Whether in Paris or London, Moscow, Venice, Berlin, Salzburg or Vienna – the Italian countertenor Carlo Vistoli regularly performs on the great opera stages of the world and has made a remarkable name for himself, particularly in the repertoire of the 17th and 18th centuries. In his cleverly curated concert programs, he often dedicates himself to unknown works and breathes new life into long-forgotten opera heroes from the early history of opera with his coloratura-secure and beautifully resonant voice.

In the concert Opera Antica Carlo Vistoli and the Cappella Mediterranea under Leonardo García-Alarcón take us to Italy in the mid-17th century, where the still young genre of opera experienced its first highlights. Composers like Monteverdi, Cesti, Cavalli, and Stradella could hardly connect to existing traditions, but had to completely reinvent this novel structure of theater, song, dance, and music. The works that emerged during this time would have a lasting impact on the history of music theater: In the cheerful and graceful "Ombra mai fu" from Cavalli's Xerse or in the yearning lament "E pur io torno" from Monteverdi's L’incoronazione di Poppea, everything is already present that the following era will bring forth in terms of deep musical emotions. And when later would one ever hear such a dramatically touching and at the same time comical madness scene as in Stradella's comic opera Il Trespolo tutore?

Carlo Vistoli Countertenor
Leonardo García-Alarcón Musical Direction and Harpsichord
Cappella Mediterranea Resident Orchestra of the Bayreuth Baroque Opera Festival 2025

PROGRAM

Francesco Cavalli (1602–1676)
“Ohimè, che miro – Misero Apollo”
Lament of Apollo from Gli amori di Apollo e Dafne

“Ombra mai fu”
Aria from Xerse from Il Xerse

“Uscitemi dal cor, lacrime amare”
Lament of Idraspe from Erismena

“Per eccesso d’affetto – Che ti diss’io?”
Aria of Iarba from La Didone

“Erme e solinghe cime – Lucidissima face”
Aria of Endimione from La Calisto

Antonio Cesti (1623–1669)
“Qual profondo letargo – Care note amorose – Fissa il chiodo, o Fortuna”
Aria of Alidoro from L’Orontea

Claudio Monteverdi (1567–164)
“E pur io torno”
Aria of Ottone from L’incoronazione di Poppea

“I miei subiti sdegni”
Aria of Ottone from L’incoronazione di Poppea

Alessandro Stradella (1643–1682)
From Il trespolo tutore
“Oh, quanti soli – Oblio, che lento e tacito – Su, dunque, fuggite”
Aria of Nino from Il Trespolo tutore

“Tarapà, tarapà, tarapà – Fa’ la nanna, Nino mio – Venghino in questo circolo”
Madness scene of Nino from Il Trespolo tutore