Cast:
Arianna: Eliza Carson
Eurydice: Tess Mathewson
Erminia: Calandra Damouras
Clorinda: Anna Plummer*
Storytellers: Caroline Lee* (Messenger), McKenna Troy (La Musica, Tancredi) Sylvia Simmons (Orfeo), Sydney Scott (Shepherd), Daaé Ransom (Echo), Carina Gravante-Gunnells (Shepherd), Milena Gravante-Gunnells (Pluto), Molly Czitrom (Fury), Connie Flachs (Fury)
*ATS Opera Workshop Alumni/Pre-Professional
Music by Claudio Monteverdi, edited by James David Jacobs
English Libretto by Melinda Beasi & Sylvia Simmons
Directed by Melinda Beasi
Musical Direction by Lemuel Gurtowsky
Choreography by Anna Plummer & Connie Flachs
Fight Choreography by Jeff Lord
Developed and workshopped under the guidance of James David Jacobs
Act Too Studio Opera Workshop presents the works of 17th-century composer Claudio Monteverdi in this full-length, original narrative woven from excerpts from his operas, madrigals, and other works.
Drawing on the framework of Monteverdi’s “Lamento d’Arianna,” the sole surviving fragment of his opera L’Arianna, Il sogno d’Arianna begins with the tale of Ariadne, princess of Crete, and her abandonment by Athenian hero Theseus on the island of Naxos. Joined by an assembly of women hailing from Monteverdi’s many sources, including Greek myth and Torquato Tasso’s epic 16th-century poem La Gerusalemme liberata (Jerusalem Delivered), Ariadne seeks comfort and meaning in their shared stories, told through both music dance.
In addition to L’Arianna, the piece includes excerpts from Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo, as well as pieces from his 8th book of madrigals and selected Scherzi Musicali (“Lamento della ninfa,” “Il combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda,” “Zefiro torna e di soavi accenti,” “Chiome d’oro“and many more). For this project, the Workshop has created its own new editions of these works, including new English translations and arrangements adapted specifically for its teen singers.
CLIPS:
Studio alumni Anna Plummer (Goblin Market) and Caroline Lee (The Medium) return to this production as both cast and as part of the creative team, bringing their ongoing training and experience back home to the Workshop. Alumna Alexa King (The Medium) will be returning in a production role as well! Stepping out of their creative/tech roles from last summer’s The Medium, original Opera Workshop members Tess Mathewson and Eliza Carson and new Workshop recruit Sylvia Simmons happily join us this year on stage, along with Medium alumna Callie Damouras. We’re excited as well to have McKenna Troy, once the youngest member of the original Workshop, as well as new Workshop members Sydney Scott, Daaé Ransom, and (new youngest members) Carina and Milena Gravante-Gunnells on board for their first full ATS production. Guest artists Molly Czitrom and choreographer Connie Flachs help us enhance the production’s ballet elements.
Click here for information on licensing this work for use with your own young singers!
Photos copyright © 2016 Paul Beasi
Il sogno d’Arianna was made possible in part by a grant from the South Hadley Local Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
