Francesca Caccini's La Liberazione di Ruggiero, the earliest surviving opera by a woman, charms audiences at this year's Buxton festival with its magical blend of wizards, sorceresses, and fairies. Premiered in 1625 at the Medici court, this rare 17th-century rarity offers a refreshingly girl-power take on Ariosto's Orlando Furioso, where warrior Ruggiero becomes a lovesick captive while sorceresses Alcina and Melissa battle for control.
A Semi-Serious Mythical Romp
The opera is a deliciously semi-serious romp, complete with a chorus of Alcina's former lovers transformed into plants and shrubs. The original premiere famously ended with a horse ballet, but director Eloise Lally takes a more earnest approach with her young Buckinghamshire company Vache Baroque. The production becomes a meditation on power and authority, shining brightest when it embraces its playful side.
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Music Bursting with Color
Jonathan Darbourne's band supplements Caccini's supple, expressive score with instrumental works from Florentine contemporaries. The music bursts with color and idiomatic energy: three recorders weave in silvery parallel, answered by a trio of belching sackbuts. Violins dance to rhythms from theorbo and guitar, creating a texture that is gritty, gilded, and always encrusted with interest.
Modern Staging Meets Historical Context
Lally and designer Zahra Mansouri give us pastoral by way of Skid Row. A blindfolded Ruggiero (Jon Stainsby) is bound with a dirty shower-curtain, Melissa's henchmen sport fatigues, and Alcina's potion-making resembles cooking meth. The dramatic stakes rise, but the music must follow suit—Stainsby's impassioned performance stands out as a highlight.
| Element | Traditional Opera | La Liberazione di Ruggiero |
|---|---|---|
| Composer | Male-dominated | Francesca Caccini (first woman) |
| Theme | Heroic rescue | Girl-power reversal |
| Staging | Grandiose | Skid Row meets pastoral |
| Orchestration | Full symphony | Small ensemble with theorbo |
Key Takeaways
- Francesca Caccini's La Liberazione di Ruggiero is the earliest surviving opera by a woman, premiered in 1625.
- The Buxton festival production blends historical music with modern, gritty staging.
- Jon Stainsby's performance as Ruggiero is a standout, bringing emotional depth.
- The opera's playful, semi-serious tone is most effective when it avoids over-earnestness.
FAQ
What is La Liberazione di Ruggiero about?
It's a 1625 opera by Francesca Caccini based on Ariosto's Orlando Furioso, where warrior Ruggiero is held captive by sorceress Alcina, and Melissa battles to free him. It features a strong female perspective.
Why is this opera significant?
It is the earliest surviving opera composed by a woman, making it a landmark in music history. Its premiere at the Medici court included a horse ballet.
Where can I see La Liberazione di Ruggiero?
The production is part of the Buxton festival, performed by Vache Baroque under director Eloise Lally. Check the festival schedule for dates.
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