A. Vivaldi: Juditha Triumphans- premiere
This spiritual oratorio for solo female voices, female choir and orchestra can be found in Vivaldi’s catalog of compositions under number 644. It is the only one of Vivaldi’s four oratorios that has survived to this day. Vivaldi completed it in 1716 in Venice. It was at the time when he was working at the Ospedale della Pieta girls’ orphanage and it is believed that the girls sheltered here not only sang all the main roles, but also sang in the choir and played in the orchestra.
Event description
Antonio Vivaldi: Juditha Triumphans Devicta Holofernis Barbarie
Oratorio to a text by Giacomo Cassetti from 1716 for 5 soloists, orchestra and chorus.
Synopsis:
King Nebuchadnezzar of Assyria sends an army against Israel. Under the leadership of General Holofernes, they besiege the city of Bethulia and prepare to capture it. A young Jewish widow, Judith, goes to him to beg for mercy. Holofernes falls in love with a beautiful widow and falls asleep after a rich feast, intoxicated with a lot of wine. Judith ruthlessly cuts off his head in his sleep, secretly flees the enemy camp and returns to Bethulia in triumph.
Cast:
Juditha (mezzo-soprano), young widow – Dagmar Šašková
Holofernes (mezzo-soprano), Assyrian general – Malena Ernman
Vagaus (soprano), Holofernes’ Zeman – Doubravka Součková
Abra (soprano), Judith’s maid – Maya Amir
Ozias (mezzo-soprano), High Priest of Bethulia Monika Jägerová
Director: Tomáš Ondřej Pilař
Conductor: Roman Válek
Orchestra and choir: Czech Ensemble Baroque