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Opera on 3: Cherubini's Medea from Wexford Festival Opera

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Music: Classical

Cherubini's Medea from Wexford Festival Opera

25/11/2017

BBC Radio 3 - Opera on 3, Cherubini's Medea from Wexford Festival Opera

Sean Rafferty introduces a performance of Cherubini's Medea from Wexford Festival Opera.

Sean Rafferty introduces a new production by Fiona Shaw of Cherubini's Medea from Wexford Festival Opera, with soprano Lise Davidsen in the title role, conducted by Stephen Barlow.

Recorded at Wexford Festival Opera 2017, Sean Rafferty introduces a new production by Fiona Shaw of Luigi Cherubini's Medea with Lise Davidsen (soprano) in the title role and Sergey Romanovsky (tenor) as Jason. 

Medea is a notorious figure from Greek mythology, a sorceress with blood on her hands. She has already killed her brother to help Jason, the legendary Argonaut, steal the Golden Fleece. Jason promised he would never leave her but, as the plot unfolds and the tension builds, it becomes all too apparent that Jason will not remain true to his word and the consequences are utterly horrifying. Medea is a drama of raw passion and brutal violence - the title role, made famous by Maria Callas, demands an exceptional voice as well as extraordinary dramatic talent. 

Medea, first performed at the Théâtre Feydeau in Paris, 13 March 1797, is an opéra comique in three acts with libretto by François Benoit Hoffman (Italian version by Carlo Zangarini), based on Euripides' tragedy of Medea and Pierre Corneille's play Médée, and is sung in Italian.

During the interval Sean's guests include tonight's director, Fiona Shaw who has famously played the title role in Euripides' 'Medea' in the West End and on Broadway; tonight's conductor, Stephen Barlow; and the writer, Colm Tóibín, who hails from Co. Wexford and whose most recent novel deals with the psychology of Greek tragedy. 

Medea ..... Lise Davidsen (soprano)
Glauce ..... Ruth Iniesta (soprano)
Neris ..... Raffaella Lupinacci (mezzo-soprano)
Jason ..... Sergey Romanovsky (tenor)
King Creon ..... Adam Lau (bass)
Chorus and Orchestra of Wexford Festival Opera
Stephen Barlow (conductor).

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