Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Opera Profile: Cavalli's Giasone

As part of a celebration of baroque opera, Catherine Bott explores Francesco Cavalli's Giasone, a work which became the most frequently performed opera of the 17th century.

As part of the "Opera on the ´óÏó´«Ã½" season, the Early Music Show begins a monthly series celebrating baroque opera, with Catherine Bott looking at Francesco Cavalli's "Giasone". The work was the only collaboration between playwright and librettist Giacinto Andrea Cicognini and Cavalli - one of the great musical pioneers of the genre. Giasone became the most frequently performed opera of the 17th century and took its plot from the Greek myth of Jason and his search for the Golden Fleece. Catherine Bott introduces the background and musical highlights to the work and talks to the conductor, René Jacobs and the counter-tenor Michael Chance, who sang the eponymous role of Giasone, in the recording of the opera from the 1980s, about the merits of Cavalli as an operatic composer.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 30 May 2010 13:00

Music Played

  • Francesco Cavalli

    Sinfonia from 'Giasone'

    Performers: Concerto Vocale, René Jacobs (conductor)

    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • HMC 901282/84.
  • Francesco Cavalli

    Combattimento (Act 2 Scene 5) from 'Giasone'

    Performers: Concerto Vocale, René Jacobs (conductor)

    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • HMC 901282/84.
  • Francesco Cavalli

    Delizie, contenti from Act 1 Scene 2 of 'Giasone'

    Performers: Michael Chance (countertenor), Concerto Vocale, René Jacobs (conductor)

    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • HMC 901282/84.
  • Francesco Cavalli

    Act 1 Scene 6 – duet between Demo and Oreste – from 'Giasone'

    Performers: Gianpaolo Fagotto (tenor), Bernard Deletré (bass), Concerto Vocale, René Jacobs (conductor)

    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • HMC 901282/84.
  • Francesco Cavalli

    Medea's Magic Chamber (Act 1 Scene 14) – from 'Giasone'

    Performers: Gloria Banditelli (mezzo-soprano), Concerto Vocale, René Jacobs (conductor)

    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • HMC 901282/84.
  • Francesco Cavalli

    Act 2 Scene 1 from 'Giasone'

    Performers: Catherine Dubosc (soprano), Agnes Mellon (soprano), Concerto Vocale, René Jacobs (conductor)

    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • HMC 901282/84.
  • Francesco Cavalli

    Final scene of Act 3 from 'Giasone'

    Performers: Michael Chance (countertenor), Concerto Vocale, René Jacobs (conductor)

    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • HMC 901282/84.

Broadcast

  • Sun 30 May 2010 13:00

Podcast