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World Premiere of the Restored Maometto II at Santa Fe Opera Dubbed "A Rossini Masterwork Ahead of Its Time" by the New York Times; Szymanowski's King Roger Begins Performances on July 21

Jul. 10, 2012

World Premiere of the Restored <em>Maometto II</em> at Santa Fe Opera Dubbed "A Rossini Masterwork Ahead of Its Time" by the New York Times; Szymanowski's <em>King Roger</em> Begins Performances on July 21

One of the major highlights of the 2012 summer festival season is Santa Fe Opera's world premiere production of Gioachino Rossini's Maometto II in its new critical performing edition by Dutch scholar Hans Schellevis. Opening July 14 with five additional performances scheduled through August 16, Santa Fe's cast features Luca Pisaroni in the title role, soprano Leah Crocetto (Grand Prize winner of the 2010 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions) as Anna, mezzo-soprano Patricia Bardon as Calbo, and tenor Bruce Sledge as Paolo.

Read Anthony Tommasini's review for The New York Timeshere. Further links to reviews around the web below:

Santa Fe New Mexican
Santa Fe.com
Santa Fe Reporter
Out West Arts

The new edition of Maometto II has been crafted under the general editorship of Philip Gossett, one of the world's leading authorities on the operas of Rossini and general editor of Bärenreiter's Works of Gioachino Rossini, and who worked closely with Santa Fe Opera on the premiere production. The score was edited from the original 1820 Naples version, using Rossini’s own autograph manuscript and best available sources to create a new edition that comes as close to the original as possible. Bärenreiter is set to publish the new edition in 2013.

Set in the 15th-century Venetian colony of Negroponte under siege by Turkish invaders, the opera recounts the saga of a magnificent figure in Ottoman history, Maometto, otherwise known as The Conqueror in his time. Maometto II is essentially a love story set against the background of war framed by a dualistic study of the two main characters' crises of conscience: Maometto's lover Anna, a Venetian, has to make a choice between her love for the Turkish ruler and her sense of honor and duty to her country and her father, ruler of Negroponte; and Maometto struggles with his own humane decisions upon discovering that Anna is the daughter of the ruler of the Venetian city about to come under his rule.

Dubbed a "siege opera" by director David Alden, Maometto II is a finely wrought work with music exhibiting all of Rossini's flair for melody and excitement. Gossett calls it "the best of Rossini's Neapolitan operas." He continues, "The work brings together Rossini's pre-eminent gift for music of immediate appeal and vocal splendor with a considered and profound understanding of musical and dramatic structure."

Following his success directing Radamisto for Santa Fe in 2008, David Alden returns to direct Maometto II, and is joined on the artistic team by music director Frédéric Chaslin, scenic and costume designer Jon Morrell and lighting designer Duane Schuler. Santa Fe Opera opens Maometto II on July 14, with further performances on July 18, 27, August 2, 7 and 16, 2012.

Also this summer at Santa Fe, Karol Szymanowski's three-act masterwork King Roger takes the stage on July 21, 25, August 3, 9 and 14. The production is conducted by Evan Rogister and directed by Stephen Wadsworth and features baritone Mariusz Kwiecien in the title role, soprano Erin Morley, tenors William Burden and Dennis Petersen, and bass Raymond Aceto. More on the production of King Roger can be found here.

Learn more on the production of Maometto II by visiting www.santafeopera.org.

Visit www.baerenreiter.com for more information on the life and music of Gioachino Rossini.

For more on the work of Karol Szymanowski, go to www.universaledition.com.

Gioachino Rossini
Maometto II (1820)
an opera in two acts
edited by Hans Schellevis 
libretto (It) by Cesare della Valle
for soprano, mezzo-soprano or contralto, 3 tenors and bass
full evening

Karol Szymanowski
King Roger (Shepherd) (1918-1924)
opera in three acts
libretto (Pol) by Jaroslaw Iwaszkiewicz and Karol Szymanowski
for soprano, 2 tenors, baritone, bass and SATB choir
3(3.pic).3(3.ca).3(3.Ebcl).bcl.3(3.cbsn)-4.3.3.1-6perc(timp)-2hp.cel.pno.org-str
stage music: 4tpt, tam-tam
120' 

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