Hoffman. The singers are Michael Celentano, Tom Corbeil, Lydia Dahling, Daniela DiPasquale, Brittany Fowler, Marques Hollie, Aumna Iqbal, Fiona Gillespie Jackson, Elyse Anne Kakacek, Laura Mitchell, Joyce Yin, and Sara Lin Yoder.
In Caccini's setting of the immortal myth of the singer Orfeo, the hero descends to the underworld and pleads with Pluto for the return of his beloved Euridice, who has perished after having been bitten by a snake. Pluto's wife, Prosperina, takes Orfeo's side and persuades her husband to restore Euridice to life. Unlike the Gluck opera, where Orfeo fails to obey the command not to look at Euridice until they have left the realm of the dead - with dire consequences - in the Caccini setting the lovers return safely to their friends for a happy ending.
The Muse of Tragedy (Fiona Gillespie Jackson) sings the Prologue
Euridice (Joyce Yin) receives flowers from her friends
Nymph and shepherd (above, Lydia Dahling and Marques Hollie)
Orfeo (Aumna Iqbal) on the lookout for his beloved Euridice, who has wandered off
Daphne (Elyse Kakacek) reveals the sad news of Euridice's death
The nymphs lament the fate of Euridice
Sara Lin Yoder and Tom Corbeil
Fiona Gillespie Jackson
Daniela DiPasquale and Elyse Kakacek
Arcetro (Laura Mitchell) urges Orfeo to pursue Euridice in the underworld
Elyse Kakacek and Brittany Fowler encourage Orfeo (Aumma Iqbal)
Brittany Fowler
Orfeo's resolve (Aumna Iqbal)
Supplication: Orfeo (Ms. Iqbal) implores Prosperina (Lydia Dahling), Pluto (Tom Corbeil), and Charon (Michael Celentano) to return Euridice to him
Pluto (Tom Corbeil) accedes to Orfeo's pleas
Euridice (Joyce Yin) lives again
Amyntas (Marques Hollie) assures the nymphs and shepherds that Euridice will soon be back among them
Her friends await Euridice's return: Lydia Dahling, Tom Corbeil, Brittany Fowler, Sara Lin Yoder
Sisterhood: Lydia Dahling, Elyse Kakacek, Brittany Fowler, Fiona Gillespie Jackson, Daniela DiPasquale, and Laura Mitchell
The opera's happy end: Aumna Iqbal and Joyce Yin
All photography by Travis Magee.
~ Oberon