ARTEMISIA OPERA VIDEO
EXCERPTS
OPERA SCORE
Excerpt from the opera ARTEMISIA (about the painter Artemisia Gentileschi)
Music by Laura Schwendinger, libretto by Ginger Strand
TRIAL OF TASSI, IN WHICH ARTEMISIA GENTILESCHI
IS TORTURED TO VERIFY HER TESTIMONY
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This excerpt shows how Artemisia was forced to submit to torture in order to verify her testimony against her rapist's Augustino Tassi, during his trial.
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Artemisia's fingers were crushed by rings called sibilles, a kind of thumbscrew.
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In this scene, Artemisia (as the judge) questions her younger self (as Susanna-in Susanna and the Elders) and she affirms her testimony, "These are the rings you gave me, everything I have said is true, if even through the pain"
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Excerpt from the opera ARTEMISIA (about the painter Artemisia Gentileschi)
Music by Laura Schwendinger, libretto by Ginger Strand
SELF PORTRAIT OF ALLEGORY OF ART
IN WHICH ARTEMISIA GENTILESCHI TRIES TO FOCUS ON HER SELF PORTRAIT AS SHE IS LOSING HER EYESIGHT
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This Excerpt - Self Portrait as Allegory (Aria-Gold, it needs more gold to make it bright" )
In this aria, Artemisia (Artemisia Gentileschi) sings about how her painting "needs more gold, to make it bright" as she loses her eyesight.
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Excerpt from the opera ARTEMISIA (about the painter Artemisia Gentileschi)
Music by Laura Schwendinger, libretto by Ginger Strand
LAST SEVEN MINUTES OF ARTEMISIA
IN WHICH ARTEMISIA GENTILESCHI TRIES TO FOCUS ON HER PAINTING
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BUT DETERMINES SHE WILL NOT PAINT A NAKED DIANA, AND ANYWAY HER SURGEON IS COMING SOON TO TAKE HER AWAY
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Music by Laura Schwendinger with libretto by Ginger Strand, Artemisia tells the story of the Baroque artist Artemisia Gentileschi, one of the greatest painters of her generation and an important follower of Caravaggio. She painted dramatic canvases, often portraying herself as the protagonist in biblical stories such as Susanna in her famous painting Susanna and the Elders or Judith Slaying Holofernes. Christopher Alden - stage director and Lidiya Yankovskaya - conductor.
World orchestral premiere with Trinity NOVUS at St. Paul's Chapel, Time's Arrow Festival.
March 7/9, 2019. St. Paul's Chapel, Trinity NOVUS NY and June 1/2 Z Space, San Francisco, chamber world premiere.
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In NY Times review “Artemisia” lasts just 80 minutes, but fits in big themes set to music of quivering intensity. The story of the rape is there, blended with Gentileschi’s unbearably compassionate painting of the biblical character Susanna, who was ogled and shamed in her bath. But larger questions of idea and form, image and projection, sight and gaze also find nuanced and intelligent treatment. CORINNA da FONSECA-WOLLHEIM
In SFCV, "LeftCoast Proves Great Opera Needn’t Be Grand", “Artemisia is sumptuous on every level……a breathtaking piece.” OperaWire “..casts its spell..awakens us...riveting”
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NY Cast
Heather Buck – Susanna
Augusta Caso – Artemisia Gentileschi
Oliver Mercer – Agostino Tassi/Elder 1
Christopher Burchett – Cosimo di Medici/Elder 2
Richard Troxell – Tomasso/Oculist
Creative Team
Laura Schwendinger – composer
Ginger Strand - librettist
Christopher Alden - stage director
Lidiya Yankovskaya - conductor
James Smith - assistant director
Zachary Goodman - assistant conductor
Ika Avaliani - scenic, lighting, and costume designer
Kelly Ruth Cole - production and stage manager
Mason Fick – assistant production and stage manager Mengmeng Wang - Composer assistant and part preparation
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