That was how the 17th-century diarist John Evelyn described opera in Venice.
In this Workshop programme Raymond Leppard describes the early days of opera and shows how these Venetian extravaganzas by Monteverdi and Cavalli can be staged today.
The programme ends with the first known performance since 1643 of the final scene of L'Egisto by Cavalli
Kenneth Bowen as Egisto, Anne Howells as Clori, Richard Angas as Ipparco, Patricia Greig, Rosanne Creffield, Ann Murray, Norma Burrowes as The Four Hours
With the Academia Cavalliana