Pelopida A recently rediscovered opera by Girolamo Abos (1715 – 1760)
Synopsis
Festival Malta's new production of Pelopida marks the first revival of Girolamo Abos’s opera since its 1747 premiere at the Teatro Argentina in Rome, under the stage direction of Brett Nicholas Brown.
Ancient Greece will be reimagined as a contemporary sculpture museum, where
past and present collide and life and death battle for supremacy.
Exiled patriot Pelopida returns to Thebes to defend its liberty. King Creon, seeking reconciliation, decrees that the former tyrant Pisistratus be restored to the throne. Creon’s envoy Egisto brings this command before the Theban council, urging obedience.
Outraged, Pelopida summons the citizens before the altar of Mars and makes them swear an oath never again to suffer a tyrant’s rule. Loyal captain Oreste joins him in sealing the vow. Enraged by this defiance, Egisto secretly plots Thebes’s downfall, exploiting the hidden love between Pelopida’s son Clito and Pisistratus’ daughter, Aspasia. Manipulating Clito’s fear of losing Aspasia, Egisto persuades Clito to betray his father’s cause.
When the courageous Ismene discovers the plot, she warns Pelopida. Oreste rallies the warriors to the city’s defence, and the battle turns in Thebes’s favour. Wracked with remorse, Clito fights beside Oreste and redeems himself through heroism.
Bound by his oath, Pelopida condemns his son to death, despite Aspasia’s and Ismene’s pleas. Clito escapes and leads a heroic battle against the enemy army to victory. Moved by the people’s entreaties, Pelopida forgives Clito, Creon withdraws his decree, and Thebes rejoices in hard-won freedom.
An exceptional creative team includes costume designer Luke Azzopardi from Azzopardi Studio, set designer Anthony Bonnici from Ebejer Bonnici and lighting designer Moritz Zavan Stoeckle.
Credits
Music: Girolamo Abos
Libretto: Gaetano Roccaforte
Conductor: Giulio Prandi
Stage Director: Brett Nicholas Brown
Set Designer: Anthony Bonnici (EBEJER BONNICI)
Costume Designer: Luke Azzopardi (Azzopardi Studio)
Lighting Designer: Moritz Zavan Stoeckle
Assistant Conductor: Michele Barbieri
Cast
Pelopida –Valentino Buzza
Egisto – Filippo Mineccia
Aspasia – Josè Maria Lo Monaco
Oreste – Lucija Varsic
Ismene – Carlotta Colombo
Clito – Vittoriana De Amicis