Upcoming Performances

La Liberazione di Ruggiero dall'Isola d'Alcina

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$20 general, $15 seniors, $10 students and Cornish alumni (with ID)

Cornish Opera Theater presents La Liberazione di Ruggiero dall'Isola d'Alcina (The Liberation of Ruggiero from the Island of Alcina), a rarely performed 17th Century Italian baroque opera by Francesca Caccini, and the first opera ever composed by a woman. Noted baroque choreographer Anna Mansbridge directs and Stephen Stubbs leads the period instrument ensemble with a cast featuring tenor Ross Hauck.

Synopsis

The story on which the opera is based is excerpted from the 16th Century Italian epic Orlando Furioso by Ludovico Ariosto, a well-known work at the time: Ruggiero, a heroic Saracen champion, has been enslaved in love by the evil sorceress Alcina on her enchanted island. Melissa, a good sorceress, comes to rescue Ruggiero from this degenerate life disguised as his old tutor, Atlas. She reminds Ruggiero of his duty as a noble warrior of the Christian armies, and of his love for Brademante, a woman warrior. Through Melissa's persuasive words, Ruggerio realizes his folly and throws off Alcina's gifts of love in exchange for his armor. When Alcina returns, Ruggerio is indifferent to her pleas of love and he rejects her. Thus spurned, Alcina in fury summons monsters of the deep to seek revenge on Ruggerio. Melissa returns and frees enchanted damsels, whom Alcina had turned into flowers and plants. Alcina returns "in a monstrous boat woven of whalebones, with a Chorus of Monsters." Melissa's magic is more powerful than Alcina's, and she banishes her. Melissa then frees enchanted knights who were former lovers of the freed damsels, and who were ensnared by Alcina. They dance, with much rejoicing, that the wicked Alcina has been defeated.

PONCHO Hall, 710 East Roy Street, Seattle, WA