Music by Laura Schwendinger with libretto by Ginger Strand, Artemisia tells the story of the Baroque artist Artemisia Gentileschi, one of the greatest painters of her generation and an important follower of Caravaggio. She painted dramatic canvases, often portraying herself as the protagonist in biblical stories such as Susanna in her famous painting Susanna and the Elders or Judith Slaying Holofernes. With Christopher Alden - stage director and Lidiya Yankovskaya - conductor. World premiere with Trinity NOVUS at St. Paul's Chapel, Time's Arrow Festival.
Artemisia brings these paintings to life with music, in this opera, that Paul Chihara calls “a masterpiece!"
March 7/9, 2019. St. Paul's Chapel, Trinity NOVUS NY [orchestral world premiere), and Jun 1/2 Z Space, San Francisco [chamber premiere]
LeftCoast Proves Great Opera Needn’t Be Grand, “Artemisia is sumptuous on every level……a breathtaking piece.” OperaWire “..casts its spell..awakens us...riveting”
In NY Times review “Artemisia” lasts just 80 minutes, but fits in big themes set to music of quivering intensity. The story of the rape is there, blended with Gentileschi’s unbearably compassionate painting of the biblical character Susanna, who was ogled and shamed in her bath. But larger questions of idea and form, image and projection, sight and gaze also find nuanced and intelligent treatment. CORINNA da FONSECA-WOLLHEIM
Cast
Heather Buck – Susanna
Augusta Caso – Artemisia Gentileschi
Oliver Mercer – Agostino Tassi/Elder 1
Christopher Burchett – Cosimo di Medici/Elder 2
Richard Troxell – Tomasso/Oculist
Creative Team
Laura Schwendinger – composer
Ginger Strand - librettist
Christopher Alden - stage director
James Smith - assistant director
Mengmeng Wang - Composer assistant and part preparation
Lidiya Yankovskaya - conductor
Zachary Goodman - assistant conductor
Ika Avaliani - scenic, lighting, and costume designer
Kelly Ruth Cole - production and stage manager
Mason Fick – assistant production and stage manager.
