Carl Heinrich Graun’s “Adriano in Siria”—set to a libretto by Pietro Metastasio—is a compelling example of mid-18th-century opera seria, a genre that once dominated the European stage. First performed in Berlin in 1746, Graun’s setting was one of more than seventy opera settings of Metastasio’s libretto between 1732 and 1828, attesting to its immense popularity. This new live recording from {…}
(Photo: Stefan Gloede) The three-act opera “Orlando generoso” by Agostino Steffani, conducted by Dorothee Oberlinger and performed by Ensemble 1700 with an outstanding cast, shone as one of the highlights of the 2025 Musikfestspiele Potsdam Sanssouci. Premiered in 1691 in Hanover, the opera adapts a segment of Ludovico Ariosto’s “Orlando Furioso.” It is set in a fantasy version of China, {…}
(Photo: Noah Shaye) On June 28, 2025, Musikfestspiele Potsdam Sanssouci presented a rare revival of Baldassare Galuppi’s opera “Didone abbandonata” — the 1752 Madrid version. Commissioned by the legendary castrato Farinelli to honor King Ferdinand VI of Spain, this adaptation brought together three giants of the 18th century opera: Farinelli himself, librettist Pietro Metastasio, and composer Galuppi. More concise and {…}
(Photo credit: Stefan Gloede) The world premiere recording of Carl Heinrich Graun’s opera, “Adriano in Siria” is set to be released on June 13. “Adriano in Siria” was presented in a production by the Musikfestspiele Potsdam Sanssouci and recorded in June 2024. The cast features the countertenor trio of Valer Sabadus, Bruno de Sá, and Federico Fiorio, alongside sopranos Roberta Mameli {…}
The Musikfestspiele Potsdam Sanssouci has unveiled its 2022 season, which is set to run between June 10-26, 2022. For the purposes of this article, our focus will be solely on vocal and operatic works. Soprano Deborah Cachet will headline “Departing for Kythera” with Les Arts Florissants under Paul Agnew. The program will feature music by Blow, Locke, Lully, Händel, Rameau, {…}
