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Claudio Monteverdi
IL RITORNO D'ULISSE IN PATRIA
(The Return of Ulysses to his Homeland)
From the Glyndebourne Festival Opera 1973
Opera in Two Acts and a Prologue
Libretto by Giacomo Badoaro after Homer's Odyssey
Sung in Italian
BENJAMIN LUXON, JANET BAKER, ANNE HOWELLS,
IAN CALEY, ANNABEL HUNT, PATRICIA GREIG,
BRIAN BURROWS
The Glyndebourne Chorus
The London Philharmonic Orchestra
BERNARD HAITINK
Stage Direction by RAYMOND LEPPARD
- Based on the Greek legend of Ulysses and his return to Ithaca after years at the Trojans wars, the opera “Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria” is one of the earliest opera of its kind ever written.
- Monteverdi's music is of transcendental beauty. He took what had previously been rather monotonous, one-dimensional music drama and enriched it with emotion, excitement and expression, captured perfectly in this production.
- This seminal 1973 production is directed by Raymond Leppard and conducted by long established Glyndebourne favourite Bernard Haitink at the National Theatre. The terrific cast and crew, particularly the outstanding Janet Baker with her “richly expressive voice and dramatic talents, perfectly suited to singing opera”, stage an impassioned production that is accentuated by the gorgeous visual design. An important addition to any collection.
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