Salzburg Festival 2019: Alcina

At Salzburg Festival, Handel�s Alcina is a true celebration of singing: Cecilia Bartoli shines in the title role of the sorceress Alcina as does Philippe Jaroussky in the role of Ruggiero.

At their side, Sandrine Piau as Morgana and Kristina Hammerstr�m as Bradamante are �ravishing� (S�ddeutsche Zeitung). Director Damiano Michielietto stages his first baroque opera and creates a convincing mixture of psychological interpretation and associative imagery. Unlike the libretto, which is based on Ludovico Ariosto�s epic �Orlando furioso�, the Venetian Michieletto moves the setting of Alcina�s magic island to a mysterious hotel with a mirror wall. The look in the mirror of an aging woman, who has an oppressive fear of no longer being desired, is the obvious core of the production. Gianluca Capuano conducts the Musiciens du Prince � Monaco prudently and with a slim orchestral sound, the Bachchor Salzburg is excellently rehearsed. Capuano �perfectly combines drama with precision and poetry� raves S�ddeutsche Zeitung. "An extraordinary show� (The New York Times)