Monteverdi: Opera "L'Orfeo" (Serbian premiere)

New Belgrade Opera and Opera-Theater “Madlenianum” (Serbia) presented their first Monteverdi opera “L’Incoronatione di Poppea” in 2014 to the great acclaim. Three years later, in the year that celebrates the 450th anniversary of the great composer's birth, we welcome them with performance of Monteverdi’s “L’Orfeo”, which is generally acknowledged as “the first opera”. Written in 1607, Monteverdi’s use of vocal and orchestral colors, played on period instruments of the time, put the basis for the further development of opera as a genre, and his expert vocal writing inspired generations to come. The story of Orpheus’ search for his love in the Underworld has inspired not only Monteverdi, but later also Gluck and many other composers. Expert coaching and direction by experts in historical performance Marijana Mijanović and Predrag Gosta, and sublime stage direction by Aleksandar Nikolić, provide a rare opportunity to enjoy this music in the manner as the composer intended it.

Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643):
"L’ORFEO" (1607)
Libretto: Alessandro Striggio
(in honor of the 450th anniversary since Monteverdi’s birth and 410 years since the opera's first performance)

Co-production of New Belgrade Opera and Opera-Theater “Madlenianum”

Vocal Soloists:
- Orfeo: Nikola Diskić, baritone (Germany/Serbia)
- Euridice & Musica: Antonia Dunjko, soprano (Croatia/Netherlands)
- Proserpina & Ninfa: Radoslava Vorgić, soprano (Germany/Serbia)
- Messaggera & Speranza: Dragana Popović, mezzo-soprano
- Caronte & Plutone: Marko Špehar, bass (Germany/Croatia)
- Pastore I, Spirito Infernale I & Apollo: Marko Živković, tenor
- Pastore II & Spirito Infernale II & Eco: Ljubomir Popović, tenor
- Pastore III & Spirito Infernale III: Franko Klisović, kontratenor (Croatia)
- Pastore IV & Spirito Infernale IV: Milan Stančić, bass-baritone
Ninfe, Pastori & Spiriti infernali: Marijana Radosavljević & Marijana Davinić, sopranos; Jana Cvetković, mezzo-soprano; Djordje Petrović, Aleksandar Krunić & Mirko Milanović, tenors 

Baroque Orchestra and Choir of the New Belgrade Opera (on period instruments)
Conductor, Harpsichord & Organ: Predrag Gosta (USA/Serbia)

Artistic Direction: Marijana Mijanović & Predrag Gosta
Dramaturgy: Marijana Mijanović (Switzerland/Serbia)
Stage Direction: Daniel Pfluger (Germany)
Stage & Costume Design: Tijana Trailović
Costumes: Slavica Ribać
Libretto Translation: Jelena Stojanović
Light Design: Srdjan Jovanović
Mask & Make-up: Mirjana Rakić
Inspicijent: Vesna Ćurčić Petrović
Supertitles: Ana Torbica & Ivan Svirčević
Production Assistent: Mladen Lukešević
Conductor’s Assistent: Simonida Dragović

INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE (on period instruments):
Baroque Violin: Dušica Blaženović & Ivana Zavišić
Baroque Viola: Ana Torbica & Katarina Đorđević
Viola da gamba: Srđan Stanić & André Laurent O’Neil
Violone: Vojislav Despotović
Chitarrone: Darko Karajić & Sofija Mihailović
Rennaissance Harp: Milena Stanišić
Harpsichord, Wooden Organ & Regal: Milan Popović & Predrag Gosta
Flautino: Karolina Bäter
Baroque Trumpet: Vuk Dajić & Aleksandar Arsić
Cornetto: Andrea Inghisciano & David Brutti (Italy)
Sackbutt: Hrvoje Sironić, Nikola Petrović, Petar Torbica
Percussion: Aleksandar Andrejević