The opera features music by Handel, Vivaldi, Rameau, and other Baroque masters, with a new libretto in English by Jeremy Sams in which the lovers from Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" are shipwrecked on Prospero's island from "The Tempest."
Conductor Patrick Summers leads an all-star cast including David Daniels as Prospero, Susan Graham as his formidable foe Sycorax, Plácido Domingo as Neptune, Danielle de Niese as Ariel, and Luca Pisaroni as Caliban. Andriana Chuchman and Anthony Roth Costanzo play Miranda and Ferdinand. For this revival, the libretto has been streamlined and two new Handel arias for Graham and Domingo will replace pieces used in the original version.
The New York Times called The Enchanted Island "fanciful, clever and touching," adding, "What gives The Enchanted Island its poignancy is the palpable respect for the beautiful borrowed music...the piece unfolds with remarkable integrity and consistency, despite the use of music from so many sources and styles." The Associated Press dubbed it "irresistibly entertaining...a light-hearted romp with enough fizz to send a dozen Champagne corks popping."
The dazzling production is directed and designed by Phelim McDermott and Julian Crouch (Satyagraha).
The score and aria provenance information are available to view online here.
Purchase tickets: www.metopera.org
The Enchanted Island on PBS Great Performances: www.pbs.org/gperf
For more information, contact Peggy.Monastra@schirmer.com
