THE RETURN OF ULYSSES, Royal Opera 2018 Photo: Stephen Cummiskey
Sunday 9 September at 6.00pm on RNZ Concert
MONTEVERDI: The Return of Ulysses
Ulysses has finally made his way back to Ithaca after the Trojan War. He returns to his palace disguised as a beggar, and sees the many suitors who have been competing for his faithful wife Penelope’s hand. Under Minerva’s influence, Penelope promises to accept the suitor who can string Ulysses’ bow.
THE RETURN OF ULYSSES, Royal Opera 2018 Photo: Stephen Cummiskey
Cast:
Human Frailty, Ulysses…Roderick Williams
Time, Antinous........... David Shipley
Fourtune, Minerva...... Catherine Carby
Penelope...................... Christine Rice
Telemachus................. Samuel Boden
Eurycleia..................... Susan Buckley
Eumaeus...................... Mark Milhofer
Irus............................... Stuart Jackson
Amphinomus............... Nick Pritchard
Peisander..................... Tai Oney
Eurymachus................. Andrew Tortise
Boy.............................. Christian Boland Ross
Royal Opera House Chorus & Orchestra conducted by Christian Curnyn
The Return of Ulysses (Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria) is one of only three surviving operas by the Renaissance composer Claudio Monteverdi.
As with The Coronation of Poppea (L’incoronazione di Poppea) it dates from the later period of Monteverdi’s career, and was first performed in Venice in 1640.
The opera is a masterpiece: Monteverdi invests majestic music with great pathos and dramatic truth, driving with astonishing directness to the heart of each of his complex characters.
THE RETURN OF ULYSSES, Royal Opera 2018 Photo: Stephen Cummiskey
The chorus for The Return of Ulysses is made up of 40 singers from the Roundhouse community choir and the Royal Opera House Thurrock Community Chorus. These singers perform alongside students of the Vocal Studies programme at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama.
THE RETURN OF ULYSSES, Royal Opera 2018 Photo: Stephen Cummiskey
