Pergolesi: L'Olimpiade - Teatro Valeria Moriconi Jesi (2011) [Blu-ray]

With Olimpiade the famous poet Metastasio created one of the most popular librettos of the 18th century. It was set to music by over 60 baroque and classical composers including Vivaldi, Caldara, Hasse, Cimarosa and Donizetti. Pergolesi’s composition from 1735 was one of the earliest adaptations.

In the 2011 Jesi production of L’Olimpiade a large part of the auditorium is taken up by a cross-shaped platform. This is where the characters of the drama are introduced, where they elaborate their plans and express their innermost feelings, their sufferings and hopes, while the supreme ritual of the ancient Greek world, the Olympic Games, is celebrated on a distant stage: that event upon which their lives – and all prospects of happiness or otherwise – depend.

L’Olimpiade stars a superb cast of young singers, especially to be named are the ladies in the leading roles – Lyubov Petrova, Yetzabel Arias Fernández, Jennifer Rivera and Sofi a Soloviy – as well as famous Raúl Giménez in the role of King Clistene.

Alessandro De Marchi has been involved in the interpretation of early music for a long time. His orchestra, specialized on the interpretation of baroque and classical compositions on period instruments, Academia Montis Regalis, was also involved in this project.