Barrie Kosky’s new production of George Frideric Handel’s political thriller Agrippina opens at the Royal Opera House on Monday 23 September 2019. The production receives its premiere at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich on 23 July 2019.
The Emperor Claudio is reported drowned at sea. His wife Agrippina determines to make her son Nerone the new Emperor. But her plans go awry when Claudio turns up with his military commander Ottone, who saved his life and to whom he has promised the throne. Agrippina plots to use the two men’s desire for the beautiful Poppea to create enmity between them and destroy Ottone. Meanwhile, Nerone becomes seriously smitten with Poppea. Agrippina’s continued scheming leads to multiple misunderstandings, culminating in Claudio and Nerone attempting a romantic rendezvous with Poppea at the same time. But will Agrippina be held to account? And can Ottone and Poppea achieve the happiness they deserve?
Handel wrote Agrippina towards the end of a prolonged stay in Italy. The opera had its premiere in Venice at the Teatro San Giovanni Grisostomo in 1709. It was Handel’s first notable operatic success.
Award-winning Australian director Barrie Kosky directs this opera with characteristic invention. Kosky made his Royal Opera debut in the 2016/17 Season directing Shostakovich's The Nose and returned in the 2017/18 Season with Carmen, revived twice at the Royal Opera House during the 2018/19 Season. He is currently Intendant and Artistic Director of Komische Oper Berlin, a position he has held since 2012. He has won multiple awards including Best Director at the 2014 International Opera Awards.
Agrippina features set designs by Rebecca Ringst and costume designs by Klaus Bruns, lighting design by Joachim Klein and dramaturgy by Nikolaus Stenitzer. The production features the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment conducted by Russian conductor Maxim Emelyanychev, making his Royal Opera debut.
American mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato sings the title role. She made her Royal Opera debut in 2003 as Fox (The Cunning Little Vixen) and was last seen at the Royal Opera House during the 2017/18 Season as the title role in Semiramide (for which she won an Olivier Award) and in a main-stage recital with Antonio Pappano, Music Director of The Royal Opera. Argentine countertenor Franco Fagioli performs the role of Nerone. He made his Royal Opera debut in 2014 as Idamante (Idomeneo). They are joined by English soprano Lucy Crowe who sings the role of Poppea and English countertenor Iestyn Davies as Ottone. Other cast members include Italian bass Gianluca Buratto as Claudio (in his Royal Opera debut) and Italian bass Andrea Mastroni as Pallante. American countertenor Eric Jurenas and Bolivian bass José Coca Loza complete the cast as Narciso and Lesbo respectively. Both make their Royal Opera debuts.
Agrippina opens at the Royal Opera House on 23 September 2019, with subsequent performances on 26 and 30 September and 4, 7 and 11 October 2019.
AGRIPPINA (#ROHagrippina)
23, 26 and 30 September and 4, 7 and 11 October 2019 at 6.30pm
Co-production with Bavarian State Opera, Munich, and Dutch National Opera
Generous philanthropic support from Mrs Aline Foriel-Destezet (Production Principal) and Charles Holloway
Production first seen at Bavarian State Opera, Munich, in 2019
Sung in Italian with English surtitles
Tickets available from the Royal Opera House website and box office
(+44 (0)20 7304 4000)
Credits
Music George Frideric Handel
Libretto Vincenzo Grimani
Director Barrie Kosky
Set designer Rebecca Ringst
Costume designer Klaus Bruns
Lighting designer Joachim Klein
Dramaturg Nikolaus Stenitzer
Performers
Conductor Maxim Emelyanychev*
Agrippina Joyce DiDonato
Nerone Franco Fagioli
Poppea Lucy Crowe
Ottone Iestyn Davies
Claudio Gianluca Buratto*
Pallante Andrea Mastroni
Narciso Eric Jurenas*
Lesbo José Coca Loza*
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
*Royal Opera debut
