Olympie: Gaspare Spontini
About the Event
Discover the roots of French Grand Opera in this rarity from the composer of La Vestale. Karina Gauvin sings the title role in a concert performance led by Jérémie Rhorer.
Demanding enormous orchestral and vocal resources, Spontini's setting of Voltaire's play for the Paris Opèra met with less success than his previous efforts. Nonetheless, the work went on to be a hit in Germany before falling out of the repertoire, with only three known productions in the 20th Century.
Set in the aftermath of the the death of Alexander the Great, a dense plot lends plenty of opportunity for skulduggery, passion and displays of vocal prowess. Gauvin sings the eponymous heroine, with star tenor Charles Castronovo as her lover, Cassandre, in this concert performance.
Sung in French
Cast / Production
Conductor, Jérémie Rhorer
Olympie: Karina Gauvin
Statira: Kate Aldrich
Cassandre: Charles Castronovo
Antigone: Josef Wagner
Hiérophante: Patrick Bolleire
Le Cercle de l’Harmonie
Flemish Radio Choir
