On Sunday, October 12, at 2:30 pm, we present a program of masterpieces from three very different genres.
The one-act Singspiel, or “comedy with music,” as Mozart described it, The Impresario (Der Schauspieldirektor, K. 486), is one of the great gems of the lyric stage: a short opera satirizing the world of opera itself – and especially the outsized egos involved (members of the Handel Opera Project excepted, of course). In keeping with the long tradition of updating the work for current audiences, director Teena Fultz’s version pits the diva Madame Heartmelt (Shannon Arcilla) against the AI-enhanced Warblewell 9000 (Jayne Diliberto), with beleaguered impresario Mr. Cash (Caleb Alexander) and faithful assistant Buff (Wayne Wong) caught between them. With an inventive staging fused with Mozart’s wit and genius for characterization, we can guarantee . . . surprises.
Our curtain-raiser is a rarely heard treasure from 1710. In his time, Louis-Nicolas Clérambault (1676–1749) was the undisputed master of the French Baroque solo cantata; yet his work has only been rediscovered in recent decades. His Léandre et Héro vividly tells the ancient story of the lovesick Leander, who nightly swam the Hellespont to be with his beloved Hero, until both were overtaken by tragedy. Soprano Daphné Touchais sings this brief masterwork.
As always, both works are arranged and conducted by Handel Opera Project founder William G. Ludtke.
Our path from tragedy to comedy will be accompanied by one of the most universally loved works of the chamber-music repertoire: the strings of the Project orchestra are joined by clarinetist Karen Wells in Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet in A Major, K. 581.
We hope you will be with us for a joyful afternoon of music, in the sublime space of Bernard Maybeck’s masterpiece!