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Antonio Cesti’s L’Orontea Triumphs at MusikTheater an der Wien

Jan. 30, 2026

With Antonio Cesti’s L’Orontea, MusikTheater an der Wien staged one of the most successful operas of the late 17th century. Conducted by Wolfgang Katschner and directed by Tomo Suago, the premiere of the new production took place on December 2 2025, performed by the lautten compagney Berlin using the Bärenreiter edition edited by Álvaro Torrente. At the center of the plot is the Egyptian Queen Orontea, who has forsaken marriage and wants to rule as an independent sovereign. But her principles begin to waver when she meets the charming painter Alidoro, who not only wins her heart, but also turns the heads of the ladies-in-waiting. The stranger finally turns out to be the missing prince and the rightful heir to the late King of Phoenicia. The plot, full of turbulence, is set by Cesti in the most exquisite music, somewhere between seriousness and comedy. Read more about the opera in an article by Álvaro Torrente for [t]akte here.


Trailer - Cesti's L'Orontea at MusikTheater an der Wien

Antonio Cesti
L’Orontea (1656)
libretto (It.) by Giacinto Andrea Cicognini
edited by Álvaro Torrente (music) and Nicola Badolato (libretto)
Cast: Orontea, Creonte, Tibrino, Aristea, Alidoro, Gelone (act 1), Gelone (acts 2–3), Corindo, Silandra, Giacinta
Orchestra: Violin I/II, Basso continuo
Duration: c. 3 hours
Publisher: Bärenreiter, performance material on hire

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